Reef Innovations
Reef Innovations
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Reef Innovations

Worldwide contractor for designed reef systems and marine habitat restoration

Living shoreline solutions around the world using a complex AR module.

  • Educational
  • Facts
  • Living Shoreline Projects
https://reefinnovations.com/archives/4355

Contact us in your planning stages as we are happy to share research and information as you look for a solutions to your living shoreline issues.

It could be the question of avoiding erosion by providing wave attenuation with a product that has proven success over the past 23 years.  Starting with research sponsored by the US Army Corp of engineers in the 1990.   Or it could be similar to this project designed to protect an Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Tampa Bay.Eagle on Alafia River banks

Aesthetics was an important factor in the design of Reef Balls.  From the water it’s not a sore thumb against the shoreline. The above photo was taken 2 years into the project.  Now phase two is underway with more Reef Balls.

Sometimes the living shoreline solution may be a scattering of Reef Balls.  This technique is proving EFH as well as the required relief for re-establishing oysters.  Reef Balls are the most effective living shoreline solution because of the complexity of the artificial reef modules design.  Various shapes and sizes  of holes, the concave and convex shape of the holes, the hollow center, all the surfaces are curved, adding a benefit in wave attenuation as well as providing the eddie currents for filter feeders.    Complex artificial reef modules such as the Reef Ball have proven to provide a better habitat for crustaceans. Other studies have shown that complex AR modules can match the area’s existing habitat in biomass.oyster dome reefNotice the opening around the base of the Reef Balls,  when on field survey be sure to look inside, the diversity of fish and crustaceans will amaze you. The waverly base of the Reef Balls is often the location of stone crabs.

Sooner or later a storm will cross your living shoreline.   Research has shown that living shorelines add resilience.  One of the key species that stabilize the shoreline are marsh grasses with roots that anchor to depths of 10ft. The catch is many shorelines have lost marsh grasses due to wave action from boat traffic.   The marshes are typically not high energy coast,  but to re-establish the marsh grasses  wave attenuation is needed.  Reef Balls provide that wave attenuation, the design of any breakwater system requires some in depth studies of wind direction, historic wave characteristics,  currents and many other factors.   Regardless, a productive living shoreline needs a flow of water.   Reef Balls, allow that water flow and they have a track record of staying in place in large storms.

SAG (submerged aquatic vegetation)  is important to re-establish,  however wave action also has an impact on these grasses.   Existing seawalls cause a reflective wave adding turbulence on the seafloor.  As the waves reflect from the seawall, they meet the next incoming wave and the resulting action is a doubling of the wave height,  that also affects the bottom so stopping that reflecting wave is of high importance.   A living shoreline solution for areas of seawall that you cannot move offshore to install the breakwater is Eco-Rap.   First developed in 2015 these modules can be placed along an existing seawall  providing wave attenuation, resilience and as a bonus you get IFH as well as crustaceans. The Eco-Rap in Palmetto, Florida helped in the restoration of sea grass beds close to the seawall.it-is-done

Additional research in seagrass beds has shown an importance of a rock outcropping for the juvenile stone crab to settle, in Florida placing a Reef Ball in a seagrass bed, is not readily accepted,  but that is another things to think of as you working on the extended shoreline.  The small microhabitats are proven to be a great form of restoration.

More information on best practices using Reef Balls will an oral presentation at Restore America’s Estuaries Conference Dec. 2016.    Specific information on using Reef Balls for Shellfish Restoration will be an oral presentation at the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration in November. 

coastal restoration Complex artificial reef module complex reef structure living shoreline solutions living shorelines oyster restoration Reef Balls as livings shoreline solutions shellfish restoration
September 21, 2016 Jim McFarlane

Post navigation

October – National Seafood Month → ← Prefered method of using recycled shell for restoration projects

