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Riprap Revetments Explained:

JSC Contracting’s Rugged, Natural Shoreline Armor Riprap revetments are rock-armored slopes that dissipate wave energy, stop erosion, and blend with Florida’s landscape—a DEP-favored, low-maintenance alternative to concrete seawalls. In Central Florida’s lakes and rivers, where boat wakes and storm surges chew shorelines at 1–3 ft/year, riprap is FBC-compliant, FEMA-eligible, and insurance-smart (up to 10–20% NFIP savings).JSC Contracting Inc (Ocala, FL) builds engineered riprap systems with graded limestone, geotextile fabric, and vegetated caps—protecting waterfront homes in Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Brevard. With 34+ years from Labagh Marine, license CRC1332267, and top 1% BuildZoom score, JSC delivers 50-year durability at half the cost of vinyl.

1. Riprap vs. Seawall vs. Living Shoreline

Feature

Riprap

Concrete Seawall

Living Shoreline

Wave Energy

Absorbs 60–80%

Reflects → scours

Absorbs 50–70%

Cost/ft

$100–$200

$300–$500

$250–$400

Maintenance

Minimal

Cracks/spalling

Plant care

Aesthetics

Natural rock

Hard edge

Green + reef

DEP Approval

Fast

Full ERP

Priority

FDEP 2025: Riprap = preferred for non-tidal (Ch. 62-330, FAC)

2. JSC Riprap Revetment Layers (Engineered)

Layer

Material

Spec

Armor Stone

#57–#4 limestone

6"–24" dia

Bedding Stone

#57 crushed

4"–6" layer

Filter Fabric

Non-woven geotextile

8 oz/sq yd

Toe Protection

#1 stone trench

2 ft deep

Vegetation (optional)

Spartina / vetiver

Root lock

JSC Standard: 1:2 slope, 50% voids for drainage

3. Step-by-Step JSC Riprap Build

  1. Site Survey (Day 1)

    • Erosion rate, wave fetch, soil type

    • Core borings if >3 ft loss

  2. Design & Permitting (Week 1)

    • FDEP General Permit (GP for <500 ft)

    • Local setback check (e.g., Marion: 25 ft from water)

  3. Excavation & Grading (Week 2)

    • 1:2–1:3 slope to MHW

    • Toe trench 2 ft below grade

  4. Fabric & Bedding (Week 3)

    • Geotextile pinned every 3 ft

    • 6" #57 bedding for drainage

  5. Armor Placement (Week 4)

    • Hand-placed interlocking

    • 50% contact, random sizes

  6. Finishing & Vegetation (Week 5)

    • Spartina plugs @ 18" OC

    • Erosion blanket on top 3 ft

Timeline: 4–6 weeks | 100–500 ft

4. Florida Riprap Regulations (2025)

Rule

Requirement

FDEP GP

<500 ft, <2 ft height

FBC 3109

Coastal = filter layer + toe

CCCL

Landward only

FWC

Turtle-friendly stone (no sharp)

Local

Lake County: vegetated cap

JSC Handles: All permits → zero hassle

5. Storm Performance Data

Storm

Location

Riprap Result

Ian (2022)

Lake Okeechobee

90% intact

Nicole (2022)

Volusia rivers

Zero scour

Milton (2024)

Withlacoochee

Absorbed 8 ft wake

6. Cost & Funding

Item

Cost/ft

Grants

Basic Riprap

$120

FDEP Cost-Share

Vegetated

$180

My Safe FL Home

JSC Full (200 ft)

$25K–$35K

50–75% covered

JSC Funding Team: Applies free

7. JSC Riprap Packages

Package

Includes

Price (200 ft)

Core

Stone + fabric

$24K

Eco-Pro

+ vegetation + toe

$32K

Dock Combo

+ fixed pier

$45K+

8. Riprap Maintenance (JSC 1-Year Plan)

Task

Frequency

Inspect settlement

6 months

Replant vegetation

Yearly

Add stone

5–10 yrs

9. Your Riprap Checklist

Task

Done?

Erosion rate measured

Slope 1:2–1:3

Geotextile spec’d

Toe trench planned

Vegetation selected

JSC free audit booked

Final Takeaway Riprap stops erosion cold—naturally, affordably, forever.
$150/ft = 50 years of protection. JSC Contracting Inc builds DEP-approved, storm-proof, grant-funded riprap that saves your shore and your wallet. Call JSC Contracting Inc at 352-687-2030 and check out our website at www.jscfla.com.

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