Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary Living Shoreline

Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a diversity of habitat and dynamic ecosystems.  The shoreline has endured decades of storm damage. Historic efforts to restore the shoreline involved man-made structures which were washed out after storm events. 

Westchester County is taking a different approach to shoreline rehabilitation using a combination of natural and nature-based features, referred to as a living shoreline.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a living shoreline by being made up mostly of native material. It incorporates natural vegetation or other living, natural soft elements along or in combination with some type of hardened structure, like oyster reefs, rock sills, or anchored large wood for added stability. Living shorelines connect the land and water to stabilize the shoreline, reduce erosion, and provide ecosystem services, like valuable habitat, that enhance coastal resilience. 

The shoreline design at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary was inspired by Stratford Point,  Fairfield County, CT.  

Our shoreline has several new features:

 - a restored coastal berm, dune and plantings are found in the backshore and upland planting zone;

- the intertidal salt marsh planting zone will have saltmarsh grass and saltmeadow cordgrass to recruit peat and stabalize the sediment;

- the areas with higher wave energy have reef ball structures and boulder sills to help dissipate wave energy, protect the landward shore from eroding, and create habitat for a variety of organisms.  A reef ball can be viewed in person next to our Educational Sign, located at the far end of the shoreline.

Help us document changes to the shoreline as we install and manage the first living shoreline in Westchester County.  Upload your photo to Chronolog, a monitoring tool powered by people like you. Your photos will help us to better understand and manage this amazing site.