.png)
THE PENINSULA
~ of Mobile ~
Pocket Beach
Pilot Program
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program's Western Shoreline Management Plan
Pocket Beaches, Breakwaters, and Living Shorelines to defend our waterfront.
Coastal erosion occurs when land along the shoreline gradually or suddenly wears away due to everyday wave action, passing boat wakes, stormwater runoff, and large storm events. The result is a slow but steady deterioration of our waterfront and the habitats that surround it.
​
In response, many property owners along the western shore have turned to armoring with "bulkheads"—rigid vertical walls of wood, concrete, stone, or vinyl—meant to hold back soil at the water’s edge as a quick fix against erosion. But decades of research have shown that they actually cause much more harm than good.
Mobile Bay is one of Alabama’s greatest treasures - rich in history, biodiversity, and vital to the health of the entire Gulf Coast. But this treasure is in danger. For decades, relentless shoreline erosion has been wearing away our coast, threatening our property, wildlife, and water quality.
​
Western shore of Mobile Bay, pilot project zone. (figure 1)
These rigid retaining walls along both sides of Mobile Bay create a phenomenon known as the “bathtub effect”. Instead of absorbing wave energy, bulkheads bounce it back into the water, amplifying wave action and destabilizing the shoreline. This increased turbulence scours away sediment, muddies the water, and destroys habitat for marine life and vegetation. Over time, bulkheads accelerate the very erosion they were meant to stop.
​
Thankfully, scientists and coastal engineers have developed Living Shorelines, an innovative approach using nature-based techniques that stabilize the coast while restoring habitats and improving water quality.
​
Unlike bulkheads, living shorelines work with natural processes. They absorb wave energy, trap sediment, and encourage the growth of vegetation and marine life. Just as importantly, they become stronger over time instead of weaker.
Living shoreline projects are tailored to their surroundings, each one uniquely crafted based on the current physical and ecological conditions of the subject area. Some involve planting marsh grasses to hold soil in place (St. Andrew's Bay), others rebuild barrier islands to buffer wave energy (Perdido Islands), and some even use Beneficial Use dredge material to restore habitats (Dauphin Island Causeway). Whatever the method, the goal is the same: a shoreline that is both resilient and thriving.
​
Now, in partnership with the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP), The Peninsula of Mobile has an extraordinary opportunity to bring living shorelines to our side of the bay through Pocket Beaches.
Pocket beaches at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, AL.. (figure 3)
Pocket beach example.
A pocket beach is exactly what it sounds like—a gently sloping sandy beach cradled between protective rock structures called breakwaters along the shoreline. These breakwaters are designed to disperse incoming wave action; this settles the water and guides currents to wrap around them, creating a safe 'pocket' where sediment naturally collects. Over time, this process builds a resilient beach that stabilizes the shoreline while also enhancing habitat for marine life.
​
You may have already seen how effective this approach can be at our local Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama and Bayfront Park in Coden, Alabama. The resort and park both implemented pocket beaches along their bay shoreline, creating beautiful sandy beaches where guests can enjoy the water while safeguarding its health. (See attached figure 3 and figure 5 examples.)
Pocket beaches are more than just protective barriers. They provide a place where fish, crabs, oysters, and birds thrive in calmer waters. They help sediment settle naturally, making Mobile Bay clearer and healthier. They outperform traditional bulkheads during storms, buffering surge and wave action. And unlike walls that degrade over time, pocket beaches grow stronger as natural processes take hold.
​
Mobile Bay is no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes. Each season, our coast takes a beating, and bulkheads alone cannot keep up. Pocket beaches and breakwaters represent the best answer for long-term protection, not only defending property but also reviving the Bay itself.
Pocket beach example.
Living shorelines have the proven benefits of:
​
-
Cleaner water - reduction of the bathtub effect and plant life is able to thrive and filter trapped sediments
​​
-
Less erosion - marsh plants and breakwaters aid in reducing wave energy
​​
-
Wildlife habitat - these systems create safe spaces for fish, shellfish, birds, oysters, and more
​​
-
Storm resilience - living shorelines are shown to outperform bulkheads during hurricanes
Where you now see collapsing bulkheads and muddy water imagine instead calm stretches of clean sand, marsh grasses swaying in the tide, ospreys and herons feeding along the shore, and fish nurseries flourishing in the shallows. Imagine families enjoying a healthier, more beautiful bayfront where marine life thrives in waters that are clearer and safer.
This is not just about stopping erosion—it is about restoring the life and beauty of Mobile Bay for generations to come.
Pocket beaches at our local Bayfront Park in Coden, AL. (figure 5)
For this vision to succeed, community participation is essential. A single pocket beach can make a difference for one property, but when many property owners join together, the shoreline becomes a continuous, resilient chain that protects everyone.
​
The Peninsula of Mobile is proud to lead this effort with MBNEP, but we cannot do it alone. This project belongs to everyone who loves and depends on the Bay—fishermen, families, boaters, birdwatchers, and homeowners alike. By investing in living shorelines, you are investing in the long-term protection of property, the health of our waters, the resilience of our community, and the preservation of a Bay that will continue to be a source of life, beauty, and heritage for future generations.​
The old model of bulkheads and seawalls is failing Mobile Bay. It is expensive, short-lived, and destructive. Pocket beaches, breakwaters, and living shorelines are the future and now is the time to act.
​​
With your support, we can transform our shoreline from a place under threat into a thriving, resilient landscape that protects property, restores habitats, and ensures Mobile Bay remains one of Alabama’s greatest treasures.
​
Donate today and be part of restoring the western shore of Mobile Bay. Together, we can turn the tide.
​
If you have any questions or would like to know how you can get involved, please reach out The Peninsula of Mobile at ThePeninsulaOfMobile@gmail.com.