Following extensive damage by Hurricane Matthew, 3.5-miles of river shoreline on Patrick Space Force Base needed to be restored. Surveyors performed an edge-of-water boundary determination, mean high water, wetland delineation, wetland species designation, and near-shore water depths to enable design of full revetment, living shoreline and in-water marsh sills.  High-resolution aerial imagery was collected with an unmanned aerial system and processed photogrammetrically to measure shoreline changes over time, particularly after storm events. 

DRMP biologists developed a shoreline planting plan, delineated project wetlands and conducted seagrass and mangrove surveys to minimize project impacts to the greatest extent practical. Civil engineering design included a detailed combination of rock revetment integrated with existing wetland vegetation, geotextile placement, wetland plantings and in-water structures to reduce wave energy to protect this critical shoreline near the airfield and an existing landfill. Force Protection measures were also considered as this shoreline serves as the western base perimeter.

The project provided long-term shoreline stabilization to protect an active airfield and hundreds of US Space Force facilities.