Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve Partners with Local Organizations to Install Living Shoreline at Tomoka State Park

The Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve (TMAP) recently partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the University of Central Florida’s Coastal & Estuarine Ecology Lab (CEELAB), DEP's Tomoka State Park, the Marine Discovery Center (MDC) and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida to install a living shoreline aimed at restoring and protecting critical coastal habitat within the preserve. The collaborative project took place along the shoreline at Tomoka State Park, where staff, researchers and volunteers worked together to enhance the area’s natural defenses against erosion while improving habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. As part of the project, participants planted native mangroves and marsh grasses, which play a vital role in stabilizing shorelines, filtering water and providing nursery habitat for many estuarine species. The team also installed biodegradable wave breaks, designed to reduce wave energy and protect newly planted vegetation as it becomes established. Living shorelines are nature-based solutions that help combat coastal erosion while maintaining the ecological functions of coastal habitats. Unlike traditional hardened shorelines, these approaches support biodiversity and improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems to storms and sea-level rise.