Habitat Types
Upland
Wetlands
In
the Water
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Stressors
Altered Hydrology
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Contaminants
Shoreline & Boating
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Coastal Mgt. Tool
Spatial Data
Habitat Assessment
Shoreline Hardening
 Graph credit : Great Lakes Commission |
Of the 542 miles (871 km) of
Lake St. Clair’s shoreline within the project area, 31 percent is
identified as riprap, retaining wall, harbor structure or breakwater according
to Environment Canada. Nearly the entire U.S. shoreline, except the islands
of the delta, is armored.
Some of the physical processes linked to shoreline hardening are:
• beach area loss
• accelerated erosion of adjacent, unarmored property
• decrease in sediment supply to the beach
• increased wave energy seaward of armoring
• narrowing of dry beach area
• coarsening of existing beach material
Some of the biological processes linked to shoreline hardening are:
• burial or removal of habitat for bottom dwelling species due to
shifts in beach material
• alterations in or complete loss of vegetative cover resulting
in temperature fluctuations in shallow water
• loss of spawning, foraging and nursery habitat for fish due to
alteration in the substrate
• loss of migratory corridor for fish caused by shifts in water
elevation from existence of armoring
• decreased organic inputs due to loss of vegetation adjacent to
the shoreline
• interruption of beach access to foraging wildlife
Although erosion is caused by natural shoreline processes, its rate and
severity can be intensified by human activity. Wise management of shoreline
construction and land uses can significantly reduce economic losses due
to erosion.
For more information, see: Coastal Habitat Plan, Section V (PDF)
