Protecting the Lake Huron Shoreline

Coastal engineer Fiona Duckett of W. F. Baird and Associates Coastal Engineers gave a presentation to the Board of Directors of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) about shoreline protection at the board’s meeting on May 18, 2017.

Duckett spoke to the board on shore protection structures, including current policies and procedures, and next steps to update policies and procedures. She also spoke on the current mix of erosion control structures along the shoreline of the ABCA, natural hazards, shore protection types, and the existing permitting process.

She pointed out to the forces that threaten the Lake Huron Shoreline, saying that most structures simply re-direct them somewhere else. Duckett added that those structures have a design life because of the forces that are at work around them.

Duckett also said that sediments from some properties are the source of sand for beaches down drift of those properties and so preventing that movement of sediment robs those beaches of sand.

There will be two open house public meetings on the topic in June. The first will take place on June 3rd at the Zurich Arena, 15 East Street in Zurich, and the second is set for June 17 at the Legacy Recreation Center Hall, 16 Allen Street in Thedford. The open houses run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. noon.