Posted on January 7, 2021
MUNISING, Mich. (WLUC) – Sand Point, a prominent coastal feature and beach destination located near the westernmost boundary of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, was modified in the early 1990s with the placement of a large rock rubble-mound revetment measuring approximately 650 linear feet by 32 feet wide.
The purpose of the revetment installation was to protect against erosion on Sand Point Road and the historic U.S. Coast Guard Station / Lakeshore Headquarters after a period of high water. Over time, the revetment has altered the natural retention of sand at Sand Point, generally decreasing the size of the sand spit over time. The revetment has degraded and is now mostly buried in sand. Sand deposition is once again occurring.
The National Park Service has completed several analyses and conceptual designs to assess how best to modify the revetment and allow the site to restore to its natural condition. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore plans to leave the revetment in place and allow natural processes to occur, acting only when one or more revetment stones become exposed above the sand or lake water level.
When/if portions of the rock revetment become exposed and accessible, lakeshore staff will either remove the rock from the revetment or deposit sand over the rock, effectively burying it. In the first instance, removed rocks would be taken from the site and used elsewhere by the park. For reburying the rock, sand would come from the nearby boat ramp and historic boat dock on Lake Superior, where lakeshore staff remove accumulated sand on an as needed basis, under a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE)/Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) permit.
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Source: uppermichiganssource
