Jan

Leelenau County, MI residents should know that erosion control is a priority if they want to protect their property from damage. This guide will provide an overview of the most effective strategies for combating erosion and steps you can take to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

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Know Your Local Water Cycle and Weather Conditions

Knowing the local water cycle is an essential step before putting into place any erosion control strategies. Start by researching the local weather patterns, rainfall, and ground cover in your area to get an understanding of how the different elements can impact your property's susceptibility to erosion. This will help you create a customized plan for how to best protect your property against soil loss due to runoff or other causes.

Break Walls That Reduce Erosive Forces

Structures such as rock or boulder break walls can be helpful tools for controlling erosion. Break walls are structures built specifically to prevent rising water levels and waves from eroding the land behind it. Terraces help to reduce the water’s force by breaking up massive bits of land into multiple levels. This distributes the water more gently across terrace surfaces over time rather than allowing it to carry away large amounts of soil quickly. Finally, selecting natural vegetation to plant in vulnerable areas will supplement break walls by holding soil in place behind the break wall.

Natural Vegetation Erosion Control

Research the natural vegetation that is native to Northern Michigan's Great Lakes shorelines. Adding vegetation will help tighten soil around break walls and adds a beautiful touch to the landscaping of your property.

Local Government Agencies

Contact local, state, and federal agencies (such as EGLE and Army Corps of Engineers) to find out if your shoreline property needs a permit for construction. Mountain Stone will help with the permit process from start to finish.