The loss of natural shorelines and streambanks is one of the top threats to water quality. Natural shorelines and streambanks protect the lakes and rivers from stormwater pollution, prevent soil erosion, and provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife.
Wide vibrant strips of native vegetation, shrubs and trees along the shoreline are not only attractive, but are an important contributor to water quality. These “buffer zones” can keep a significant amount of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from washing into the water. The vegetation slows the speed of runoff, allowing sediments to settle out and the nutrients to be absorbed by the plant roots.
In cases where shorelines must be stabilized, bioengineered solutions such as coir logs are typically the preferred method for the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed. They are great alternatives to less lake-friendly erosion control methods such as riprap and sea walls that often do more harm than good.
A coir log, made from densely packed coconut fibers wrapped in a biodegradable netting, works by acting as a physical barrier to prevent soil erosion, slowing down water flow, trapping sediment, and providing a surface for vegetation to establish roots, thus stabilizing slopes and shorelines, especially in areas prone to water runoff or wave action. Over time, the coir log naturally breaks down, enriching the soil as it decomposes.
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) may require a permit to install coir logs, as they are considered a form of shoreline protection, and any activity altering the shoreline at or below the ordinary high-water mark typically requires a permit from EGLE. If the coir logs are installed above the ordinary high-water mark, you generally do not need a permit. We encourage you to check the latest EGLE permit requirements here before beginning any shoreline restoration project.
The Glen Lake Association’s 2023 Stewardship Award Winner was the William Hampton Family. Bill’s daughter, Sarah Bielman, accepted the award last summer on behalf of the family. “With the help of the GLA, we learned how a natural-bioengineered shoreline could help us. We got a free onsite consultation and were given recommendations for certified professionals who could design and install a solution,” said Sarah Bielman. “I was extremely nervous when I drove out from Traverse City in early April but elated to find that the coir logs and re-design had worked! We made it through the winter unscathed. By June, we were blessed with beautiful native plants that had sprouted up and the return of a sandy lake bottom like the one my dad found in 1970 when he bought our slice of paradise.”
When you schedule a free shoreline or stream bank consultation with the Glen Lake Association, we will listen to your concerns and perform a thorough analysis of your property. Afterward, the GLA will assist with finding solutions to your erosion problems, which include either doing it yourself or finding a professional contractor to do the work.
Learn more at glenlakeassociation.org/shoreline-and-streambank-preservation.
Photo of installing a coir log on the Crystal River.
Pictured left to right – Joe Blondia, Kelsey Frolich, Barb Karner, and Rob Karner.