Initiatives

Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts

Welcome to the Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts, a collaborative program between the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We support community-led efforts to restore fish and wildlife habitat in vulnerable coastal areas. These coastal projects protect Great Lakes communities, ecosystems, and water quality.

THE NEED

Photo of eroded shoreline on MichiganDevelopment, pollution, and other human activities have led to a loss of Great Lakes habitat, especially along the coasts. Habitat is crucial for a resilient community and local economy. Healthy ecosystems provide life-sustaining benefits, like clean air and water, to humans and wildlife. Further, habitat features like native plants can attract pollinators, and help with erosion and flood control. The Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts develops projects that create, connect, restore habitat to protect these processes, and provide new benefits to the community. These projects are designed in partnership with communities to increase their resilience to the coastal challenges they are facing.

THE PROGRAM

The Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts (formerly known as the Lake Michigan Coastal Resilience Initiative) supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III Goal 4: Habitat and Species. The initiative provides training and technical assistance to communities, supporting them through the development and design of habitat-focused projects that improve local community resilience. This is accomplished through the following process:

  • Communities join web-based trainings and workshops on habitat restoration and resilience.
  • Planning, engineering and habitat experts from partners at Dewberry, LimnoTech and ISG provide one-on-one support for project visioning and development.
  • Participants submit project ideas to be considered for design and engineering.
  • Finalist projects are selected and designed in collaboration with local community representatives.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Earlier this summer, over 20 projects were proposed by 14 communities across three states. The following five initial projects were selected for engineering and design support. Additional projects will be selected to advance in the coming months as additional funding becomes available.

  • Bay City Creek Estuary Wetland Restoration and Living Shoreline Implementation (Ashland, Wisconsin)
  • East River Flood Solutions on City-Owned Properties – Van Beaver Park (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
  • Chapaton Shoreline Restoration and Habitat Enhancements Projects (Macomb County, Michigan)
  • Oscoda Beach Park Dune Restoration and Stormwater Runoff Project (Oscoda Township, Michigan)
  • Two Harbors Waterfront Revitalization on Agate Bay (Lake County, Minnesota)

SUCCESS STORIES

Since 2021, the initiative has supported nearly 50 local entities through training and technical assistance and provided 30-90% engineering and design, maintenance and monitoring plans and construction cost estimates for nine projects (so far). Check out two of these projects below!

The Bayfront East Living Shoreline and Trail Modification Project in Petoskey, Michigan addresses damage to public parkland, sewage infrastructure, and a non-motorized trail caused by fluctuating water levels, wind erosion, and wave overtopping. The project replaces a failing rock revetment with a nature-based, living shoreline by softening the slope, creating a cobble beach and a backshore pond with native plantings and woody debris.

The Bayfront East Living Shoreline and Trail Modification Project in Petoskey, Michigan addresses damage to public parkland, sewage infrastructure, and a non-motorized trail caused by fluctuating water levels, wind erosion, and wave overtopping. The project replaces a failing rock revetment with a nature-based, living shoreline by softening the slope, creating a cobble beach and a backshore pond with native plantings and woody debris.

 

The Lincoln Park South Lagoon Shoreline Resilience Project in Chicago, Illinois addresses severe erosion and infrastructure failure caused by fluctuating lake levels that have overtopped a lagoon wall. The engineered design demonstrates how resilient shoreline solutions can foster ecological benefits and be designed in alignment with the aesthetics of a historic park landscape. The design stabilizes and enhances habitat areas, reduces hardened shorelines, and reconnects the transition zone where the slope can be softened.

The Lincoln Park South Lagoon Shoreline Resilience Project in Chicago, Illinois addresses severe erosion and infrastructure failure caused by fluctuating lake levels that have overtopped a lagoon wall. The engineered design demonstrates how resilient shoreline solutions can foster ecological benefits and be designed in alignment with the aesthetics of a historic park landscape. The design stabilizes and enhances habitat areas, reduces hardened shorelines, and reconnects the transition zone where the slope can be softened. 

 

LOOKING FORWARD

The Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts is expanding its footprint to include the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario basins (and their connecting channels) in fall 2025. While the upcoming opportunity will emphasize projects in the new regions, all U.S. Great Lakes communities in coastal zones will be invited to participate and submit a proposal for engineering and design support.   

 

JOIN US

To learn more or inquire about technical support for your community, please reach out to Zoë Goodrow, Coastal Programs Manager, at zoe.goodrow@glslcities.org. You can also view our list of Frequently Asked Questions about the initiative.