Lake Michigan Beach Erosion
What is erosion?
The group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface.
Erosion along the lakeshore is a natural process where waves carry material from the shore out to greater depths. Lakeshores are susceptible to the powerful forces of waves, currents, and the movement of ice along the shoreline. The ice of frozen lakes can expand shoreward with a force of many tons per square foot, moving most obstacles in its path (including shoreline soil). Masses of ice put in motion by winds or currents can scour the banks of lakes and streams.
What happened here?
The amount of water in the Great Lakes goes up and down based on season, rainfall, and a variety of other factors. Low levels create dredging and infrastructure issues, while high levels cause flooding and erosion problems.
In 2020, Lake Michigan had a very high water level. While erosion happens on the lakeshore as a natural process, the sand is typically moved back onto the beach again as part of the natural process. This is a cyle that repeats itself along the lakeshore. Since the water level was so high in 2020, more sand was removed along this beach, and it has not been replaced. Leaving a beach that is smaller than it once was, and several erosion control measures in place.
Erosion control
Several measures can be taken to help prevent further erosion along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Biological measures like planting dune grasses and other plants, help keep the sand in place. There are man-made measures like building seawalls, placing large stones, and sand bags to protect the existing dune from wave action.
Logging this earthcache
From the posted coordinates, walk to the waters edge and then turn around. Please send us the answers via messenger to the following questions:
- Can you tell erosion took place here? Explain.
- How much sand do you think was removed?
- What measures are in place to help prevent future erosion?
- Take a pic of you (or a signature item) with Lake Michigan. Please no pics of the erosion.