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The coastal stewardship coordinator with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation says what was considered good practice for controlling shoreline erosion 50 years ago is no longer recommended.

Hannah Cann said there was a time when shore protection structures like sheet metal groins, gabion baskets and armour stone were encouraged.

“With the information we have now about how they hurt our neighbour’s properties and the cost that is associated with these pieces of infrastructure, it’s not worth it from a financial perspective, from a maintenance perspective and it’s extremely detrimental to our coastal health.”

Cann added while most of the erosion problems occur as a result of high water levels, the time to address the problems is when water levels are at their lowest point

“That means re-building dunes, planting vegetative buffers between an infrastructure like cottages and the lakeshore and then, when the lake waters come up again, this natural infrastructure will protect us.”

Cann said for the next couple of years, at least, we will be in a period of high lake levels so all we can really is brace for impact and be patient until the levels come down again.

Hanna added they’re very sympathetic with owners of shoreline properties who are watching their bluffs disappear, but she says there isn’t much that can be effective during periods of high water levels.

The Coastal Centre released its Coastal Action Plan for the Southeastern Shores of Lake Huron in December and that is available on their web site.