How do I prevent waterfront erosion?

Dan
by Dan

I have had 2 large Gabions fall over onto the beach last fall. I am looking for a solution to keep the materials from eroding/falling. My waterfront bluff is only 15 ' , but with water levels rising on Lake Huron I feel I need to hurry and come up with that solution, any suggestions?

  4 answers
  • Jlnatty Jlnatty on Mar 10, 2019

    I think you need to talk to a pro landscaping company that specializes in stablizing shore erosion. It won't be cheap. There may well be local/county/state and even federal regulations that need to be addressed in stablizing the shoreline - as I understand it, typically by trucking in and dumping tons and tons of stone and possibly even building a break-water wall. This was a major issue some years back with property owners in the suburbs north of Milwaukee, WI on Lake Michigan when lake levels started rising after being at historic lows for many years.

  • Kauai Breeze Kauai Breeze on Mar 10, 2019

    That is serious work! You will need to hire a contractor to bring in heavy rock and place it at the foot of the bank. You may need an engineer to look at the problem and offer the most permanent solution. Any type of plants or small rock will probably wash away. Look to see if others near you have done any projects and ask them how it is working and who did the work.

    • Dan Dan on Mar 10, 2019

      Thank you very much for your efforts on my behalf. Sincerely appreciated.

      Daniel.


  • 1951 Ford 1951 Ford on Mar 11, 2019

    Did the Gabion walls have tie backs?

    • See 1 previous
    • Dan Dan on Mar 12, 2019

      The Gabions were set on sandstone/slate/earth, ha. a very flat surface. I do not know how many years they have been there, guessing 15 to 20 years. It may be it was at their lifetime. Over the years, I could see the gabions leaning further and further out. I believe the ice and erosion dirt pushing them out. I want to do it right this time, I believe tie backs will be used to help secure them the best.

  • 1951 Ford 1951 Ford on Mar 12, 2019

    We have a pressure treated wood wall with the posts having tiebacks. Our lake is lowered every five years to make necessary repairs. Maybe the bottom layer of the Gabions could be set in some sort of trench. If your lot is flat I don't understand why Gabions were used in lieu of rip rap. Gabions are usually used to line the banks of ditches/canals.