Shoreline Engineering &
Bank Protection
“A Lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It’s earth’s eye; Looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.”
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden
BMJ Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. are qualified and highly experienced in shoreline protection, repair, and rehabilitation design. Licensed by the State of Michigan and certified in soft shoreline protection, we have designed protection projects on both the Great Lakes and inland lakes. If you are experiencing problems with shoreline erosion, damage to property, or difficulty maintaining your beach, contact us for an appointment to visit your property and discuss alternatives for a solution to your shoreline needs.
Erosion along a shoreline advances when the energy that reaches the lakeshore or stream bank is greater than the ability of the soil and vegetation to resist being dislodged. Often changes in use of the lake, unusual weather, or changes in adjacent properties can increase the amount of energy reaching the shoreline just enough to increase the process of erosion. When that happens, whatever preparations that have been made to the shoreline may not be enough to resist the movement of soil and vegetation from the banks.
While it is popular along some shorelines to install break walls of steel, wood, concrete, or vinyl, these walls directly resist the energy reaching the shore and re-direct it downward without absorbing the energy. When that happens, re-directed energy erodes the lake bottom at the wall and may eventually undermine it. This solution also degrades the habitat along the shoreline and contributes sedimentation in the lake elsewhere.
Goodells Park, St. Clair County, Michigan
Cont...
Bioengineering is an approach to shoreline management that incorporates the disciplines of landscape architecture and engineering to create natural landscapes that have the properties capable of resisting the erosive effects of wind, water, and waves. Manufactured products that eventually biodegrade assist beneficial native plants to establish roots, stems, and leaves in a protective layer along the shoreline that, with proper planning, will provide a lasting, attractive shoreline. The strategy improves ecological function, provides habitat, and acts as a buffer that evolves through years into an established stable shoreline.
Natural “soft” shoreline repair and rehabilitation protects properties against erosion of soil and beaches, prevents loss of water depth from the deposition of soil on the lake bottom, and helps to decrease pollutants in the water that cling to the extra sediment deposited from erosion. The native plants that are encouraged in natural bioengineering are adapted to the soil, climate, and water conditions of lakeshores. Generally, that means that native plants used in bioengineering require less effort to establish and require much less maintenance to remain healthy and robust.
Combining manufactured reinforcement materials like geotextile fabrics and coconut fabric logs with native plants adapted to differing zones, improve water quality for water fowl, fish, and animals adapted to the shoreline. A bioengineered shoreline can resist and survive the activities of burrowing animals and provide food, shade, and shelter for all manner of fauna. Water plants, such as lily pads, sedges, and rushes absorb and dissipate wave energy. Shoreline plants including the sedges, rushes, and cat tails also put out dense root mass that anchor the soil. These root structures also absorb pollutants such as fertilizers and road runoff that make their way to the water’s edge. Finally, a robust and healthy natural shoreline will outcompete invasive species such as phragmites and purple loosestrife.
Planning and engineering your shoreline to survive the rigors of the water boundary will serve to provide sensible access to your lakeshore, preserve land at the water’s edge, and create a beautiful natural landscape that will last.
If you have some of these conditions on your lake or pond, call us for a quote to work with you to prepare a repair plan.
Bioengineering incorporates living and non-living natural materials with synthetic materials
Shoreline plantings help to retain sand beaches and prevent receding shorelines
Some BMJ Natural and Soft Armoring Shoreline Protection Projects
Goodells Park at the South Branch of Pine River, St. Clair County
Pine River Nature Center at the South Branch of the Pine River, St. Clair County
Camp Playfair, Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan on Lake Huron, Sanilac County
Village of Port Austin at Lake Huron, Huron County
Kensington MetroPark Demonstration Project, Oakland County