Phase one of living shoreline project complete near Hiller Park in Biloxi

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)- The shoreline near one of Biloxi’s most popular parks is slowing disappearing. Now, a new project is aiming to stop the erosion while creating new habitats for wildlife.

As the shoreline continues to erode near Hiller Park in Biloxi. The Nature Conservancy is building a living shoreline. The project is designed to protect Hiller Park, the Biloxi Veteran’s Association, and parts of Keesler Air Force Base from further erosion.

Officials say they are using breakwaters to act as speed bumps for waves. Director of Coastal Programs for the Nature Conservancy Tom Mohrman said, “So, we want to put a breakwater out to reduce wave energy that’s impacting the coast here and creating erosion. The second part is now that the wave energy is reduced, it provides an opportunity for vegetation to take cold. So, these wetland plans will add a living component that creates habitat for fish and wildlife and other organisms that would normally be in coastal areas.”

The goal is two-fold with phase one of the project at Hiller Park now complete. The plan is to extend the living shoreline another two and a half miles toward Keesler Air Force Base. “Living shorelines are a tool that can be used to protect against shoreline erosion. You can’t use them everywhere, but in places where you can, they’re a good opportunity to build habitat while protecting the adjacent land. So, phase one took about two weeks. It’s just about four 100-feet breakwaters that are along here. Into the future, we’re going to be looking to build another two, maybe two to two-and-a-half miles of breakwater. That’s going to hopefully be completed in the next year.”

Officials say the expanded project will not only help slow erosion, but also improve habitat for coastal wildlife along the shoreline.