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  • Home
  • Test Page
  • About
    • The Reef Ball Foundation
    • Eternal Reefs
  • Products & Specs
    • Reef Balls
      • Oyster Ball
      • Lo-Pro
      • Mini Bay
      • Bay Ball
      • Pallet Ball
      • Ultra Reef Ball
      • Super Ball
      • Supra Ball
      • Goliath Ball
      • Goliath Ball Modification
      • Goliath Breakwater Ring
      • Goliath Breakwater with Base
      • Goliath with Extended Tall Base
      • Reef Ball on Sloped Base
      • Table Top
      • Model Reef Balls
    • Layer Cakes
      • Oyster Layer Cake
      • Lo-Pro Layer Cake
      • Mini Layer Cake
      • Bay Layer Cake
      • Ultra Layer Cake
      • Pallet Layer Cake
      • Super Layer Cake
      • Goliath Layer Cake
    • Reef Cubes
      • A Cube
      • B Cube
      • C Cube
      • D Cube
      • E Cube
      • 2 tier Reef Cube
      • 3 tier Reef Cube
      • 4 tier Reef Cube
      • 5 tier Reef Cube
      • Reef Cube with attached Reef Ball
    • Other Modules
      • Anchor
      • Chanel Marker Habitat
      • Deep Cover
      • Eco-Rap
      • Juvenile Habitat IJV
      • Mangrove Cultivating Pot
      • Smart Reef
    • Product and Service Price List
  • Ecosystem/Services
    • Blue Carbon Credits
    • Breakwater Construction
    • Breakwater Design
    • Deployment
    • Design & Consulting
      • Site Evaluation & Surveys
      • Custom Designs & Models
    • Diving Services
    • Ecosystem Restoration
      • Coral
      • Living Shoreline / Living Breakwaters
        • Erosion Control Project – Checklist
      • Mangrove Restoration
      • Oyster Reefs
        • Reef Balls produce more oysters.
      • Docks & Along Seawalls – A great place for Reef Balls
    • Habitats
      • Deep Cover Protective Habitat
      • EFH = Essential Fish Habitat
      • Layer Cake Lobster Habitat
      • Micro Habitat
      • Under Dock Habitats
      • Use of Reef Balls in River’s
    • Monitoring
    • Reef Ball Training & QC
    • Side Scan Sonar & DGPS
    • Volunteer Projects
  • Projects
    • Africa – Jambiani 2015
    • Atlantic Ocean Western
      • Bahamas
        • Bahamas – Baha Mar 2014 Cable Beach
        • Castaway Cay – Disney Crewesline
        • Deadman’s Reef Snorkeling the Reef Balls
        • Paradise Cove Grand Bahamas
        • Halfmoon Cay
        • Coco Cay
      • Canada
      • Caribbean Reef Balls
        • Antigua
        • Barbados
        • Dominican Republic
          • Cadaques
          • GRAN DOMINICUS BEACH RESORT
          • Canola Hilton Submerged Reef Ball Breakwater
        • Curacao
        • Jamaica
        • Antigua
        • St Maarten
      • Grand Caymen
      • Montserrat
        • Monstserrat
      • Nova Scotia
      • Turks & Caicos Islands
        • Beaches – Reef Ball Project
        • Providenciales
        • Smiths Reef
        • Pine Cay
        • Grand Turk
    • Europe
    • Mediterranean Sea
      • Spain
      • Italy
    • Mexico
      • Mayan Palace Submerged Breakwater
    • Middle East
      • Bahrain – Reef Arabia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Bahrain
    • Pacific Ocean – Western
      • Indonesia – Reef Balls
      • Malaysia
        • Talang Talang
        • Sabah
        • Photos from Malaysia
    • US – West Coast
      • Alaska — Reef Balls in ALASKA
      • California
        • Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
        • Reef Ball Reef designed has for California 2013
        • Santa Barbara
        • Reef Ball Reef designed for California
    • US – North East
      • Connecticut
        • Stratford Point
      • Maryland
        • Chesapeake
          • Cooks Point – Reef Balls
        • Stevenson Reef Ball Project
        • Cook Point Reef Ball Site
        • Ocean City
        • Bay Area
        • Perry Hall
