ABSTRACT
This chapter presents case studies and information from both the gray and peer-reviewed literature to synthesize the understanding on the functioning and ecosystem services provision of a living shoreline marsh ecosystem. It focuses on living shoreline approaches that include created salt marsh, a prevalent living shoreline technique found in many US settings but notably along the East and Gulf coasts. The chapter examines the potential for living shoreline ecosystems to improve coastal resilience in urbanized estuaries with threatened coastal habitats. Living shorelines efficiently mimic tidal regime; however, the other components vary greatly on the basis of design characteristics and, because of the complex ecological interactions in the marsh, may result in greatly decreased function. Faunal recruitment on the surface of living shoreline marshes may be limited because of restricted access from the high elevations of some stone sills or possibly reduced survival from less-than-optimal habitat conditions.
