Your Marine Waterfront Guide

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Your Marine Waterfront
Enjoy the beach.  Protect your home.  Improve shoreline habitat.
CANADIAN EDITION
A guide to protecting your property 
while promoting healthy shorelines

The shorelines and waters of the Salish Sea are home to an 
exceptional variety of birds, fish, intertidal life, wildlife and plants. 
Spread over 5,200 square kilometres, the area offers residents and 
visitors with stunning views, incredible recreational opportunities 
and a laid back lifestyle. 
As a waterfront property owner, you have both the privilege and 
the responsibility to ensure human activity is managed in a way 
that protects the health of the Salish Sea – now and for future 
generations. We hope this guide offers some practical techniques 
to move away from hardened shorelines to natural shorelines 
that protect and enhance both waterfront properties and marine 
ecosystems. 
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has kindly 
agreed to adapt this guide to offer shoreline development choices 
to waterfront property owners in British Columbia and has provided 
further editing and graphic design support to make the changes 
possible. Some of the terms have been changed to fit the Canadian 
context, but the majority of the guide remains unchanged and 
speaks to the shared values of our partners across the border.
Overview

Contents
Sustainable choices for your waterfront are 
a good investment in your property and in 
the health of the Salish Sea.
Introduction ......................................................................................................................2
Site Assessment ..............................................................................................................7
Getting Started .................................................................................................................8
Geology ............................................................................................................................10
Coastal Processes ...........................................................................................................12
Hydrology ........................................................................................................................14
Other Site Characteristics  ...........................................................................................15
Design Techniques .......................................................................................................16
Vegetation........................................................................................................................18
Drainage ..........................................................................................................................20
Building Location ...........................................................................................................22
Log Placement .......................................................................................

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