        • Talbot County
      • Massachusetts
      • New York
        • Bay Keepers Oyster Restoration Program
        • Jamaica Bay
        • West Harlem Waterfront Park 2006
        • Risherman (Yellowbar) Reef
        • NJ reef food web
      • New Jersey
        • Atlantic City Reef
        • New Jersey Eternal Reef Balls
      • Virginia
    • US – South East
      • Alabama
        • Dolphin Island
        • Alabama Off Shore Reef Balls
        • Coffee Island
        • Mobile County
      • Florida
        • Bay County
          • Mexico Beach, FL
        • Brevard CO
        • Broward County Reef Balls
          • Broward ORB
          • Ft. Laud / Miami
        • Charlotte County
          • Punta Gorda Isles
          • Port Charlotte
        • Collier
          • Naples
        • Dade County Reef Balls
          • Biscayne Bay
          • Loucif Project
        • Dixie County Reef Balls
        • Duval County
          • Charles H Kirbo Reef
          • St Johns River
        • Escambia Count Reef Balls
          • Laars Reef Ball Site
          • Pensacola
        • Flagler County Reef Balls
        • Franklin Count Reef Balls
        • Hernando Co.
          • Hernando County Reef 2017
        • Hillsborough Co.
          • Alafia Banks Bird Sanctuary
        • Indian River
        • Lee County
          • Ft. Myers
          • Midigation Projects
          • Ft. Myers / Naples
          • Cape Coral
        • Manatee Co.
          • Palmetto Eco-Rap
            • 2016 Palmetto Living Seawall Deployment
        • Monroe County
          • Islamarada
        • Oculina Bank home to 105 Reef Balls
        • Okaloosa County Reef Balls
        • Pinellas County
          • Largo
          • Clearwater
          • Maderia Beach
          • St. Petersburg
          • Treasure Island
        • Plam Beach
        • Santa Rosa
        • Sarasota
          • Sarasota County Reef Balls
          • Anglers Reef Sarasota, Florida
        • Seminole
        • St. Johns County
        • Tampa
        • Tampa Bay
          • Tampa Bay Watch
          • MacDill AFB Shore Enhancement
        • Volusia County Reef Balls
          • Daytona
      • Georga
      • Levy County – Nature Coast Biological Station
      • Louisiana
        • Lake Pontchartrain
      • Mississippi
        • FH-6
        • FH-8, FH-9, FH-10, & Cat Island
        • Mississippi FH2
      • South Carolina
        • Charleston
        • Myrtle Beach
      • Tennessee – Fish Habitat
      • North Carolina
        • Long Beach Pier, NC
        • Topsail Reef
        • Wilmington
        • Morris Landing Holly Ridge NC
        • North Carolina – South River Construction Site
        • Englehard, NC
        • Wanchese
        • Town of Oriental, North Carolina
        • Brunswick CO.
        • Topsail Island
      • Texas Projects
        • Galveston
        • Moses Lake
        • Texas – Oyster Lake
        • S Padre Island
        • Baytown
  • Science / Reference
    • Best Practices using Reef Balls on Living Shorelines.
    • Educational Projects with High School / Middle School Students
    • Photos
    • Posters
    • Presentations
      • J McFarlane’s Slide Decks from Presentations
    • Research Papers
      • Breakwater Research
      • Nutrient Enrichment increases severity of coral diseases and bleaching
      • Research – Coral Reefs Soften Ocean’s Fury for Millions of Coastal Dwellers
    • Research site specific, projects using Reef Balls
      • Breakwater Research using Reef Balls
      • Estuary Research projects using Reef Balls
    • Sharks & Reef Balls
    • Restore Act Science Program
    • Video’s
    • Sarasota Weather
  • Links
    • Volunteers building Reef Balls
  • Shop
    • Reef Ball Foundation Donation
  • Posts
  • Contact
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