The study area for the LMPDS incorporates the entire 2,436 kilometers of Lake Michigan shoreline, beginning and ending at the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge (right). Impacts and associated potential damage issues will also be examined for areas extending inland, particularly for some of the larger drowned river mouths along the eastern shoreline of the lake (e.g., Lake Macatawa). Islands are also expected to be examined (e.g., Beaver Island) as many of these are becoming heavily developed with seasonal and year-round residences. For the examination of coastal process issues and shoreline classification, it will also be important to take into account the offshore areas to determine water depths, nearshore composition, and the amount of sand cover and sand transport that is occurring.

While the general study area includes the entire Lake Michigan shoreline, investigations have also been focused on a more localized level. This includes a set of detailed investigations at a series of site study areas (Two Creeks, WI; Fisher Creek, WI; New Buffalo, MI; Warren Dunes, MI; Shoreham, MI; Miami Park, MI; Muskegon, MI; and Little Sable Point, MI) (left). Data collected at these sites were used to provide critical information to test and refine analytical procedures being developed in the Flood and Erosion Prediction System.

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, above). 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.

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