Fighting shoreline erosion with a natural buffer

An ecological landscaping company from Nova Scotia is in P.E.I. this week, heading up a project to create a natural buffer zone against erosion.

Two watershed groups are involved, along with community members and the UPEI climate lab. They are building protection along a 120-metre section of eroding cliff near Augustine Cove, on the Northumberland Strait west of Charlottetown.

The crew takes dead trees and hay bales and stacks them together, then plants vegetation amongst them to anchor them all to the soil.

It's the first time this kind of natural method has been used on P.E.I., instead of a rock wall.

Susan Sorensen is one of dozens of volunteers who turned out to help. She is facing erosion problems at her cottage, but doesn't want a rock wall.

"It was wonderful to come and learn that there was an alternative," said Sorensen.

"There are small steps that we can take, like we need not cut right up to the edge of the shore."

Creating a stable shoreline

Rosmarie Lohnes created the landscaping company Helping Nature Heal 14 years ago. Since that time it has been working on repairing the Nova Scotia coastline.

"By the end of three years, it's unbelievable how much has grown," said Lohnes.

"By five years we really don't have to do anything. It's a stable system again."

The South Shore Watershed Association hired Lohnes with a $30,000 federal grant. The Bedeque Bay Environmental Association is also helping out, as are staff of the UPEI climate lab, including Derek Ellis.

"We know that erosion is a problem here on P.E.I.," said Ellis.

"If we can mitigate that using these natural techniques, and it works, then let's do it!"

The main building of the barrier will be complete Thursday. How well the barrier works will be monitored over the next few years.