“Living shoreline” to stem erosion, improve navigation, and develop lasting partnerships at Sebastian Inlet’s Coconut Point

A group gathers on a beach, listening to a speaker about marine life, equipped with gear and surrounded by nature.
Natalie Stephens, an ORCA research associate, trains citizen volunteers to gather data at the living shoreline site.
Two women in blue shirts discuss while standing in shallow water, with a third person working nearby. It's a natural, outdoor setting.
Sebastian Inlet District Commissioner Lisa Frazier (left) talks with Stacy Busche, the agency's Contracts and Accounting Manager.
A group of people in shallow water is using a net, likely for marine research or fishing, under a sunny sky.
ORCA volunteers canvas the shoreline as part of their data-gathering training.
A group of people on a beach are working with tools, possibly conducting research or measurements near the water.
People in water are working with tools to conduct research or fishing, with sun protection clothing on a sunny day.
Sebastian Inlet District Executive Director James Gray sets a marker.
People by the shore are using a net for fishing or sampling in the water, with a sunny sky in the background.
Three individuals are in shallow water, working together on an activity involving a white cylindrical object.
Setting markers at the monitoring site.
A group of people are engaged in an activity at a table, likely involving measurements and materials for a project or experiment.
Volunteers train to collect and measure project site samples.
A group of people is engaged in a scientific or educational activity at a table outdoors, using equipment and materials.
A lesson on measuring collected data.
A group of individuals in waders stands in shallow water, some holding equipment, likely engaged in marine research or education.
Getting wet is part of the traning process.
A group gathers on a beach, listening to a speaker about marine life, equipped with gear and surrounded by nature.
Two women in blue shirts discuss while standing in shallow water, with a third person working nearby. It's a natural, outdoor setting.
A group of people in shallow water is using a net, likely for marine research or fishing, under a sunny sky.
A group of people on a beach are working with tools, possibly conducting research or measurements near the water.
People in water are working with tools to conduct research or fishing, with sun protection clothing on a sunny day.
People by the shore are using a net for fishing or sampling in the water, with a sunny sky in the background.
Three individuals are in shallow water, working together on an activity involving a white cylindrical object.
A group of people are engaged in an activity at a table, likely involving measurements and materials for a project or experiment.
A group of people is engaged in a scientific or educational activity at a table outdoors, using equipment and materials.
A group of individuals in waders stands in shallow water, some holding equipment, likely engaged in marine research or education.

 

The Sebastian Inlet District in coordination with Sebastian Inlet State Park has designed a pilot project known as  “Coconut Point Shoreline Resilience Project”  to help reduce erosion along the south side of Coconut Point at Sebastian Inlet State Park while improving the marine habitat diversity along  the shoreline.

In July, Reef Arches LLC will install 22 reef arch structures and up to 90 seven-gallon mangroves along approximately 200 feet of eroded shoreline at Coconut Point, a finger of land on the south side of Sebastian Inlet State Park. Reef arches are prefabricated, honeycomb-shaped modular units used for coastal protection and marine habitat restoration.

Living shorelines offer a resilient alternative to hardened structures like seawalls by absorbing wave energy, filtering pollutants, and naturally adapting to sea-level rise while restoring vital ecosystems for local fish and wildlife.

Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), a Vero Beach-based environmental nonprofit organization, has partnered with the Sebastian Inlet District to fund 7 of the Reef Arches and about half of the mangroves, and is using volunteer citizen scientists to help monitor the project for at least three years. ORCA has already begun monitoring baseline site conditions in anticipation of the plantings and reef installations.

“We’re seeing accelerated erosion of natural shorelines in the Indian River Lagoon, which leads to habitat loss as well as water quality deterioration among other things,” says Natalie Stephens, an ORCA research associate. “We utilize our citizen scientists to really look at what is happening over time and how a project is improving the shoreline.”

The project, anticipated to begin July 2026, is partially funded through a $95,000 state cost-share grant, with in-kind matches provided by the District, Reef Arches and MANG , a foundation raising awareness about the critical role that mangroves play in supporting healthy coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Posted on June 26, 2026