Preparing Your Shoreline Area for Refill of the Lakes - Erosion and Sediment Deposits
All four lakes are planned to be refilled by 2028. If the lakebottom in front of your property was affected by erosion or sediment deposits, you may wish to get some work done in preparation for lake refill.
All four lakes are planned to be refilled by 2028. If the lakebottom in front of your property was affected by erosion or sediment deposits, you may wish to get some work done in preparation for lake refill.
Benefits of Bioengineering
- Natural vegetation serves as a filter between lawn and lakeshore, preventing pesticides and fertilizers from running directly into the water.
- Native plant roots filter more water than the turf grass varieties typically planted in Michigan. They help prevent flooding or standing water.
- Vegetation and natural and biodegradable items are often less expensive to implement than structural methods like concrete seawalls. Plants, shrubs and trees can provide an attractive privacy screen for property owners, while maintaining views of the lake.
- Vegetated strips using native plants often require little to no maintenance once established, leaving more time to enjoy lakefront living.
- Plants in the water and along the shore help absorb the wave energy, which helps keep soils and sands settled and makes for clearer (less turbid) water.
- Bioengineering is an attractive and environmentally healthy way to landscape, with a living buffer.
Quick facts
As part of the EGLE permitting process, a desktop review of the shorelines was completed based on the available aerial imagery. This review focused on the Sanford and Wixom Lake shorelines.
Permit Requirements for Shoreline Projects
A Soil Erosion Permit is generally required for any earth change activity within 500 feet of a lake or stream. To obtain this permit:
- % of the shoreline is privately owned
- 65% of the reviewed shoreline is hardened
- 45% has seawalls
- 20% has riprap armoring
- The two most destructive causes of accelerated erosion are native vegetation removal and hardening.
- Based on the National Lake Assessment (NLA), 50% of inland lakes have poor nearshore habitat.
Permit Requirements for Shoreline Projects
- EGLE JPA
- Any work below the summer legal lake level will require submittal of a joint permit application (JPA) to the Michigan Departments of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This is done through their permitting website MiEnviro. For additional information on the permitting process information can be found on EGLE’s website here (https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/joint-permit-application). For any specific questions about a permit or project the EGLE contacts are:
- EGLE Contacts: [email protected]
- Midland Co: Alexandra Adams-McDevitt at 989-355-8611
- Gladwin Co: Nicole King at 989-355-4959
A Soil Erosion Permit is generally required for any earth change activity within 500 feet of a lake or stream. To obtain this permit:
- Complete the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) permit application,
- Midland County SESC Permit and Instructions
- Gladwin County SESC Permit and Instructions
- Submit your plan to control erosion and sediment.
- Prepare a proposed time schedule for the project.
- Submit the appropriate fees.
Erosion Repairs
If erosion of the lakebottom in front of your property poses a problem, it will be much easier to address before the lake is refilled. Some important points:
- In most cases, if the lakebottom in front of your property has been stable since the May 2020 flood, there is probably nothing more you need to do.
- FLTF had money for erosion stabilization projects from 2020-2023, but those funds have been exhausted.
- The most important erosion to correct is any that threatens the stability of a structure on your property, including the seawall. A seawall contractor can advise if ongoing erosion threatens your seawall.
- Any work that requires filling an eroded area will require a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
Erosion Resources
Shoreline protection information and resources
Learn about high energy and low energy bioengineering with the below documents created by EGLE.
Low energy is categorized as a location where erosive forces from wind and boats are low. The links below include documents created by EGLE that provide best practices and illustrations for a low energy shoreline.
Lower Energy Bioengineering Fact Sheet
Lower Engery Bioengineering Illustration
High energy is categorized as erosive energy from waves and ice are realitively high. High energy shorelines will typically contain field stone and deep rooting plants to protect against erosion. The links below include documents created by EGLE that provide best practices and illustrations for a high energy shoreline. Also included are seawall replacement and riprap illustrations for high energy shorelines.
Higher Energy Bioengineering Fact Sheet
Higher Energy Bioengineering Illustration
Seawall Replacement Illustration
Riprap Illustration
For more information, click the button below to watch a webinar from EGLE on shoreline best management practices.
Learn about high energy and low energy bioengineering with the below documents created by EGLE.
Low energy is categorized as a location where erosive forces from wind and boats are low. The links below include documents created by EGLE that provide best practices and illustrations for a low energy shoreline.
Lower Energy Bioengineering Fact Sheet
Lower Engery Bioengineering Illustration
High energy is categorized as erosive energy from waves and ice are realitively high. High energy shorelines will typically contain field stone and deep rooting plants to protect against erosion. The links below include documents created by EGLE that provide best practices and illustrations for a high energy shoreline. Also included are seawall replacement and riprap illustrations for high energy shorelines.
Higher Energy Bioengineering Fact Sheet
Higher Energy Bioengineering Illustration
Seawall Replacement Illustration
Riprap Illustration
For more information, click the button below to watch a webinar from EGLE on shoreline best management practices.
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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 |
Erosion Stabilization Examples
The Edenville Dam failure left miles of shoreline along the Tittabawassee River eroded. Immediately following the dam failure, Four Lakes Task Force compiled initial damage assessments for FEMA and identified, at the planning level, that $20 million of investment was needed to stabilize bank erosion and $4.5 million to remove debris within the four lakes.
BEFORE - Donald Drive
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AFTER - Donald Drive
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BEFORE - Curtis Road
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AFTER - Curtis Road
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BEFORE - Weeping Willow
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AFTER - Weeping Willow
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