Annapolis Royal set to begin work on 'living shoreline'

Historic Annapolis Royal, N.S., will soon begin making changes to its shoreline to address flood risk and improve the environment.

The "living shoreline" to be constructed is made up of natural elements, such as plants, sand and rocks.

Mayor Amery Boyer said that flooding has been a great concern for the town. An engineering report was concluded last year.

"The thing that seemed to have the greatest public acceptance was the shoreline restoration," Boyer said.

The town awarded an $88,462 contract to CB Wetlands and Environmental Specialists in April. It is part of what will be a $2-million project.

The work will start in the summer and finish by the end of 2026, according to Boyer. 

Comprehensive study

Kirsten Ellis of CB Wetlands and Environmental Specialists said the first step in the restoration will be a comprehensive study.

The Terence Bay-based company will look at sediment movement, wave/tide levels and other indicators of the shoreline's health. It will also look at the human activity in and around the shoreline to come up with a design.

The shoreline from the lighthouse to King's Theatre, around 0.8 hectares, will restored.

Ellis says the company will also look at nearby natural areas to determine what species will work best.

"From what I know of this site and the Bay of Fundy and what's already there, it's very likely that the majority of the plant material will be salt marsh," she said.

Salt marshes provide a first line of defence against flooding, according to Ellis. Salt marshes help hold the soil in place, making it less susceptible to erosion. They also serve as a buffer against waves.

Boyer said the town has secured a $20,900 provincial grant and $880,100 from the federal government. She said the project is now 56 per cent funded.

"We're still looking for the balance of funding, but council has agreed to secure the balance. So we're going ahead with the project," she said. 

Boyer said she's not concerned about a negative impact on local tourism. She said construction will not start right away, and when it does, she hopes it will attract eyes and start conversations. 

"It's kind of a novel thing for us.… So I think there'll be a lot of interest."