Figure 1 - West Accretion Fillet

Regional Issue 2: Removal of the West Accretion Fillet

Over the lifetime of the federal structures at Michigan City, the west accretion fillet has grown (figure 1). The adjacent property owners west of the structures, NIPSCO Power Company, and the Port Authority have expressed concern to the local government that the accretion fillet is becoming a problem. This area has become a popular spot for surfers and local beach goers. Surfers will jump from the east jetty structure near the marina and swim across the navigation channel to the west accretion fillet creating a safety hazard. NIPSCO and the Port Authority are concerned over future liability if someone is injured due to either surfing or navigation hazards.

Inspection of aerial photos suggests another potential problem with the accretion fillet. Growth of this beach is directly contributing to shoaling at the harbor mouth. The accretion fillet seems to have reached a dynamic equilibrium state. Therefore the beach has reached its maximum sand capacity and should remain unchanged, barring any abnormal events.