By ANDY RISI AND RYAN BRUSHWOOD
The Titusville Causeway Restoration Project represents a transformative model of nature-based resilience blending engineering innovation with ecological restoration to revitalize a critical stretch of the Space Coast. Located along a heavily used corridor in Brevard County the project is setting a precedent for coastal protection and habitat recovery using living shoreline techniques.
Led by Brevard County Natural Resources Management in partnership with Sea & Shoreline, the project began in May 2024 with a clear purpose: protect infrastructure, restore lost habitat, and improve water quality in one of the most environmentally stressed estuaries in the state. This project was permitted by DRMP and supported by key partners including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Tourist Development Council, the project is now complete and redefining how shorelines can be rebuilt to serve both people and nature.
The Titusville Causeway Restoration Project followed a layered approach that integrates hybrid reef technology, shoreline stabilization and habitat enhancement.
Sea & Shoreline installed 650 precast hybrid reefs along the shoreline to reduce wave energy and prevent erosion. These reef-like structures are engineered to mimic the form and function of natural reefs helping to trap sediment, support marine life and create calmer nearshore conditions ideal for ecological restoration. Wave energy reduction solutions can be engineered based on site-specific conditions, goals and constraints.
Following hybrid reef installation more than 4,000 cubic yards of sand was added to enhance the eroded shoreline. The reconstructed area was planted with native species, such as red mangroves and smooth cordgrass to stabilize sediments, filter runoff and provide nursery habitat for fish, crabs and birds.
To support lagoon-wide water quality improvements Sea & Shoreline biologists enhanced four acres of seagrass beds, an essential habitat for manatees and gamefish. This was accomplished through the direct planting of nursery grown seagrass. The seagrass was cultivated at Sea & Shoreline’s aquaculture center in Brevard County. The nursery operates in collaboration with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program’s seagrass nursery network initiative.
In tandem, two million juvenile clams were released to help naturally filter the water and restore biological function to the ecosystem.The clam drop event took place on June 17 with four million juvenile clams deployed via drone. This innovative method ensures precise placement and minimal habitat disturbance.
This $4.2 million restoration effort is funded through partnerships with Brevard County, the St Johns River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Florida Power and Light. Sea & Shoreline was selected as the lead marine contractor due to its extensive expertise in scalable living shoreline solutions and successful deployments across Florida.
The Titusville Causeway Restoration Project reached completion in summer 2025, marking a major milestone in Florida’s efforts to advance nature-based shoreline solutions. With all hybrid reefs installed, shoreline rebuilt and planted, seagrass areas restored, and 4 million clam drone deployment completed, the foundation for long-term resilience is in place.
Monitoring and adaptive management are now underway to track the continued ecological recovery of the site. Early signs are promising. Sediment is stabilized behind the hybrid reefs, shoreline vegetation is taking root, and wildlife is rebounding.
As Florida continues to face the challenges of coastal erosion, sea level rise and habitat loss the Titusville Causeway Restoration Project is emerging as a model for resilient shoreline restoration. Its success demonstrates that nature-based solutions when thoughtfully designed and implemented can protect infrastructure, restore ecosystems and enhance community value all at once.
With its blend of innovation collaboration and ecological impact the Titusville project is not only rebuilding a shoreline it’s rebuilding a future for Florida’s coasts. Most importantly, the techniques used here can be recreated along causeways throughout Florida, providing a scalable and proven blueprint for resilient infrastructure across the state.
Dr. Andy Risi is Vice President, Solutions, and Ryan Brushwood is Vice President, Design Build, at Sea & Shoreline
