Where the seawall ends, nature begins again.
Eco Blocs® are a patented innovation developed by Robert Anderson, founder of Maine Coastal Protection — a system that brings vegetation back to hardened shorelines, restoring ecological function without sacrificing structural protection.
Request a Free EstimateA better seawall. A healthier shoreline.
Traditional seawalls solve one problem and create another. They hold the grade, absorb wave energy, and protect the land behind them — but in doing so, they replace living shoreline with inert structure. The vegetation that once bound the substrate, filtered runoff, supported wildlife, and softened the visual edge of the waterline is gone. What remains is stable, but ecologically empty.
Eco Blocs® were developed by Robert Anderson to close that gap. These patented specialized blocks integrate into seawall construction and restoration in a way that creates habitat for native vegetation directly within the structure's face — returning plant life to hardened shorelines without compromising the wall's structural integrity. The result is a seawall that protects the property and contributes to the ecological health of the coastline it sits on. It's a better outcome for the property owner, and a better outcome for the shore.
Structure and nature, working together.
Eco Blocs® address the ecological cost of hardened shoreline protection — restoring what conventional seawall construction removes.
Vegetation Restoration on Seawalls
The core function of Eco Blocs® is creating conditions within a seawall's face where native coastal vegetation can take root and establish. Where a conventional wall offers no foothold for plant life, Eco Blocs® provide the substrate, the drainage, and the protection from wave energy that vegetation needs to survive in the intertidal zone.
New Seawall Integration
Eco Blocs® can be incorporated into new seawall construction from the outset — engineered into the wall design so the structural and ecological functions are planned together rather than addressed separately. For properties where shoreline ecology matters, this is the standard we build to.
Erosion Control Through Vegetation
The plant life that establishes on Eco Blocs® isn't just ecological — it's functional. Root systems bind the substrate at the wall's face, reduce the scouring effect of wave energy at the base, and over time contribute to the stability of the structure as a whole. Vegetation and structure reinforcing each other rather than competing.
Why property owners trust Maine Coastal Protection with their shoreline.
We Invented It
Eco Blocs® were developed, patented, and are exclusively installed by Maine Coastal Protection. Robert Anderson created this system from decades of firsthand experience watching conventional seawalls strip the ecological life from Maine's shoreline — and a conviction that there was a better way to build. There is no other source for this technology.
Structural Integrity, Not Compromised
Eco Blocs® are engineered to function within a seawall system — not bolted onto one as an afterthought. The structural performance of the wall is not diminished by their incorporation. In many cases, the vegetation that establishes over time actively contributes to the wall's long-term stability.
A Track Record of Establishment
The best evidence for how Eco Blocs® perform is the vegetation that's growing on seawalls we built years ago. We can show you what establishment looks like at different stages, what species have taken hold, and how the ecological profile of those walls has changed over time. That record is something no other company can offer.
Ecology and Protection as One Scope
Because Maine Coastal Protection handles the full range of coastal construction — seawalls, beach restoration, plantings, permitting — Eco Blocs® are never an isolated add-on. They're integrated into a comprehensive approach to shoreline protection that addresses structure, ecology, and regulatory compliance as a single, coordinated scope.
Getting started is simple.
Coastal permitting can feel complicated. Working with Maine Coastal Protection doesn't have to be. Here's what to expect.
Site Assessment
We evaluate your existing seawall or proposed construction site — wall condition, tidal exposure, wave energy, and the native plant communities present on the surrounding shoreline. This informs which Eco Bloc® configuration is appropriate for the site and what vegetation is likely to establish successfully.
Design & Permitting
We develop an integration plan for the Eco Blocs® — whether as part of new construction or a retrofit — and manage all required permitting. Our team can speak directly to the ecological benefits during agency review, which often supports a smoother permitting process.
Installation
Our crew installs the Eco Blocs® as part of the broader seawall scope — new construction, repair, or retrofit — with our own equipment and operators. Planting is carried out at the appropriate stage of installation to give vegetation the best conditions for establishment.
Establishment & Follow-Up
Vegetation establishment takes time and varies by species, season, and exposure. We follow up after installation to assess how the planting is taking hold, address any areas that need supplemental attention, and advise on what to expect as the system matures over the seasons ahead.
A seawall that protects and gives something back.
If you're building a new seawall or looking at what can be done with an existing one, Eco Blocs® are worth understanding. Reach out to Maine Coastal Protection and we'll walk you through how the system works, what it looks like on an established wall, and whether it's the right fit for your shoreline.