A critical component of the Lake Michigan Potential Damages Study will be an assessment of the potential damages that could potentially occur along the shoreline under different water level scenarios.

Damages shall be determined by reaches of shoreline for erosion losses and for zones for inundation damages. Erosion losses shall be determined as a function of changes in bluff line placement relative to an initial position in year 1 of the 50 year planning horizon. Inundation damages will be determined as a direct function of first floor elevations of structures. Stage-damage relationships shall be determined for all areas subject to inundation losses under the 5 water level scenarios being considered.Damages will be reported as a function of ten year increments over the 50 year planning horizon.

Potential damage assessments will ultimately be conducted in 3 key areas:

• Residential, Commercial-Industrial and Community Based Property Losses will be estimated for each water level scenario on a lakewide basis for flooding, erosion and low-water situations. Work was completed on this task for the prototype counties in 2000. Click the above link for more information.
• Recreational Boating and Fishery Damages will focus on losses to these sectors including marinas, recreational boaters and sport and commercial fisheries. Work was completed on this task for the prototype counties in 2000.Click the above link for more information.
• Dredging and Channel Maintenance Damages will focus on those costs associated with additional dredging required as a result of significantly lower water levels, or associated with excessive sedimentation of channels in high water periods or during altered current conditions. Work was completed on this task for the prototype counties in 2000. Click the above link for more information.

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