Hepburn Family Preserve Living Shoreline Project - November 13 Update

Dear Fenwick Friends and Neighbors, 

This email provides a brief update and look-ahead for Fenwick’s living shoreline and dune restoration at the Hepburn Family Preserve.

The project has maintained a productive pace since the last update on Fri., October 23 and the residents tour the afternoon of Wed., October 28. The project is now a month in since having started on Oct. 13.

Since the 10/23 update, the crew has continued to build “stone sills” consisting of massive anchor stones and armoring stone placed above. Of these nine in-surf elements to mitigate wave energy and promote regrowth of marsh plants and habitat, stone placement is complete for five and partially completed on three.

The plastic culvert installed after the 2018 storms has been removed from just inside the breech and Crab Creek has been moved slightly landward to allow for dune construction. Ultimately, this portion of the creek will be further inland and connect to the pond via an improved culvert. The creek’s re-alignment is necessary to provide space for the restored dune, allow for natural shifts over time, and to better protect the creek. The new culvert will help to minimize blockage and improve passage of aquatic life.

While onsite materials are being used where possible, the project also requires importing significant stone and sand. This has included 2,600 ton of dune sand, 900 ton of marsh sand, and 60 ton of cobble (rounded stone). With this material now on site and staged for use, the borough can expect less delivery traffic.

Over the next few weeks, the team will build the remaining sills and place a mix of existing and imported cobble on all of the sills’ sloping edges. At the east end of the restoration area, work will include installation of coir logs*, marsh sand, and biodegradable matting. The team will also begin shaping the east end of the dune.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this restoration possible.

Special thank you to donors within the Fenwick community and to the generous contributors from outside of the borough.

Best wishes,

Brett

Brett T. Morrison
Associate Director of Development