The valuable Beach Ridge Plain at the Illinois Beach State Park is eroding at an unprecedented rate, due primarily to climate shifts and the associated increase in storm activity.
The valuable Beach Ridge Plain at the Illinois Beach State Park is eroding at an unprecedented rate, due primarily to climate shifts and the associated increase in storm activity.
While water level fluctuations are part of the natural processes in this complex coastal ecosystem, Lake Michigan’s current near record-high lake levels have further worsened erosion rate, and consequently threaten public access, critical infrastructure, and important ecological areas.
The intervention site was located offshore from Hosah Park, where valuable panne habitat was quickly eroding as documented by on-going monitoring efforts.
While water level fluctuations are part of the natural processes in this complex coastal ecosystem, Lake Michigan’s current near record-high lake levels have further worsened erosion rate, and consequently threaten public access, critical infrastructure, and important ecological areas.
The intervention site was located offshore from Hosah Park, where valuable panne habitat was quickly eroding as documented by on-going monitoring efforts.
Slow, but not stop, longshore sediment transport in strategic areas
The intervention is a cost-effective way to protect identified nearby critical upland habitats by dissipating high energy waves in targeted areas without disrupting low energy waves that transport sediment behind the feature.
Slow, but not stop, longshore sediment transport in strategic areas
We were enlisted to develop an innovative, lower-cost, more rapid-response intervention to slow the immediate threat to important ecological areas from the rampant erosion caused by high lake levels. Erosion in the northern portion of the park and sediment deposit in the south built up the unique curvilinear ridge-and-swale topography which supports the upland black oak savannas and the lowland wetlands. However, we know recent shifts in weather patterns and various human influences have rapidly increased the erosional process of this region, erasing what took thousands of years to develop in less than half a century.
Our design was based on a strategy to temporarily capture the benefits of moving sediments while simultaneously reducing erosive wave forces with inconspicuous underwater ridges or submerged habitat reefs.
The submerged ridge reef will create a zone of reduced wave energy without obstructing views of the open water.
The submerged ridge reef will create a zone of reduced wave energy without obstructing views of the open water.
Our design was based on a strategy to temporarily capture the benefits of moving sediments while simultaneously reducing erosive wave forces with inconspicuous underwater ridges or submerged habitat reefs.
The intervention at Illinois Beach State Park consists of a submerged ridge reef, designed to slow sediment moment and protect the valuable terrestrial panne habitat from the erosive forces of waves
The intervention at Illinois Beach State Park consists of a submerged ridge reef, designed to slow sediment moment and protect the valuable terrestrial panne habitat from the erosive forces of waves
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