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Hillsmere Shores Celebrates a Newly Restored Living Shoreline Teeming with Habitats on the Land and in the Water
Arundel Rivers Federation joined Hillsmere Shores residents, elected officials, funders, and restoration partners Thursday to celebrate the completion of a living shoreline resiliency project at the Hillsmere Shores Marina. The project transformed approximately 650 feet of eroding shoreline into a resilient, natural buffer and created approximately 18,000 square feet of new tidal marsh while adding critical oyster habitat in the South River.
Hillsmere Shores Marina sits on a sand spit peninsula exposed to miles of fetch–the distance that wind and waves travel across open water before reaching a shore. That exposure makes the site particularly vulnerable to waves and erosion. To combat this erosion and improve the site’s habitat features, Arundel Rivers worked with partners to build a new shoreline composed of sand, stone, woody debris, and native, marsh vegetation. Strategically spaced oyster reef balls and rock structures now dampen and redirect wave energy and protect the new marsh habitat and shoreline.
“This project shows what’s possible when communities, governments, funders, and nonprofits invest in our future together,” said Matt Johnston, Arundel Rivers Federation Executive Director. “Because of this collaboration, Hillsmere has a newly protected shoreline and the South River has new marsh and oyster habitat, and is one step closer to a healthier, more resilient future.”
The new shoreline contains a diverse mix of pollinator, dune, marsh, beach and shallow-water habitat. Sandy beach areas will provide habitat for diamondback terrapins and horseshoe crabs, while protected coves and woody debris will offer shelter and nursery habitat for fish and other estuarine species. The roots of the newly planted marshes and dunes will hold sediment and nutrients in place, improving the water quality in the adjacent South River
The project extends the new habitat below the waterline with the placement of 250 oyster reef balls in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Some of these concrete structures have been seeded with spat, or baby oysters, which will grow and naturally spread to surrounding reef balls over time. Together, the reef balls and growing oyster population will create a complex underwater habitat for fish, crabs and other native species, while the oysters provide the added benefit of filtering the waters of Duvall Creek as they mature.
Funding for the project was made possible through support from Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Anne Arundel County’s Bureau of Watershed Protection & Restoration, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and a Maryland State Bond procured thanks to Delegate Dana Jones along with financial support from the Hillsmere Shores Improvement Association.
“I’m incredibly proud to have secured state investment for this project and to have worked alongside so many dedicated partners to bring this vision to life,” said Maryland State Delegate Dana Jones. “This is what smart environmental investment looks like, working with nature to transform 650 feet of eroding shoreline, create 18,000 square feet of new tidal habitat, improve water quality, and make Hillsmere Shores more resilient for generations to come. This project is an investment in more than Duvall Creek, the South River, and the Chesapeake Bay. It’s an investment in our community and the place we are proud to call home.”
Efforts to get this project underway began back in 2018. Members of the Hillsmere community saw the need to protect their beloved community marina after witnessing the erosion of the sand spit peninsula for decades. Although it has been a slow process, the persistence of the Hillsmere community has resulted in a successful project for the neighborhood and the health of the South River.
“This project is a testament to the Hillsmere community’s continued commitment to protecting and restoring the South River,” said Erik Michelsen, Senior Environmental Policy Officer & Deputy Director, Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration Department of Public Works. “It’s one more pearl in the strand of restoration sites, dotted through the neighborhood–on community and private properties–aimed at soaking up pollutants and providing habitat to the benefit of the natural resource. Anne Arundel County wouldn’t be able to achieve its clean water goals without the collaboration of groups like Arundel Rivers Federation and communities like Hillsmere.”
This project’s completion adds another restored shoreline to Arundel Rivers Federation’s continued work to improve the health of the South, West, and Rhode Rivers. By combining science, restoration expertise and strong community partnerships, Arundel Rivers is working to create a healthier future for our rivers and a more resilient future for our communities.
