Is a concrete seawall my only alternative?

It depends on the location. If located on fresh water in Cape Coral, there are two alternatives available: A rip rap slope alternative and a sod slope alternative.

In other areas, the options are, again, dependent on the location: whether a man-made canal or on a natural body of water as well as the number of seawalls in that particular area or canal.

What is a rip rap slope alternative?

A rip rap slope alternative consists of grading the water's edge on a 2:1 slope (for every 2' horizontally, the grade rises 1' vertically) and placing rock (rip rap) over filter cloth. The rock is typically 3" to 12" in size. This alternative is less costly than a concrete seawall but more expensive than a sod slope alternative. A rip rap slope will involve more of your buildable property than a concrete seawall.

What is a sod slope alternative?

A sod slope alternative consists of grading the water's edge on a 4:1 slope (for every 4' horizontally, the grade rises 1' vertically) and grass (sod) is placed over a jute material. This is the least expensive of the alternatives, but involves the largest amount of your buildable property.

[click on thumbnail to enlarge]