Shoreline Workshop Draws Crowd at Peninsula Township Hall on the Old Mission Peninsula
Shoreline Workshop Draws Crowd at Peninsula Township Hall | Jane Boursaw Photo
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More than 100 people crowded into the Peninsula Township Hall last night for a presentation about the erosion taking place around northern Michigan and the Old Mission Peninsula, and what residents can do to protect and preserve that shoreline.

Organized by OMP resident Monnie Peters, the event featured presentations by Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Bay Baykeeper with The Watershed Center, and Mark Breederland from Michigan Sea Grant, a cooperative program of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Breederland explained how the interconnected-ness of the Great Lakes affects water levels, and noted that the water has actually been higher than it is today – by 9 inches in 1986. There’s even a website devoted to it called 1986Flood.com.

“In September of 1986, it rained every day,” he said. “Across the state, in two days, it averaged between 8 inches and 14 inches. There were 11 dams that blew out in those two days.”

Breederland said the Army Corps of Engineers has been measuring flat water levels since 1918, “and out of those 1200 months, all the records were set in 1986,” he noted.

Water Levels Likely to Go Up

He added that 2019 is right up there in terms of water levels. To put things in perspective, since 1918, the water levels in July 2019 take fourth place; sixth place goes to August 2019; and October 2019 is shaping up to take eighth place.

But it can vary widely within even just a few years. In January 2013, the water was at some of its lowest levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Breederland cautioned northern Michigan residents to “buckle your seatbelts,” because 2020 is shaping up to be another year of high water in northern Michigan. “There’s way more opportunity for it to go up right now than for it to come down,” he said. “The forecast is showing [January 2020] to be about 10 inches higher than last January.”

He added, “Right now there’s a lot of water in the system. We could really use some good strong evaporation to bring that down a little bit.” And because November is typically the windiest month of the year, “let’s hope we can get through it without significant damage.”

Shoreline Workshop 2
Mark Breederland of Michigan Sea Grant points to Neahtawanta shoreline during a Shoreline Workshop at Peninsula Township Hall | Jane Boursaw Photo

Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Bay Baykeeper, outlined some tips to help preserve and manage the 40 miles of Old Mission Peninsula shorelines, including how best to manage current and increasing erosion.

She noted that Peninsula Township has a number of zoning provisions that are meant to protect the coastal region, including flood plains, wetland setbacks and more. “Peninsula Township has been rather progressive on those things,” said Smith.

Tips for Managing Shoreline and Erosion

Avoid beach grooming or uprooting plants.

Buildings and impervious surfaces should be set back 50 to 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark. Relocate structures, if possible.

Maintain a buffer of plants between your home and the water or any wetland areas near the water. This is called a riparian, vegetated or greenbelt buffer.

Leave native vegetation in place, as it makes the shoreline more resistent to invasive plants, such as Phragmites.

Keep vegetation – particularly native vegetation – along at least 75 percent of your shoreline length.

Vegetation is the most critical weapon against sand erosion, especially trees and shrubs. It holds sand underneath it from blowing or being washed away, and catches blowing sand. When water levels rise, the swales and vegetation protect the shoreline from erosion and flooding.

If you’re looking for views of the water, prune the branches of trees and shrubs, do not cut them down. The roots protect water quality by filtering pollutants and guarding the shoreline from erosion.

Because of their root systems, trees, shrubs and plants are more effective in protecting shoreline than rocks or seawalls. Hardened surfaces such as rocks and seawalls increase energy in waves and cause more erosion.

Do not channel runoff directly into the bay. Contour your property to direct runoff into low areas where it can collect temporarily and soak into the ground or where vegetation has an opportunity to absorb the water.

Think twice about a traditional manicured lawn, which because of its short roots, cannot absorb a lot of nutrients. Also, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can run off your yard and into the bay. Opt instead for a mixture of native plants, sedges, shrubs and trees.

Grand Traverse Bay Baykeeper Heather Smith at a Shoreline Workshop at Peninsula Township Hall | Jane Boursaw Photo
Grand Traverse Bay Baykeeper Heather Smith during a Shoreline Workshop at Peninsula Township Hall | Jane Boursaw Photo

The shoreline workshop was videotaped, and copies will be available for checkout in about two weeks at Peninsula Community Library.

Also, copies of the recently-updated booklet published by The Watershed Center, “Up North Shoreline: Stewardship Guide for Living on Grand Traverse Bay,” are available at the Peninsula Township offices.

Monnie Peters notes that she will be organizing another shoreline workshop in the spring, so stay tuned to Old Mission Gazette for more info about that.

Websites for More Information:

Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Watershed Center

Sea Grant Michigan

Michigan Coastal Management Program

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SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.

Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette

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