Holding the line: How Geotube® shoreline protection is standing strong in Little Shemogue
Severe coastal erosion had caused dramatic changes to a property in Little Shemogue, New Brunswick, reducing the shoreline that once stretched 70 feet from the house to the ocean to less than 30 feet.
Over the years, storms, including Hurricane Fiona, accelerated the loss, carving steep bluffs, toppling trees and putting the land at risk. The homeowners wanted a solution that could provide long-term protection while maintaining accessibility and a natural look along the coast. They noticed that the conventional riprap systems protecting some nearby homes had slumped, rocks had been displaced and that the structures appeared too unstable to safely cross to access the beach.
Instead of accepting the common approach, the homeowners became the first in New Brunswick to install a Geotube Shoreline Protection system. This approach incorporates large, sand-filled geotextile tubes to form a continuous, durable barrier that withstands wave energy, resists UV degradation and abrasion, and can last several decades.
Unlike ordinary riprap, Geotube® containers can become part of a living shoreline solution that allows sand to naturally accumulate and enables coastal vegetation to grow. The monolithic mass of the Geotubes withstands wave attack to stabilize the erosion zone, while the elliptical shape and durable fabric contribute to a more natural aesthetic.
In 2024, four 50-foot Geotubes® were installed on scour aprons and covered with sand and soil to conceal the structure and encourage vegetation growth. The scour aprons are installed under the Geotubes to protect against undercutting by waves. Each side of the scour apron is equipped with an anchor tube, which is set into the sand and ensures the scour apron remains in position even during storms and high waves.
Although a severe storm displaced some of the covering sand just a few months after installation was completed, the Geotubes remained in position and continue to provide durable and reliable shoreline protection.
Learn more about Geotube shoreline protection.
Contact us to discuss a Geotube shoreline protection system that can help defend buildings, infrastructure and natural areas from erosion and create a resilient living shoreline solution.
