{ "culture": "en-US", "name": "", "guid": "", "catalogPath": "", "snippet": "To provide a recommended preferred approach for shoreline erosion control via a geospatial Shoreline Management Model that identifies where living shorelines are suitable.", "description": "

In 2011, the Virginia General Assembly adopted a policy into law that specifies living shorelines as the preferred management practice for erosion control in Virginia waters. In accordance with the law, the Commonwealth defines a living shoreline as<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> \"...<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>a shoreline management practice that provides erosion control and water quality benefits; protects, restores or enhances natural shoreline habitat; and maintains coastal processes through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill, and other structural and organic materials\". The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has been developing tools for many years to guide local governments in shoreline management. In particular, they have focused on the use of ecologically preferred alternatives for erosion control and have conducted research into refining the appropriate uses for a large suite of possible treatments based on existing shoreline conditions. A series of Decision Trees were developed to determine shoreline best management practices (BMPs) when conducting onsite inspections. These were developed to support integrated guidance at the management and regulatory level. This body of work has been expanded and re-developed as a GIS spatial model known as the Shoreline Management Model (SMM) to determine appropriate shoreline BMPs from the desk-top using available spatial data and the decision tree logic. The assessment is conducted at parcel level scale, but the output represents a reach based or cumulative approach to shoreline management. <\/SPAN><\/P>

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In 2023, CCRM began an update of the SMM. Version 6.0 continues to use fetch, nearshore bathymetry, bank height, marsh presence, beach presence, presence of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), roads and permanent structures within the riparian zone, and existing shoreline erosion control structures. To enhance the model\u2019s capabilities for evaluating best management practices and determining where erosion control practices may impact ecologically sensitive areas, version 6.0 adds federal navigation channels, presence of RTE species via predicted suitable habitat, bank slope, and narrow creeks. <\/SPAN><\/P>

Most appropriate for desk-top reviews, regulatory compliance and comprehensive planning, the recommendations derived from the SMM may be altered due to lot size, shoreline length along a single parcel, proximity of primary buildings to the shoreline, type of existing erosion control structures, land use practices, and local biota. The output of the SMM is delivered to the end user in two ways: interactive map viewer, and digital ArcGIS file geodatabase.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "summary": "To provide a recommended preferred approach for shoreline erosion control via a geospatial Shoreline Management Model that identifies where living shorelines are suitable.", "title": "Shoreline Management Model v.6.0 - Preferred Shoreline Best Management Practices", "tags": [ "shoreline", "water interface shoreline", "Shoreline Inventory", "Shoreline Management Model", "Virginia", "living shoreline", "shoreline erosion control" ], "type": "", "typeKeywords": [], "thumbnail": "", "url": "", "minScale": 50000, "maxScale": 5000, "spatialReference": "", "accessInformation": "Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM), Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)", "licenseInfo": "

These data should be used to guide the decision making process on how best to manage an erosion problem. Recommendations are made without consideration of property length, ownership, or value. Treatment recommendations are based on models that utilize best available data which may not reflect the actual conditions present on the shoreline. The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) provides these data with the understanding that they are not guaranteed to be correct or complete, and conclusions drawn from the data set are the sole responsibility of the user. Every attempt has been made to ensure that these data and the documentation are reliable and accurate. CCRM, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VA-DEQ, VCZMP) assume no liability for any damages caused by inaccuracies in the data or documentation; and make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or utility of this information, nor does the fact of distribution constitute a warranty.<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>CCRM, VIMS, and VA-DEQ -VCZMP do not endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "portalUrl": "" }