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Clinton News-Record, 1987-07-08, Page 19WFi)NH:S1)AY, JIII.ti' 8, 1987 Sh:(.A)INU SECTION Trying to tame Lake Huron There's no sure fire solution to erosion By Shelley McPhee Haist BAYFIELD - We think of it as a lake. It's called a lake. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, Lake Huron is more than just a lake. In many cases it shows proper- ties are more closely related to oceans than those of inland lakes. "These lakes are more like oceans and the processes that happen on them are akin to oceans," says Alec Scott, Water Resources Co-ordinator with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority 1 ABCA I. Perhaps this lake has been taken for granted in the past, but currently major work and study is being done in an effort to save the rapidly eroding shoreline. More than 80 people witnessed first hand the erosion problems and some of the remedies that have been taken to control further deterioration when they travelled by bus on the summer tour of the ABCA. The tour took in two Bayfield sites - Long Hill Road and Pioneer Park as well as spots at Egerton Beach and Poplar Beach, north of Grand Bend. Pioneer Park Erosion control measures at Bayfield's Pioneer Park have included a number of means - concrete tiles, wave busters and gabion baskets. Evidence shows the limitation of gabion baskets as means of erosion control. The galvanized steel baskets, once filled with stones now lie beaten and broken along the shore. They lie next to several concrete tiles. Installed some five years ago this barricade of concrete works to dissipate powerful wave energy. The tiles, weighing some 400 pounds each and costing $400 each have provided some protection along the bank, although no beach area has been built up. Newly added to the erosion control scene are wave busters, pyramid like concrete formations that sit in the water just beyond the shoreline. The wave busters were put in a year ago. They are not work- ing as well as hoped. While they have been successfully used along Lake Erie, the wave busters in this location are not strong enough to endure the continual battering of Lake Huron. Long Hill Road This is one of the most recent and most extensive erosion control projects to the undertaken in the area. More than $350,000 has been spent to rebuild the riverbank roadway that leads to the beach and cot- tage area in Bayfield. In April of 1985 more than 100 feet of roadway dropped here. Studies and con- struction have taken place since that time and the roadway has been rebuilt and strengthened at the water level with an embankment of large rocks and a graduated slope. Poplar Beach Just smith of St. Joseph's and within site 0AYEIELD_. 1"T 11>_CO_ 5D/ of the points at Grand Bend and Bayfield lies the cottage community of Poplar Beach. This community was established some 25 years ago. It may not exist in another 25 years. Spectacular erosion can be witnessed here as the lakebank is being rapidly destroyed by the pounding wave action at the bottom.of the cliff. In the 1970s a major avalanche of bank slippage occurred. Again in 1986 a major slide took place when some 33 feet of bank collapsed. While no erosion control measures have taken place here, a long term monitoring has been done to determine how far back the bank is eroding each year. The study has been undertaken since 1971. Wooden stakes that were posted on the top of the bank at that time now lie at the bottom. Long term monitoring of erosion was a government project. It was discontinued in 1982. Since that time the ABCA has made some attempt at continuing the study every two or three years, however it is felt that more extensive study needs to be done. The fate of Poplar Beach remains uncer- tain. Twenty-five years ago the cottage community was named for the row of poplar trees that banked the shoreline cliff. Today there is no evidence of these trees. Twenty-five years ago the subdivi- sion included a row of lots on the bank ledge. Now these lots are gone. Some cottagers have moved their homes away from the bank. Others are not able to do this because their properties abut privately owned farm land. Cottagers are now concerned that the on- ly access road that leads to the subdivision may be threatened by erosion as the bank edges nearer and nearer. In an effort to protect the road, cottagers have proposed putting large stones and concrete rubble down the bank. Alec Scott suggests that this will not reduce erosion but will in fact cause more trouble as the weight of the stones on the fragile lake bankewill result in further slippage. Egerton Beach Quiet and shady, well cared for cottages, a play area for children, a terraced bank and a sandy beach are part of the Egerton Beach summer subdivision. Located just south of Bayfield, this community was established back in the 19 121s. . The first cottagers to make this area a summer resort community had foresight. At that time they created a terrace area along the lake bank. It still exists today and helps to provide added protection from erosion. The terrace that provides a ledge along the naturally steep embankment has been enforced with vegetation in the form of trees and grassed areas. It is both at- tractive and protective. Still, the terrace alone has not been able 041014 vv s(UMPINn: ���`. D(mot s L AKE HURON to prevent erosion damage along this area. The beach area is broken up by a field of high steel walls, known as groyns. They jut out from the bank some 100 feet into the water and are placed at 2,200 foot inter- vals. In total more than eight steel groyns protect the beach. The steel walls may not be attractive, but they have been effective in both protec- ting the lake bank and in creating a sandy beach area. The groyn intercept the waves and the transport of sand and sediment along the lake. Sandy beach is created to the north side of each steel wall. Controversy surrounds this form of ero- sion control however. While the groyns provide effective protection to the north, they cause more active erosion on the southerly