First Steps

1) Consult with your county extension agent (Midland contact or Gladwin contact) or a professional landscaper for an on-site inspection and recommendations.

• They will recommend plants or other strategies to stabilize shorelines based on slope, elevation, moisture content and soil type, or whether riprap is the best solution

2) Plant native grasses and vegetative buffers for your lakeshore that are proven to slow shoreline erosion on inland lakes.*
3) Install riprap (rocks) to stabilize current slopes and replace rocks by your sea wall. Note: this may require a permit from EGLE.
4) Extend drain lines down to the current water’s edge.

*July 11 Update on Seeding Grass to Stabilize Exposed Lake Bottom Land
Now is not the time to plant grass seed. It is too hot and dry. When grass seed planting late season begins (Aug. 15-Sept. 15), the only type of grass to plant is “cool season” grasses, rather than the warm season grasses recommended earlier this summer.

What Should I Plant?

Do I Need A Permit?

Erosion Resources

EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) 
Shoreline protection information and resources

Michigan Shoreline Partnership 
is an organization that works with both EGLE and Michigan State University to gather experts and determine natural ways to combat shoreline erosion

• Basics of natural shoreline erosion control

Michigan State University 
Rebuilding an eroding bank on an inland lake

Small Business Administration
Will cover 1.25-2.5% of costs to manage erosion. Loan application deadline is September 4, 2020.
​Call SBA at:
(571) 422-8013
(571) 422-6016
(571) 422-0331