This project lays the foundations for basin-scale sediment management planning and understanding of Lake Michigan’s nearshore physical processes. Partners will work toward long-term resilience strategies aimed at mitigating coastal erosion of critically unique coastal habitats and protection of shoreline sites vulnerable to lake level changes and coastal storms.
Phase I. NOAA along with multi-agency partners deployed offshore current and sediment transport monitoring instrumentation (ADCP) to understand littoral fluxes. The Illinois State Geological Survey performed initial beach morphology analysis using LiDAR data, carbon dating, repeat aerial imagery collection and detailed beach topographic surveys at specific locations selected for beach nourishment. Beach response to the nourishment was tracked using aerial photography and high-resolution GPS surveys. (Completed)
Phase II. NOAA alongside its partners in Illinois will refine the sediment budget for the area and compile high resolution datasets to constrain the physical setting and temporal processes, enabling a better understanding of contextual coastal processes that drive this system. At least one pilot project will be implemented at a critical location at Illinois Beach State park. (In progress)
GLRI Funding
FY2023: $600,000
FY2022: $600,000
FY2020: $500,000
FY2017: $485,000
Contact:
Chiara.Zuccarino-crowe@noaa.gov
Other partners:
Multi-Agency (Illinois Coastal Management Program, Illinois State Geological Survey, Stantec, Woolpert, Michigan State University, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA GLERL)