side. Currently in Grand Bend a lawsuit is being fought in the courts bet- ween subdivision owners that put in steel groyns, and a more southerly subdivisior, whose residents claim that greater erosion has been caused to their properties due tc the groyns. At Egerton Beach the continuous line of steel groyns seems to be working. The groyns cost $10,000 to $12,000 each and work to protect some 200 feet of shoreline. As an erosion control measure they are reasonably effective and financially viable. Erosion Solution No guarantee, sure fire answer to ero- sion control along Lake Huron is available. A variety of means of erosion protection can be evidenced, some appear to be work- ing effectively. What the future may bring in both ero- sion control and lake water levels remains uncertain. Some 20 years ago Lake Huron recorded maximum low water levels. Back in the 1960s it was not uncommon to see more than 100 feet of beach area. At that time people were concerned that the lake could go dry. There was talk of damming water reservoirs. In this decade record high water levels have been recorded. Currently the lake is nearly three feet higher than normal, however 1987 has seen some drop in the high water levels. Records taken in June of this year show that the lake is some 13 in- ches lower than the same time in 1986. It is anticipated that by October the water levels will be some 18 to 20 inches lower than October of 1986. What the future brings remains uncer- tain. Man may attempt to make educated guesses and may take efforts to control the lake, but in the end the lake itself will con- tinue to be a forceful power to be reckoned with. S'i'YLI%H:1) IIIA(:RAN1 OP' LAKE HURON SHORELINE RAYFIEI,I) T() PORI' FRANKS LITTORAL DRIFT PREDOMINATELY EROSION SAND DUN 3 O b M A T I O N „s SIDIMI NTATIO3 r` PORT FRANKS PREDOMINATELY`DEPOSITION Egerton Beach, a cottage community located just south of Hayfield is protected by a field of steel groyns that stand on guard against tion Authority. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) damaging wave action from Lake Huron. Erosion control work here was viewed in a recent tour by the Ausable Rayfield Conserva- Spectacular lakebank erosion can be seen along the stretch of Lake Huron between Bayfield and Grand Bend. More than 33 feet of bank fell towards the lake last year in this major slippage at Poplar Beach. The cottage community is being threatened by severe erosion. (Shelley McPhee-Haist photo) ABCA plays an important role in lakeshore management Up until a year ago the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority I ABCA i had little input into shoreline management along Lake Huron. it was primarily concerned with rivers and streams within its jurisdiction. As of December 16, 1986 when the Honorable Vince Kerrio, Minister of Natural Resources, released a statement to the legislature, Conservation authorities have been designated as the implementing agency for provincial shoreline manage- ment policies along the Great Lakes. The provincial program includes four categories, prevention, protection. emergency measures and funding. The ABCA is in charge of the portion of Lake Huron shoreline that is adjacent to its watershed boundaries. ABCA responsibilities include: • assisting member municipalities in in- corporating shoreline hazard land management into land use planning processes. • consulting with other agencies and pro- viding continents to them on planning ac- tions pertaining to shoreline management matters. • exchanging information with the public about shoreline Management planning and shoreline processes. In more specific terms, damage preven- tion would be achieved by: • conducting flood/erosion hazard mapp- ing and related studies to quantify the ex- tent of the hazard. • inventory shoreline resources so to highlight features that need special regard and attention (highly erodible areas • establish planning controls to implement shoreline flood/erosion provisions in Of- ficial plans and zoning by-laws. • administer Fill, Construction and Altera- tions to Waterways provisions of the Con- servation Authority Act once they are ex- tended to include the shoreline area. • recognizing areas where vegetation establishment and management can play an important role in shoreline stabilization. Shoreline protection may be realized through a comprehensive plan for shoreline management which would include • the identification and ranking of areas of the shore where a coordinated effort of shore protection for alternatively. a non- structural approach) is a viable strategy deserving public assistance. • the assessment and ranking of major shoreline protection projects and submit- ting there for funding consideration. • the distribution of technical guidelines for the design of shore protection. flood proofing, raising/relocating structures. • technical advice to landowners about shore protection and other options for damage prevention. • technical advice to those making applica- tions through the Shoreline Property Assistance Act • the inspection and approval of individual share protection works. individual Landowner Projects Shoreline protection initiated by in• dividual property owners will he reviewed by the Conservation Authorities ensuring they meet certain standards and conform to the long term plans for that particular stretch of shoreline. Funding is available through the Shoreline Property Assistance Act in the form of a subsidized loan. Major Projects To date, the province has not committed funding for protection works. if funding is made available for capital works, it will he administered through the conservation authority. The benefitting landowner( s will have to pay a portion of the capital costs. Shoreline Management Advisory Council This independent body with represen- tatives from all areas of the Great Lakes ( including Howard Langan of Vanastra will seek public opinion about managing the Creat Lakes shoreline. The Council was formed in April, 1987 and is chaired by Shannon Olson, Chairman of the Essex Region Conservation Authority.