Shoreline composition is also important. Accretion devices do not function in areas where little
sand is in transit because they do not sufficiently calm the water to permit settlement of silts and clays.
Slopes and soil composition are also important for determining appropriate plant species.
Finally, climatic and other environmental conditions must be considered. Plant species obviously
must be planted where the climate permits survival and growth. salinity is critical for many species which
can only tolerate changes of salinity within a narrow band. Warm salt water more easily corrodes steel
and other metals than cold fresh water. Warm salt water is also the habitat of marine borers that attack
submerged timber structures. On the other hand, fresh water lakes freeze in the winter, subjecting
structures to large forces and abrasion from ice sheets. In some areas this may require more sturdy
construction than would be required for resisting wave action at the site.
Summary
The factors relating each available alternative to shoreform and shoreline use are summarized on Tables
1 and 2.
Table 1
METHODS APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS SHOREFORMS
Alternative*
High Bluffs
Low Bluffs
Beaches
Wetlands
Relocation
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Bulkheads
Usually
Almost always
Sometimes
Rarely
Revetments
Sometimes
Almost always
Almost always
Rarely
Breakwaters
Rarely
Rarely
Almost always
Sometimes
Groins
Almost never
Almost never
Almost always
Almost never
Beach Fills
Almost never
Almost never
Almost always
Rarely
Vegetation
Almost never
Almost never
sometimes
Almost always
Infiltration and Drainage
Controls
Almost always
Usually
Almost never
Almost never
Slope Flattening
Rarely
Usually
Almost never
Almost never
Perched Beaches
Rarely
Rarely
Almost always
sometimes
* Applicability is for the alternative used alone in the given situation. Combination devices are not
included.
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