- Completed site visits and reviewed available topographic survey to establish base condition
- Prepared design documents for review and approvals
- Assisted in preparation of permit documents
- Provided Construction Phase Services
The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Resiliency Grant Program to increase coastal resilience and reduce risk to people, infrastructure and natural resources in coastal communities by building and monitoring nature-based coastal infrastructure throughout New England. TNC raised additional matching funds with grants from 11th Hour Racing and the RI Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Trust Fund, administered by CRMC. The objective of the program is to identify and test living solutions to improve shoreline protection and monitor the results over time. The Rhode Island project included the construction and monitoring of two bluff erosion control treatments for the purpose of stabilizing the bluff and creating salt marsh for beach protection at Rose Larisa Park (renamed Crescent Park.)
Challenge
Challenge: In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, GZA teamed with SumCo Eco-Contracting to provide engineering design, permitting support, and construction administration services for the design and construction of two bluff erosion control treatments including a biodegradable living shoreline with appropriate plantings and an intertidal sill along the beach below the bluff at the park on Narragansett Bay.
Solution
Solution: GZA completed a site visit and reviewed the provided topographic survey of the beach and bluff area to establish the base plan for the design of the treatments. Design plans were developed and reviewed with TNC and CRMC. GZA also provided sketches for inclusion in permitting documents prepared by TNC and CRMC. Following reviews and approvals, the construction of the proposed designs was completed. Construction was performed by SumCo Eco-Contracting under the watchful eye of The Nature Conservancy. Volunteers from CRMC, TNC and Save the Bay helped with planting efforts during construction.
Benefit
Benefit: Building on the success of this first in Rhode Island living shoreline installed in 2020, the city and CRMC approved an expanded hybrid shoreline restoration design in 2026. This expansion project features a low rock wall topped with native vegetation and coconut-fiber logs to naturally stabilize the steep coastal bluff.