Coastal restoration projects that combine flood resilience with ecological improvements are gaining greater attention as shoreline communities face repeated storm impacts. GZA and its project partners have received national recognition for a living shoreline project at the Hepburn Family Preserve in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
The American Shore & Beach Preservation Association selected the Hepburn Family Preserve project as one of five recipients of its 2026 Best Restored Shore Award.
The project is located in the Borough of Fenwick near the mouth of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. The property is protected by a conservation easement and managed by the Lyde Point Land Trust.
GZA developed the restoration design for the shoreline and marsh, including the relocation of Crab Creek and installation of a new culvert connecting the creek to a tidal pond. The work also incorporated a living shoreline and restoration of the Hepburn Dune.
Construction included restoration of approximately 450 feet of beach and dune that had experienced significant erosion from repeated coastal storms.
The project also relocated a tidal creek to help restore the salt marsh behind the barrier beach. The approach combined coastal engineering and ecological restoration to address shoreline stability and long-term resilience.
Funding for the design came in part through a grant from the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation, while the Connecticut River Conservancy provided additional funding for construction.
The project has now completed five years of annual monitoring required under its Connecticut permit. Since construction in 2021, the restored shoreline has also withstood several coastal storms.
GZA is scheduled to accept the ASBPA award on behalf of the Lyde Point Land Trust during the association's 2026 National Conference and Centennial Celebration in Atlantic City in October.
The recognition highlights how living shoreline strategies can combine coastal protection, habitat restoration and storm resilience. For waterfront owners and public agencies, the project provides an example of using engineering and nature-based measures together to address erosion and long-term coastal risks.
Source: GZA.
