Dragonfly Pond Works Team Restores Eroded Shoreline in Charlotte, NC
Shoreline erosion repair services provided by Stormwater Management Specialists.
Tom Pullaro- Vice President of Sales
Is Your Shoreline a Liability?
Shoreline erosion can lead to increased sedimentation of your pond. In some cases, it can also create steep drop-offs and safety issues for nearby residents and small children. Improper shoreline maintenance can lead to compliance violations resulting in costly repairs.
Shoreline erosion leading to dangerous drop-offs and sedimentation.
A well-vegetated pond edge is the first line of defense in preventing shoreline erosion. In many cases, damaged or lost shoreline is associated with a loss of stabilizing vegetation. This can be due to improper landscaping practices, including excessive mowing and use of herbicides by maintenance contractors looking to reduce their time spent manually trimming and maintaining buffer vegetation along the shoreline. Once the stabilizing root structure is lost, erosion worsens over time due to wind, wave energy, and other factors.
At Dragonfly, our pond and stormwater maintenance teams are trained in specialized mowing and vegetation maintenance. By allowing a vegetative buffer to establish and flourish along the pond edge, shoreline erosion can be minimized, thereby reducing your maintenance and repair costs over time. In the following example, we repair an eroded shoreline incorporating aquatic plants to provide long-term stabilization.
Shoreline Erosion Repair
In this blog, we highlight one of our shoreline repair methods involving toe protection, compacted fill, and coir log planting. This project involved repair of a steep escarpment at a stormwater pond in Charlotte, North Carolina. The shoreline erosion was largely due to excessive mowing and herbicide, which de-stabilized the bank. We implemented a three-step repair approach to restore lost shoreline and re-establish stabilizing vegetation.
Shoreline erosion of the Charlotte stormwater pond.
Step 1: Prepare area for shoreline erosion repair
Dragonfly’s erosion repair experts regraded the shoreline.
Step 2: Stabilize toe of slope, backfill, and compact to restore grade
Stone toe protection was installed, followed by geotextile fabric. Imported fill was then compacted and blended into existing grades.
Step 3: Install coir logs and beneficial shoreline plants for long-term stabilization
Coir logs and native aquatic plants were installed along the shoreline. These measures complete the natural slope and safeguard against future erosion.
Before and after shoreline erosion repair comparison.
To avoid costly repairs due to shoreline erosion, we strongly recommend working with a specialized stormwater contractor to maintain your ponds and stormwater devices. The repair process outlined in this blog was an effective method of restoring this shoreline. Coir logs protect and allow for plant establishment, while stone toe protection provides additional armoring against wind and wave energy. Through continued maintenance, the shoreline plants will establish and flourish, and the repaired slope will be kept in a compliant and safe condition.
Why Coir Logs and Shoreline Plants?
There are a variety of shoreline erosion repair solutions available today. In certain applications, we utilize coir logs because:
They are made of natural coconut fibers
They are durable and resist wave action damage
They protect the shoreline plants as they grow and take root
They eventually biodegrade and become part of the soil
The resulting established vegetative buffer provides long-term protection against future erosion and provides significant benefits to the overall health and aesthetic of the system
Left: Shoreline planting in progress.
Top Right: Healthy, vegetative buffer.
Bottom Right: Native, aquatic Pickerel Weed creates a vegetative buffer.
Dragonfly: Your Single Source for Shoreline Maintenance and Erosion Repair
Dragonfly’s shoreline and aquatic plant specialists will work with you to create a customized planting strategy to best protect your shoreline from erosion. Our specialized stormwater maintenance crews will then ensure the health and long-term effectiveness of your vegetated shoreline, applying our knowledge and training to treat invasive or nuisance vegetation while helping healthy plants thrive. Already suffering from shoreline erosion? From small repairs to complete restorations, our specialists have the solution for your unique needs. Contact us for the peace of mind that comes from working with the experts.
Learn More!
See another shoreline restoration solution utilizing low-impact dredging and geotextile bags. Read about our creation of an innovative 6-acre wetland system and how specialized maintenance has turned it into a thriving aquatic space.
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Dragonfly Pond Works provides shoreline erosion repair, pond management, stormwater management, and more in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Wilmington, North Carolina, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, South Carolina, Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Florida, and Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah, Georgia.