CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. -- Living shorelines could be a solution to coastal erosion and help alleviate some hurricane damages.

  • The North Carolina Coastal Federation is encouraging property owners to ditch bulkhead designs and opt for an environmentally friendly and permeable living shoreline.
  • After Hurricane Florence, the federation said they saw destroyed bulkheads, but all the living shorelines they installed were in tact.
  • The federation installed around 50 living shorelines last year.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is encouraging property owners to ditch bulkhead designs and opt for an environmentally friendly and permeable living shoreline.

Depending on the layout of the property, owners may benefit from living shorelines made from grass, rock, or oyster shells.

After Hurricane Florence, the federation said they saw destroyed bulkheads, but all the living shorelines they installed were in tact. They said it is because the natural shoreline allowed wave energy to roll over the marsh grass rather than crash into a man made structure with little give.

Homeowners attended an open house at the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Newport on Tuesday to talk with experts and contractors about what design best suits their property.

"We want to find a natural way to encourage wildlife -- the flora, the fauna of our beautiful place," said Robin Murray, a waterfront property owner.

The federation installed around 50 living shorelines last year and hopes to continue to grow their efforts.