No shoreline erosion in Manitowoc Co.
MANITOWOC - No shoreline erosion has been reported in Manitowoc County, despite a rising Lake Michigan.
The lakeshore can offer peace and serenity, but with water levels nearing record levels, some property owners are becoming concerned about bluff erosion.
Mike Thompson, NR Region program manager with the Department of Natural Resources, said the municipalities of Mount Pleasant, Somers and Caledonia in Racine and Kenosha counties are suffering from the most urgent shoreline erosion.
“There have been no reports of lakeshore erosion in Manitowoc County,” Thompson said. “The DNR has not received any indication of private property problems with erosion in Door, Kewaunee and Sheboygan counties.”
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According to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Michigan water levels have risen more than 4 feet since January 2013.
In an earlier report by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Army Corps data indicated the lake had risen from 576.2 feet in January 2013 to 580.09 feet in May 2016. The lake's recorded high was 582.35 feet in October 1986.
Higher water levels can be good for shipping and recreational boating, but can cause problems for lakeshore property.
A news release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last week indicated that with more water in Lake Michigan, bluff failures along the shoreline are creating a serious threat to private property and public utilities.
Erosion in affected areas has put homes in danger and could possibly threaten water mains and public utilities, the DNR said.
To help coastal property owners prevent erosion, the DNR is working with the Department of Administration to review emergency stabilization measures for bluffs. For example, materials like large, natural rock at the bottom of the bluff can help protect against wave erosion.
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said in a news release: "In urgent situations, the department is allowing the temporary placement of materials at the bottom of the bluff under easy-to-follow conditions while the property owner seeks approval for a permanent solution. The DNR is prepared to do everything within its statutory authority to allow property owners to stabilize the bluff, prevent further erosion and protect safety and property."
Homeowners are to exercise care when considering emergency work, as deploying materials down the side of the bluff can result in worsening the erosion. The DNR recommends hiring a professional engineer to design shore protection structures.
For details about temporary, emergency measures as well as the process for permanent structures, visit DNR.wi.gov and search "Great Lakes erosion control."
Alyssa Bloechl: 920-686-2152 or abloechl@htrnews.com; on Twitter@alyssabloechl
How to seek emergency action:
Submit a brief written request to the DNR describing a place for temporary emergency materials at the foot of the bluff to reduce erosion for protection of a structure or infrastructure
Identify where the temporary material will be placed;
Provide information about the type and amount of material that will be used; and
Explain how the temporary material will be placed.
One of the conditions for emergency approval requires landowners to actively work toward planning, designing and implementing a permanent shoreline protection solution through the state Chapter 30 permit process, said Martye Griffin, DNR's statewide waterway science and policy leader. Once DNR receives the emergency request, a letter authorizing the placement of temporary structures will be sent, and once received, the landowner can proceed with the temporary measures. Property owners requesting emergency action may email Griffin at MartinP.Griffin@Wisconsin.gov.
DNR recommendations for designing shore protection structures:
- If using rock, stone or heavy concrete, the material should consist of clean (no re-bar or metal), large, non-flat, angular, interlocking pieces;
- Materials used should be of sufficient weight and size to remain in place; and
- Concrete rubble and other construction site debris should NOT be used. These materials have a tendency to crack and break apart, reducing the weight of the material that is needed to resist wave forces and creating voids for the waves to erode behind the material.