SHORELINE
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE & REPAIR
The Department of the Environment understands and respects waterfront property owners’ rights to protect their property from erosion by installing a carefully designed shoreline revetment. It is in the best interest of waterfront property owners to select the most environmentally sensitive method of combating shore erosion. Whether that property lies at the head of a creek or nestled upon the Chesapeake Bay, Weems Brothers, Inc. can design, install, and maintain a riprap revetment or bulkhead that is aesthetically pleasing and, more importantly, functional. Our revetments and bulkheads provide an excellent means of shoreline protection and are built to withstand rough seas and weather.
Revetments serve as a low-cost solution to coastal erosion, but have an incredible impact on the health and future of our waterways. Secured by a well-established toe line, our riprap seawall designs are built using expertly selected stone and utilize a filter cloth barrier which disrupts the force of the water and helps to move it towards the direction of the channel. The final rocks of the seawall are hand-placed to fill the smaller voids and tighten the bond for a visually pleasing and long-lasting structure. Through the design process, the appropriate type of revetment is carefully matched to the type of bank and exposure. In appropriate situations, a timber and vinyl bulkhead may be selected.
LIVING SHORELINE
Protecting Maryland’s natural resources is one of the Weems Brothers’ passions. As natives of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, we pride ourselves in building, restoring, and protecting living shorelines locally and across the state. Over 60+ years, our company has helped to protect hudreds of miles of shoreline in the Mid-shore region. Our projects, both large and small, contribute to the overall health of the waterways and the land surrounding them. The first step in creating a living shoreline is to determine if it is the right solution to coastal erosion for each area of waterfront property. The Department of Natural Resources provides information on the requirements, laws, and funding regarding Maryland’s Living Shorelines.
Creating a living shoreline may include the use of fibre coir logs, sills, groins, breakwaters or other natural components used in combination with sand, other natural materials and/or marsh plantings. Some owners of waterfront property opt for living shorelines because they can provide a shallow water habitat that results in higher abundance and diversity of aquatic species both nearshore and offshore. It can also improve water quality, absorb wave energy, and maintain natural shoreline dynamics and sand movement. Weems Brothers, Inc. is dedicated to creating living shorelines that preserve and protect native habitats while still maintaining the natural aesthetic of our beautiful state waterways.
