Ware Residence

Location: Elkton, Maryland

Description: A residential project on the Elk River clearly demonstrates how a steep slope can be stabilized and landscaped to mitigate erosion and sediment run-off through the use of the living wall technique. Before the Ware Residence project was implemented there was no barrier to prevent the erosion which over time had become an unsafe cliff-like condition.

The 1:1 slopes, which were literally losing ground, have been stabilized through the use of a compost-based soil mix pumped into filter fabric tubes and tied back into the native slope. These Filtrex tubes were compacted in tight rows and stacked up the slope. The customized growing medium was designed for optimum performance for roots and vegetation. The tubes were then planted with native plants selected for their tenacious root structure.

This biomimetic system successfully stabilized the slope (existing conditions were vertical in some areas). The vibrant, attractive landscape is maturing, providing wildlife habitat, and protecting the shorelines of the Elk River and the Chesapeake Bay.

This is an ideal solution for the stabilization of the Chesapeake Bay shoreline as well as other riparian areas. Not only is it a landscape-based system which does not require footings, it is economical and filters run-off more efficiently than other slope stabilization retaining wall approaches.