Living shoreline construction begins at Thompson Island preserve

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays announced construction has begun on the Thompson Island Living Shoreline Project.

The milestone marks the start of in-water installation of approximately 400 wave attenuation devices—a large-scale, nature-based engineering solution designed to protect Thompson Island’s shoreline and enhance the surrounding aquatic environment.  Situated in the Rehoboth Bay and very close to the Atlantic coastline, Thompson Island holds deep cultural significance for the Nanticoke Indian Tribe. Having historically been a ceremonial and gathering place, the island is considered sacred ground.

A part of Delaware Seashore State Park, Thompson Island was dedicated as a nature preserve in 2000. A formal ceremony acknowledged an agreement between the Tribe and the State of Delaware as a commitment to ensure that the site, while owned and managed by the state, would remain accessible and protected for the Nanticoke people. The Center for the Inland Bays team and partners are committed to carry out this work with respect for the land’s heritage and with a shared commitment to protecting its ecological and cultural value for future generations.

These wave attenuation devices will be placed from a barge and anchored in the shallow waters just offshore. Their purpose is to dampen wave energy, greatly reduce shoreline erosion and create calmer nearshore conditions that benefit fish, shellfish and aquatic plants. By softening the impact of wind and boat-generated waves, the devices help maintain the shoreline’s shape, reduce sediment resuspension and improve water clarity, which in turn supports submerged aquatic vegetation and spawning habitat.

The project is part of a larger effort to protect Delaware’s Inland Bays through the use of nature-based solutions. Unlike hardened structures like bulkheads or riprap, wave attenuation devices offer both coastal protection and ecological value. The structures’ open design allows for the free movement of water and marine life while diminishing wave energy and stabilizing the shoreline.

The project reflects a shared commitment to advance coastal resilience, protect public lands and enhance aquatic habitats in the face of increasing environmental stressors. Along with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, partners include the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, Restore America’s Estuaries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Sovereign Consulting Inc.

The nonprofit organization CIB is dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay and Little Assawoman Bay—and their watersheds. The center works through scientific research, education and advocacy to ensure these vital ecosystems thrive for future generations.