Chicago, IL (September 30, 2022) – The Alliance for the Great Lakes thanks the governors of the Great Lakes states for signing an agreement to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study. This multi-year project will identify places in the Great Lakes vulnerable to high water levels and erosion, and recommend options to protect the lakes and coastal communities.
Fluctuating lake levels and intense storms are getting more extreme and more frequent due to climate change. The threat these storms pose to Great Lakes shoreline communities — including damage to roads, marinas, water systems and coastal properties — is enormous. The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study will look at areas around the region that are particularly vulnerable to water level changes and offer recommendations for ways these coastal communities can manage and adapt to changes brought on by the climate crisis. As the project moves forward in collaboration with Great Lakes states, the Corps should prioritize natural shorelines, enhanced coastal buffers like wetlands, and offshore reefs to dissipate wave energy as ways for communities to manage changes in lake levels.
Truly resilient shorelines won’t be built parcel by parcel, but miles at a time. Investing in the Great Lakes’ coasts needs to be a top priority for Congress, and this study is a critical step to identify the places most in need. The coasts are some of the most economically and ecologically important parts of the lakes, and we are looking forward to working with the Corps and the states to restore and protect our shores at the scale the Great Lakes deserve.
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Media contact: Please connect with our media team at TeamGreatLakes@mrss.com.