Partner: Ecology Action Centre

Location: Halifax, NS

Climate change will be particularly impactful on coastal properties, as they face the dual risk of erosion and flooding from extreme storm events. In Nova Scotia, this is a major issue because 70 percent of residents live within 60 km of the coast.

Coastal erosion is a natural process that helps create beaches and other coastal features but sea level rise, storm surges, and more extreme weather will accelerate it.  Unfortunately, conventional methods of managing erosion–like boulders or rock walls–often cause problems for wildlife, water quality, and water access, and can lead to increased erosion elsewhere.

To address these issues, the Ecology Action Centre will create a demonstration site near Halifax where they will apply Living Shorelines techniques. Living Shorelines will teach people how to plant buffers of native, salt tolerant plants, and rebuild soil health.  In the long term, it will show that living shorelines approach are more resilient to sea level rise, and storm surges.   It will also continue education and outreach efforts to property owners, and municipalities and create new resources for the organization’s coastal erosion tool kit .

Project update (July 2014)

• Developed a community of practice with 30 experts who work in universities, government and consulting in related areas such as coastal geology, coastal land-use planning, and coastal ecology/restoration, as well as students and young professionals in these areas;
• Held a site selection tour of top 4 sites on July 19th where 20 people attended;
• St. Mary’s Boat Club was selected as the official site; McCormack’s Beach will serve as a secondary site for demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of leaving the coast to function naturally.

CCAP and the Ecology Action Centre are also working to prevent erosion from rainfall. Visit the Rain Garden project page to learn more.