The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is responsible for permitting projects on the bottomlands of or directly adjacent to the shorelines of the Four Lakes.
|
You DO Need a Permit
|
You DO NOT Need a Permit
|
How to Get a Permit
|
A Soil Erosion Permit is generally required for any activity that will disturb the earth within 500 feet of a lake or stream. To obtain this permit, fill out the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) application below.
1. Get an EGLE permit by contacting your county’s EGLE permit contact. 2. Complete the SESC permit application. 3. Submit your plan to control erosion and sediment. 4. Prepare a proposed schedule for the project. 5. Submit the appropriate fees. |
|
Tips for Getting Your permit application approved
For any work requiring a permit from EGLE, we recommend designing the project to meet minor permit categories. Minor permitting categories contain criteria that exemplify best management practices for common projects expected to have only minor impacts. Application costs and processing time for these permits are also less than for an individual permit as no public notice is required.
1. Natural shoreline: Incorporate bioengineering practices.
Note: A seawall can be replaced if:
1. Natural shoreline: Incorporate bioengineering practices.
- Use a mix of native plantings and natural/biodegradable materials that mimic or enhance the natural landscape
- Two subcategories:
- Low energy sites – little wave/wind action on erosion
- High energy sites – high winds and large wave energy or where eroded banks exceed 3 ft in height
- Complete the Inland Lake Shoreline Energy Assessment to understand what category your shoreline falls into
Note: A seawall can be replaced if:
- Over 50% of the shoreline is protected by a seawall that breaks wave force and there’s evidence the remaining less than 50% of shoreline previously had a seawall.
- OR: The seawall WAS breaking waves and retaining soil but was damaged by a single catastrophic event which occurred within two years prior to permit application submittal.
- Implement at least one of the following:
- Reduce the length of the seawall by 25% and use either riprap shoreline protection or bioengineering practices for stabilization of inland lakes following minor permit requirements.
- Incorporate coarse woody structure
- Maintain a minimum of a 6-foot wide no-mow zone or native planted buffer strip above the wall extending the entire length of the proposed seawall
- Implementing plantings between rocks
- Slope of 1 on 3 and not exceeding 300 linear ft and 6 ft waterward
- Use natural field stone or rock that’s less than 18” in diameter and of variable sizes
- Riprap should not be implemented inside any wetland area outside the lakebottom or impede its water flow
FLTF's Role in Permitting Process
EGLE will send a copy of the permit request to FLTF and ask whether FLTF agrees to the proposed project.
- Objects placed along the lake shoreline, for example, seawalls and permanent docks, are generally acceptable to FLTF and do require our review of the EGLE permit request.
- FLTF will review fish habitat placement proposals received from recognized Lake Associations, units of local government or registered non-profit organizations. FLTF will not approve proposals from private individuals.
- Fish habitat must be placed where it will not create a hazard to boat navigation. Examples of likely acceptable places include along the shoreline or in water of sufficient depth to submerge the top of the habitat at least 10 feet below the normal summer surface water level elevation.
Exemptions of part 301
Part 301 has exemptions for repair and maintenance of existing structures and previously permitted work. Please review the specific language below regarding which projects are okay to be completed without an additional permit.
324.30103 Exceptions
(j) Maintenance of a structure constructed under a permit issued pursuant to this part and identified by rule promulgated under section 30110 if the maintenance is in place and in kind with no design or materials modification.
R 281.815 Structure Maintenance
Rule 5. The following structures may be maintained in accordance with section 30103(j) of the act:
a) Seawalls, if the repair is only of the seawall facing or sheeting or support piling and if the maintenance does not encompass more than 25% of the permitted seawall length. Cap maintenance or replacement can be done for 100% of permitted seawalls.
b) Riprap shore protection structures if original materials have been displaced by erosion or ice damage and the placement of earthen fill will not be required as part of the maintenance and if retrieval of the riprap will not cause disruption of adjacent bottomland.
(j) Maintenance of a structure constructed under a permit issued pursuant to this part and identified by rule promulgated under section 30110 if the maintenance is in place and in kind with no design or materials modification.
R 281.815 Structure Maintenance
Rule 5. The following structures may be maintained in accordance with section 30103(j) of the act:
a) Seawalls, if the repair is only of the seawall facing or sheeting or support piling and if the maintenance does not encompass more than 25% of the permitted seawall length. Cap maintenance or replacement can be done for 100% of permitted seawalls.
b) Riprap shore protection structures if original materials have been displaced by erosion or ice damage and the placement of earthen fill will not be required as part of the maintenance and if retrieval of the riprap will not cause disruption of adjacent bottomland.
