A study examining the Lake Michigan shoreline response to a record-breaking extreme water level event that occurred between 2013 and 2020 has received funding from the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP). The project is being led by Cary Troy, Professor of Civil Engineering, in collaboration with other Great Lakes institutions including Michigan State University, Michigan Tech. University, and the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison.

This project examines the Lake Michigan shoreline response to a record-breaking extreme water level event that occurred between 2013 and 2020, during which the water level rose nearly 2m. To quantify the Lake Michigan coastal response, this project leverages a newly-available USACE topobathymetric survey from 2020, combined with a previous survey in 2013, that together perfectly span the extreme event.

The project aims to quantify and understand the Lake Michigan shoreline response, in order to help Great Lakes communities be more prepared for future events. A major component of the project, on equal footing with the science objectives, is the development of a Great Lakes Graduate Student Community of Practice, which leverages expertise at four Great Lakes institutions to produce an empowered next generation of Great Lakes coastal scientists and engineers.

Source: U.S. Coastal Research Program