Michigan department of environment, great lakes and energy (egle) will conduct a feasibility study and design the selected alternative for future restoration of nearshore habitat and the replacement…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded $876,000 to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) under the Geographic Programs - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (CFDA 66.469) on August 1, 2025, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study and design alternative selections for nearshore habitat restoration and seawall replacement along a three-mile stretch of Lake St. Clair shoreline. The project, extending through July 31, 2028, will employ nature-based solutions to mitigate wave energy and manage shoreline erosion, with activities encompassing existing data review, field data collection and analysis, environmental modeling, habitat evaluations, phasing concepts development, permitting identification, and implementation planning.

The deliverables include a completed feasibility report, implementation-ready permits, and bid-ready design and engineering plans that will enable stakeholders to prioritize restoration efforts and pursue subsequent funding for project implementation. The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) serves as subrecipient, providing project management, reporting, reimbursement processing, monthly meeting facilitation, design and monitoring plan technical advice, and public engagement assistance. Upon eventual implementation, the project is expected to restore 120–140 acres of coastal habitat and establish three miles of aquatic species connectivity, directly benefiting residents of Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Shores within the Lake St. Clair watershed.

Michigan department of environment, great lakes and energy (egle) will conduct a feasibility study and design the selected alternative for future restoration of nearshore habitat and the replacement of a failing concrete seawall along three miles of lake ST. Clair shoreline. Designs will focus on the use of nature-based solutions to protect against variable lake dynamics by reducing wave energy and managing shoreline erosion. Activities:activities include existing data review, field data collection and analysis, modeling, habitat evaluations, phasing concepts, permitting identification, the development of plans for implementation of nature-based solutions. Subrecipient:subaward activities include assisting egle with project management and reporting, processing reimbursement requests, project reporting to MI egle, monthly meeting facilitation, technical advice on design and monitoring plans, assistance with public engagement.outcomes:project deliverables include a completed feasibility report, implementation-ready permits, bid-ready design and engineering plans. Following design, stakeholders will have a better understanding on how best to prioritize and execute the restoration or enhancement of this stretch of shoreline and will be poised to pursue funding opportunities for project implementation. With eventual implementation, this project will lead to outcomes that include 120-140 acres of restored coastal habitat and 3 miles of connectivity for aquatic species. Intended beneficiaries are the residents of grosse pointe farms and gross pointe shores and other community members and stakeholders in the lake ST. Clair watershed.