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Abstract
The Georgia coast is experiencing salt marsh degradation at an unprecedented rate. Marshlands buffer the shoreline from episodic storm damage and constant wave erosion. They protect communities and ecologically important habitats along the coast. Living shorelines can offer landowners and communities a way to mitigate erosion, but further development of plant establishment techniques is essential to provide a fully functional and resilient shoreline structure. This document explores propagation and growth methods of Sporobolus alterniflorus for restoration projects from germination through the establishment period on a living shoreline. It also assesses the addition of the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa to Sporobolus alterniflorus beds to improve plant establishment and growth. Experiments were performed on S. alterniflorus to test lab germination methods, dormancy duration, varying thermo-periods and exposure to sunlight. Additionally, an experiment was designed to measure the effects of G. demissa presence by considering elevation, predator exclusion and varying planting densities. These techniques are important tools for coastal management by landscape architects.