.ico)
Atlantic Canadians are connected to the sea via shorelines. Their stunning views, living spaces, and opportunities for work and recreation are fundamental to our way of life. Our coastal towns are among the top tourist destinations in the world, attracting visitors with their natural beauty, recreational activities, and vibrant waterfront communities, sustaining our hospitality industries. Shorelines support the fishing industry, a cornerstone of our province’s identity. It provides jobs, sustains local economies, and delivers fresh seafood to markets across Canada and beyond.The real estate industry is fueled by shorelines, with some of the world's most ambitious architectural projects being located along our coasts, blending modern design with the rugged beauty of the shoreline. However, the communities supported by our shorelines are facing one of their greatest threats yet. Climate change and human intervention are putting properties, infrastructure, natural habitats and way of life at risk.
Warmer waters leading to more intense and frequent storms, rising sea levels, and a sinking crust are accelerating coastal erosion and endangering properties.
Global warming melting glaciers combined with the thermal expansion of seawater is raising sea levels and leading to higher tides and storm surges. Research projects an increase of up to 1 metre in relative sea level rise in Nova Scotia by 2100. Higher sea levels have the potential to damage coastal communities and infrastructure, infiltrate freshwater supplies, and threaten sensitive coastal species and ecosystems.
Relative sea level rise takes into account the local adjustment of the earth’s crust. Unfortunately, for the southern Maritimes, the crust is sinking at 10 to 15 centimeters per century.
Climate change is bringing storms that hammer our coasts, with stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and higher storm surges that erode shorelines, damage properties, and compromise barriers. Warming oceans enable tropical storms to move further north without losing strength. When these storms make landfall, they can contribute to highspeed winds and powerful storm surges. In a changing climate, Nova Scotia will continue to experience more frequent and intense storms.
In May 2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada predicted an above-average hurricane season, with up to 25 named storms and 7 major hurricanes in the North Atlantic. While Nova Scotia avoided a major storm this past season, we cannot count on being so lucky every year. Hurricane Fiona proved this, setting a record for the lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in Canada and causing over CAD 800 million in insured losses, making it Atlantic Canada’s costliest extreme weather event.
Growing storm intensity is being fueled by global warming-induced high ocean temperatures, which have reached unprecedented levels. According to recent reports, North Atlantic sea surface temperatures shattered records throughout 2023 and into early 2024, intensifying storm systems and increasing the risk of extreme weather events in Nova Scotia. Warmer waters provide more energy for storms, making them stronger, longer-lasting, and more destructive. If these trends continue, coastal communities will face even greater challenges in the years ahead.
With hurricane season now right around the corner—just 100 days away—Nova Scotians must take action to prepare for the increasing likelihood of major storms. As our oceans continue to warm, the probability of extreme weather events grows, putting even greater pressure on coastal infrastructure and properties. This urgency highlights the need for sustainable, long-term solutions to shoreline protection.
For decades, many property owners have relied on hard-armour coastal defences like seawalls, riprap, and rock armouring. While these structures may seem effective, they often create more problems than they solve. Hard barriers reflect wave energy, intensifying erosion at their base and accelerating shoreline retreat on neighboring properties. This forces adjacent landowners into a cycle of installing more hard structures, worsening long-term damage. Seawalls and ripraps also degrade over time, requiring expensive maintenance or full reconstruction. Additionally, they disrupt natural coastal processes, including the movement of sediment, which can lead to beach loss, increased erosion, and habitat degradation.
Nature-based shoreline protection, using the Green Shores® program, offers a more effective and sustainable solution. By using natural materials and restoring coastal ecosystems, Green Shores® absorbs wave energy, reduces erosion, and strengthens shorelines over time rather than degrading them. These systems also improve water quality, create habitats for fish and wildlife, and maintain the natural beauty and recreational value of waterfront properties. During extreme weather, nature-based shorelines recover more effectively than hard armour strategies, reducing the risk of catastrophic failures.
Physical Processes – Green Shores® restores physical processes that promote the natural movement of water and sediment needed to maintain healthy shorelines. Techniques such as re-sloping, beach nourishment, the addition of large woody materials, and planting riparian or intertidal vegetation help protect shorelines from erosion and flooding.
Habitat and Biodiversity – Green Shores® enhances habitat for aquatic and terrestrial insects, plants, birds, fish, and other wildlife, increasing the overall biodiversity of the shoreline. Native vegetation, which does not require irrigation or chemical fertilizers, provides food and shelter for native fish and other wildlife while also preventing erosion.
Cost-Effective – Nature-based shoreline protection through Green Shores® can be 35-70% cheaper to install and maintain than hard-armour alternatives such as bulkheads and seawalls. Additionally, Green Shores® projects provide high returns on investment by offering environmental and societal benefits.
Free of Contaminants and Pollutants – Green Shores® helps prevent and reduce pollutants from entering aquatic environments, improving water quality. Unlike hard-armoured structures, which may introduce toxic compounds into marine habitats, nature-based solutions filter runoff and limit pollutants from upland sources.
Fish Habitat – Green Shores® provides spawning habitat and natural cover for fish by incorporating networks of branches, trunks, stems, and roots. Overhanging vegetation contributes essential organic matter to aquatic environments, supporting food chains and sheltering juvenile fish from predators.
Natural and Beautiful – Green Shores® enhances the natural beauty of shorelines by using native vegetation that thrives in local conditions, creating scenic waterfronts and opportunities for wildlife viewing and recreation.
Water Quality – Green Shores® improves local water quality by reducing stormwater runoff. Native shoreline vegetation filters upland runoff, enhances infiltration, and helps retain rainwater, ultimately reducing pollutants entering aquatic environments.
We need your help connecting with coastal/lakefront property owners and developers willing to safeguard their investments by enrolling their sites into the Green Shores® for Homes or Green Shores® for Development programs.
If you're interested in getting involved, we’d love to connect and explore how we can work together to protect our shores for future generations.
At Oakhill Outdoor, we specialize in executing Green Shores® projects. Let us help you build resilience against climate change and safeguard your waterfront investment for future generations.The time to act is now, contact Oakhill Outdoor to explore tailored solutions for your property.
Request an estimate
Copyright © 2025 Oakhill Outdoor Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy
