As a waterfront property owner, you are most certainly aware of shoreline erosion problems. At Sea Horse General Contractors, Inc. we have studied the causes and effects of these problems for over 20 years. During this time we have installed or studied virtually every method of erosion control known to man. The result of our experience and study has shown one product to stand our well in front of the others. And that product is quite simply "stone". Stone sea walls or "revetments" are not new. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been using stone since 1889. Since 1984 stone toe protection has been a requirement on all D.E.P. and C.O.E. permits for vertical sea walls. There is good reason for this requirement. It works!

A sea wall made entirely of stone or a vertical sea wall with stone placed in front of it is probably the best and most durable form of shoreline protection you can buy.

Stone is obviously a very durable material. As far as the structure itself is concerned some settling of a stone wall may occur over time, however the only maintenance that should ever be needed would be to add a layer of stone. This is done mainly for aesthetic reasons, since the shoreline is hardened and the erosion controlled once the stone has been placed.

Scour is a phenomenon that happens to virtually every vertical sea wall but it is rarely recognized. Scour occurs when the energy in a wave is suddenly stopped by a solid object such as a vertical sea wall. The sea wall absorbs very little of this energy. Instead, it deflects the energy and the water upward and downward at the moment of impact. The downward movement of energy and water digs or "scours" sand away from the base of the wall and deposits it a short distance offshore. While in motion, thesuspended sand particles are picked up by "lateral currents" and are carried down shore. This scouring action will continue if un-checked to a depth of 3' +/- below "M.H.W." or until the sand in front of the wall is scoured out to a depth where it is no longer affected by the downward motion of energy and water. this negative action not only removes the original beach in front of the wall, it also undermines the stability of the sea wall causing leakage and tieback failure.

A properly installed stone revetment, whether used alone or in conjunction with a vertical sea wall does not scour like an unprotected vertical wall. Wave energy is not stopped abruptly when it strikes a sloped stone revetment. instead, the wave energy is dragged to a halt as it breaks up the slope. In some cases the beach in front of a revetment will actually build up because waves drop sand and sediment they are carrying as they break upon the rocks.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends a 2' horizontal to 1' vertical slope for a stone revetment. This slope will provide adequate protection from erosion and scour while keeping costs to a minimum.

You might think that a method of shoreline erosion control used by the U.S. Army corps of Engineers would prove to be too costly for the average homeowner. That is simply not the case. A stone wall is comparable in price to a vertical wall made of aluminum, wood, or vinyl.

As we all know, our planet is not getting any bigger or cleaner. Plant and animal species are becoming extinct or endangered at an alarming rate. As a company that works with the Department of environmental Protection Agency on a daily basis, we are keenly aware of environmental issues. In our work with the environmental agencies, in the office and in the field, we have found that stone revetments are an extremely environmentally friendly solution to shoreline erosion. By its very nature, stone is full of cracks and crevices that provide shelter for a multitude of plants and small creatures, from algae to fiddlers to stone crabs and minnows.