Franklin 98’s Living Shoreline

A Model for Florida’s Coastal Communities

Coastal erosion, extreme storms, and rising seas have long threatened the stretch of US Highway 98 that connects the communities of Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Carrabelle, and St. George Island in Franklin County, Florida. In response, the Apalachicola Reserve partnered to build a living shoreline between Carrabelle and Eastpoint. This innovative project aims to protect the region’s main evacuation route, safeguard local habitats, and provide opportunities for nearby communities to learn about alternative approaches to preserving coastal environments along the Gulf Coast.

After years of seeing traditional seawalls and concrete revetments fail, the Reserve and its partners saw an opportunity to implement a more sustainable solution in 2019. Building on a track record of success with living shorelines dating back to 1984, they worked with NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management to engage U.S. Naval Academy students in conducting a feasibility study along the route. When the study confirmed a living shoreline could be appropriate, the Reserve partnered with the Apalachee Regional Planning Council, Rick Harter, WSP, and Conservation Corps of the Forgotten and Emerald Coasts to restore the shoreline and oyster reefs along a six-mile stretch of this critical evacuation and commuter route for Franklin County.

Drone imagery shows Apalachicola Bay before (left) and after the living shoreline was built.

The project restored 20 acres of oyster reef and 30 acres of salt marsh along the highway, creating a self-sustaining barrier that protects against both erosion and storms. The marshes’ dense root systems help stabilize the land and absorb water, while oyster reefs reduce wave energy. 

“Living shorelines can adapt to changing conditions,” says Kim Miller, the Reserve’s assistant manager and restoration coordinator. “Marshes and oyster reefs help absorb wave energy, trap sediment, and provide food, shelter and spawning grounds for a variety of marine life, all of which helps enhance water quality in the surrounding area. Our goal is to use nature to help combat erosion while providing all of these other benefits.”

The Florida Corps, an environmental workforce development training program for young adults, has worked with the Reserve for eight years on restoration projects, including living shorelines. With the support of the Reserve staff, the Corps has developed OysterCorps, a coastal restoration training academy focused on oyster habitat, tidal marsh, seagrass meadows. and dune ecosystem restoration. 

“The relationship with these professionals has led to many successes; one being the development of a native plant nursery to support restoration projects such as Franklin 98, an oyster shell recycling initiative, and best of all, providing Corps members with long-term professional employment in the environmental field,” says Joe Taylor, the Corps’ executive director.

The Corps planting Spartina.

When the project was first announced, some residents worried about how the living shoreline might impact their properties, harm wildlife, or block access to the water. The Reserve and their partners took this as an opportunity to engage and educate community members about the benefits of living shorelines, for example, through workshops for homeowners and contractors. 

The project is moving into its second phase, which will involve working with property owners to extend the shoreline even further. Their ongoing outreach and the visible success of the project are gradually shifting public opinion. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has also reached out to learn more about the project and possibly extend it on FDOT property. 

“I have watched the changes along the shoreline,” says Charles Petty, AmeriCorps program director for OysterCorps. “The sand is building up and the marsh grasses we have planted are healthy and spreading as they should. If you walk around the edges of the reefs that face the water, you see a ton of sea life, small crabs, baby fish, and new oysters. You can watch the birds come to find food among the rocks. It is pretty exciting.”

This engagement builds on years of working with schools to give every local child the opportunity to learn about and help restore wetlands and oyster reefs, not once, but six times as they move from pre-K to high school. In fifth grade, students learn about the habitat integrated into living shorelines and plant a section of shoreline at the Reserve. They return in seventh grade to measure the progress of marsh growth, which instills a sense of pride and ownership over the shoreline. A particularly visible section of the project is located in front of the school along the road, ensuring that students and residents alike can experience the shoreline firsthand. The Franklin 98 project was made possible by $8 million provided through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s, Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and the Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund.