PORTSMOUTH, Va. — On Thursday, volunteers with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Elizabeth River Project began installing a "living shoreline" in Portsmouth.
Living shorelines are made up of hundreds of oyster shells and marsh grasses. They help protect waterfront properties from erosion and reduce water pollution.
Unlike bulkheads and other hard structures, living shorelines can grow over time and provide numerous environmental benefits like pollution reduction, improved water quality, slowed coastal erosion, and attracting wildlife.
Thursday's project will ultimately build a 718-foot shoreline of oyster castles and marsh grasses at a private home on Linnet Lane in Portsmouth.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is looking for more volunteers to help with projects like this all summer and into the fall. To find out more or to register, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's website.