Habitat Restoration in Priority Coastal Areas: Ford Cove
About Ford Cove Habitat Restoration
The Ford Cove Shoreline and Coastal Wetland Restoration project will span a mile of Lake St. Clair coastline and over 17 acres of coastal marsh, nearshore habitat, and forested wetlands. The site is undergoing a feasibility study, including baseline evaluations and preliminary hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, to inform the restoration strategy. As one of the few remaining areas on the U.S. Lake St. Clair coastline that is suitable for large-scale shoreline restoration, the Ford Cove Shoreline and Coastal Wetland Restoration project was identified as a Michigan priority coastal restoration project under NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management’s Great Lakes Coastal and Nearshore Habitat Assessment Project. The restoration will improve aquatic habitat and replace hardened shoreline with natural features.
More about Ford Cove Restoration
There has been a 99.9 percent reduction in Lake St. Clair natural shoreline in Macomb County, with only 2,140 linear feet of the 31.5 miles of shoreline remaining in natural condition. Ford Cove is an exciting opportunity for shoreline restoration as one of the few areas that is suitable for restoration. The restoration strategy will be informed by the ongoing feasibility assessment but is anticipated to restore or enhance approximately 5.5 acres of coastal marsh, 8 acres of nearshore habitat, 4 acres of forested wetland, and 1 mile of shoreline. In addition to improving habitat, the restoration will increase coastal resiliency.
Benefits of Restoration
Environmental Benefits:
- Improve fish and wildlife habitat
- Improve water quality
Community Benefits:
- Recreation
- Shoreline safety and resilience
Economic Benefits:
- Tourism and recreation
- Coastal resiliency
Documents and Fact Sheets
The following fact sheets and documents provide additional information about the Ford Cove project and specific elements of the project.
News Coverage
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Ford Cove restoration plans target wetlands and shoreline, improve fish and plant populations | May 3, 2022
- Public invited to view shore restoration plans at Ford House | April 18, 2022
- Ford House collaborates to restore Lake St. Clair shoreline | March 8, 2021
- Shoreline, habitat restoration planned at Ford Cove | February 11, 2021
- The Ford House wants to return one mile of Lake St. Clair shoreline to nature | February 4, 2021
- Ford House Moves To Restore Lake St. Clair Natural Shoreline | February 3, 2021
Funding
Ford Cove has received approximately $230,000 in funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) from both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the NOAA Non-AOC Grant. GLRI is a federal program designed to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world — the Great Lakes.
For More Information
Jill Estrada
Coastal Conservation and Habitat Restoration
Senior Program Specialist, Great Lakes Commission
734‐396‐6059 • [email protected]
Kevin Drotos
Landscape and Woodlands Specialist
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
313-884-4222
[email protected]
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