Design Choices for Healthy Shorelines

There are inevitable downsides to any coastal construction project and impacts on marine life vary depending on a variety of location-specific factors, such as hydrodynamic conditions, tidal height, and local risk of species invasions. Locally-informed environmental impact assessment is therefore crucial.

However, detrimental effects on marine life are likely to be mitigated by incorporating several key principles early on the design process.

Core themes of blue-green design

	*Increasing structural complexity*
	*Using textured surfaces*
	*Letting in the light*
	*Hidey holes*
	*Limiting use of artificial lighting*
	*Building with the flow*