Because of the many problems with flood and erosion control structures, there has been a shift in recent years toward non-structural shore stabilization techniques. Non-structural shore protection measures generally seek to enhance the natural ability of shorelines to absorb and dissipate storm energy without interfering with natural beach, dune, and bank processes.
Some non-structural shore protection techniques to consider include:
- Renourishing beaches and dunes.
- Stabilizing dunes with fences and vegetation.
- Protecting, nourishing, or constructing dunes.
- Re-vegetating/stabilizing shorelines and/or riparian (river) corridors with native plants.
- Creating or restoring wetlands.
- Prohibiting or more stringently restricting the infill of wetlands.
For information and guidance on dune protection and restoration, see the Texas General Land Office’s Dune Protection and Improvement Manual For the Texas Gulf Coast.
* Your community needs only 500 points to qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums through the Community Rating System (CRS).For more information (including how to apply for the CRS program), see our Community Rating System (CRS) primer.
Notes from the folks at CRS:
“CRS credits programs that maintain measures that protect buildings from coastal flooding or erosion. These include dune and mangrove preservation, bluff stabilization, and beach nourishment programs.”