Like ocean beaches, sheltered coastal areas experience land loss from erosion and sea level rise. In response, property owners often install hard structures such as bulkheads as a way to prevent further erosion, but these structures cause changes in the coastal environment that alter landscapes, reduce public access and recreational opportunities, diminish natural habitats, and harm species that depend on these habitats for shelter and food. Mitigating Shore Erosion Along Sheltered Coasts recommends coastal planning efforts and permitting policies to encourage landowners to use erosion control alternatives that help retain the natural features of coastal shorelines.

The publication is a general guideline for those interested in suitable and economical methods of shore protection. It is of value to those who require information on forces affecting a specific shore area. The information is general in nature. It is of particular interest of officials to avoid approving inadequate measures which appear inexpensive but prove costly for long-range planning. It aids in selecting the best plan for the required protection. Shore processes and natural protective features are stressed for the property owner, along with the hazards of building in a fluctuating zone. It is necessary to regard the beach area as much a part of the sea as of the land and realize that inundation depends on beach dimensions relative to the intensity of water motion to which it is subjected. Natural protective features and coastal structures enhance the shoreline and prevent erosion. (Author).