This spring, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Ecotone Ecological Restoration, and the Environmental Construction Company completed an extensive restoration project, protecting 13,232 feet of shoreline along Prospect Bay and within Hoghole Creek at Talisman Plantation in Grasonville. Prior to the project, the stretch of shoreline just north of Hoghole was experiencing erosion at an average rate of 7.57 feet per year, with an upward rate of 8.82 feet per year. Now more than a dozen rock sills, along with 280 native tree and shrub plantings and a 1.24-acre marsh planting, will provide long-term protection to Hoghole Creek’s seven-acre submerged aquatic vegetation nursery, a unique habitat for crabs, fish, and waterfowl. For the next 20 years, ESLC will act as the long-term steward of this restoration project for program and permit compliance.
The Talisman project began in 2020 during a routine annual stewardship visit, when property manager Brian Lowery expressed concern with how much shoreline had been lost to erosion over recent years. This conversation became a catalyst that led to the foundation of an Enhanced Stewardship initiative at ESLC. In late 2022, ESLC brought ecological restoration companies to view the site and eventually began working with Ecotone, LLC who developed a multi-step plan to address the property’s erosion. Through a Clean Water Commerce Act (CWCA) award, Ecotone was able to complete construction with the help of Environmental Construction Company in May 2025.
The newly restored shoreline will serve as a robust buffer for surrounding waterways, annually reducing 2,435 tons of total suspended solids, 6,396 pounds of total nitrogen, and 2,101 pounds of total phosphorus. The rock sills designed by Ecotone will provide necessary protection from wave energy and allow new marsh plantings to flourish, further dissipating wave energy. The areas between the rock sills provide unvegetated beach habitat for nesting horseshoe crabs and terrapins.
If you’re interested in learning more about ESLC’s enhanced restoration work, please reach out to Enhanced Stewardship Manager Larisa Prezioso at lprezioso@eslc.org.
