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Coastal Field Data Collection and Site Studies
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The objective of this task is to collect extensive field data at selected study sites, which represent larger areas of similar sandy or cohesive shore types in both developed and undeveloped areas. These data will provide critical information to test and refine analytical procedures within the Coastal Process Model and Flood and Erosion Prediction System. Data have been collected during the summer of 1997 and the summer of 1998 at the following study sites: - Two Creeks, Wisconsin
- Fisher Creek, Wisconsin
- New Buffalo, Michigan
- Warren Dunes, Michigan
- Shoreham, Michigan
- Miami Park, Michigan
- Muskegon, Michigan
- Little Sable Point, Michigan
These sites were chosen since they are fairly representative of various shore types and levels of development. Some of these detailed study sites were also chosen because other data collection efforts took place there in the past, which can provide a better understanding of temporal changes. The types of data that have been collected at each site are as follows:
- hydrographic and topographic survey lines (one primary line with two parallel secondary lines on either side locating the top and toe of the bluff, shoreline, and profile of offshore bottom elevations to the 20 foot contour);
- soil borings, elevation of glacial till and its contact with overlying sand deposits, and laboratory tests for engineering properties;
- geophysical surveys (generally ground penetrating radar) to determine the thickness of sand deposits; and
- SHOALS (Scanning Hydrographic Operational Airborne LIDAR System) bathymetric surveys from the bluff edge to the 20 foot contour, for a distance of approximately one mile at each study site, centered around the survey lines.
These tasks were completed during 1997 and 1998. Coleman Engineering performed the Wisconsin field surveys; Toltest, Inc. performed the Michigan field surveys; and, John Chance & Associates, under contract to WES, performed the SHOALS surveys. USACE (Detroit District and WES) staff also assisted in portions of the field data collection and in contract administration and documentation of results. Detailed field work was also supplemented by observations of key study team members and consultants during a one week field trip in the summer of 1997 along the Michigan shoreline. This included a boat tour of the shoreline along a portion of shoreline in Shoreham and stops at all of the key study areas along the Michigan shoreline. All scheduled FY 1997 coastal field data has been collected. The SHOALS data sets have been reduced and reported. The remaining data sets are currently being analyzed and reported. Expected outputs from this task will be: collection, reduction, and reporting of digital data for the SHOALS surveys, and for the topographic, hydrographic and geophysical surveys; digital profiles and contour maps; boring logs; and lab test results. In order to focus modeling and other 1999 activities and to ensure the methods developed are appropriate for application to the whole lake, five prototype counties were selected for detailed analysis in 1999 (orange shaded areas, right). The selected counties include Ottawa and Allegan counties in Michigan and Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc counties in Wisconsin. These counties were selected because they contain a number of the LMPDS site-specific study areas being examined. They also have a wealth of data and information available from other initiatives being carried out by State agencies and academic institutions.
Detailed data collection and model analysis was completed for these prototype counties in 1999 and continues into 2000. Click to return to the Lake Michigan Potential Damages Study Page.
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