Committed to investing in and benefiting the local community, the Village of Patchogue is replacing Shorefront Park’s outdated bulkhead with a new living shoreline design. The new resilient nature-based living shoreline will provide protection against coastal erosion and storm surges, improve water quality, and help reduce flooding. Since 2015, VHB has served as prime consultant on the project and provided grant funding support, permitting, design and engineering, bid administration, construction administration, and, upon completion, will participate in post-construction and monitoring services.
The living shoreline takes a hybrid method to protecting and managing the coastline with natural and nature-based features used in combination with structural elements. Utilizing a wave climate analysis report, the rock sill structures were designed to the optimal height needed to resist the 50-year storm. Stones will be placed to absorb maximum wave energy, with narrow gaps spaced throughout to allow water to flow gently into the salt marsh. Using native vegetation and sand dunes, a salt marsh will help improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and provide new fish and shellfish habitats.
Once complete, the project will feature more than 1,300 feet of living shoreline containing a rock sill, salt marsh, and bio-retention basins. This will mark New York’s largest permitted living shoreline project to date.
