Living shoreline helping to fight erosion in P.E.I.
STRATFORD, P.E.I. — By Rafe Wright
STRATFORD, P.E.I. – As erosion continues to tear away P.E.I.’s shoreline, one group in Stratford has stayed devoted to preserving the shoreline utilizing a pure strategy.
The watershed alliance, a non-profit group, is run by the Stratford Space Watershed Enchancment Group (SAWIG), with the purpose of constructing and preserving dwelling shorelines utilizing eco-friendly strategies that assist in preserving the cliffs.
The method is diverse, with each web site requiring completely different work, stated Kaylee Busniuk, watershed co-ordinator for SAWIG.
“By utilizing the softer supplies, we’re working with nature relatively than in opposition to it,” she stated.
Yearly, extra of P.E.I.’s shoreline will get lined with laborious rock or gravel – a course of referred to as hard-armouring.
Whereas the method works effectively within the short-term, over time it winds up shifting erosion downstream to unprotected areas.
Because the shoreline modifications, the rocks change the sample of sand motion and erodes the pure sand slopes which defend the bottom of the cliffs.
A big portion of Stratford and Charlottetown’s shorelines use the hard-armouring strategy.
“We actually wish to transfer away from hard-armouring as a lot as doable. We have to strive one thing else,” stated Busniuk as she toured an space of shoreline throughout from Charlottetown with SaltWire Community on July 20.
Delicate-armouring captures the wave’s vitality because it is available in, softening the crash of the waves on shore.
This strategy contains planting vegetation, putting logs and stacking hay bales alongside the cliffs. The staff additionally positioned shoreline markers to watch how briskly the cliffs will erode with the brand new strategy.
“Creating these shorelines is plenty of work, and it requires plenty of upkeep,” Busniuk stated.
The challenge started final yr when SAWIG acquired a federal grant by the Atmosphere and Local weather Change Canada’s local weather change and consciousness fund.
It additionally acquired a grant from the P.E.I. Local weather Problem fund. Each grants gave SAWIG a mixed $14,000 to finish the shoreline initiatives.
“We actually wish to transfer away from hard-armouring as a lot as doable. We have to strive one thing else.”
– Kaylee Busniuk
The funding was just for one yr, however the group has stayed devoted to sustaining the shorelines.
“We wouldn’t have the capability to do it with out the grants,” she stated.
Now that the funding initiatives are over, the group is on the lookout for extra grants to have the ability to proceed its work.
“This sort of laborious work is price prohibitive for non-profit teams,” stated Busniuk.
Sustaining dwelling shorelines in Stratford offers a very good instance for different coastal communities to put money into shorelines that don’t use hard-armouring, stated Katie Sonier, atmosphere sustainability co-ordinator for the town of Stratford.
Many Prince Edward Island communities have began asking about having dwelling shorelines of their communities because the work started, she stated.
“Stratford has plenty of pure websites that this sort of shoreline may be very useful. It’s actually essential to point out there are different choices.,” stated Sonier.
To this point, SAWIG has transformed a number of privately-owned shoreline properties in Stratford. It has additionally transformed a bit of Tea Hill seashore and the waterfront close to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Indicators have additionally been put up close to the shorelines to coach the general public on why this system is extra sustainable for P.E.I. within the long-term.
“It’s very nice to see individuals who care and are devoted to serving to their group whatever the laborious work, stated Sonier.
“There’s nice work being carried out right here.”
Rafe Wright is a neighborhood journalism initiative reporter, a place funded by the federal authorities.
