Greetings from the Coastal Resilience Team,
Welcome to August's Southeastern Wisconsin Coastal Resilience newsletter. This month's newsletter contains articles on:
- Lake Michigan water level condition update
- Blog - Public Engagement & the Wisconsin Shoreline of Lake Michigan
- Resource of the Month - Adapting to a Changing Coast
- Community Story - Protecting the Shore While Enhancing Public Access
- Funding Opportunity - Wisconsin Coastal Management Annual Grants
- Funding Opportunity - FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants
Regards,
Adam Bechle and the rest of the Coastal Resilience Team
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Water Levels Remain Near Record Highs
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In July, Lake Michigan was 3 inches below the monthly mean water level record set in July 1986. So far in August the lake is below it's monthly record as well but still very high.
There is a good chance that we've seen the highest water levels for the year, as the "seasonal decline" in water levels has begun and will continue into the fall.
Learn more about the status and outlook for Lake Michigan water levels in our August 2019 Lake Michigan Water Level Update
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Public Engagement & the Wisconsin Shoreline of Lake Michigan
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Engaging the public on the issues facing Lake Michigan’s coastal bluffs helps to move forward with a share vision of the coast. This process can be as important as understanding why and how coastal processes such as erosion and flooding impact Lake Michigan’s shorelines.
Bert Stitt, with Bert Stitt & Associates
, wrote about the importance of establishing a shared community vision and voice, what it takes to establish a shared community vision, and considerations for hosting an effective community meeting.
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Adapting to a Changing Coast
Adapting to a Changing Coast is a booklet that provides property owners with options and resources for responding to the changing bluffs and beaches of Lake Michigan. This document presents options, rather than prescriptions, that property owners in Southeast Wisconsin could consider to address coastal hazards. This tool was published by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute and is
available online to use for free.
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Coastal Resilience Stories from Around the Great Lakes
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Protecting the Shore While Enhancing Public Access
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The City of Euclid, OH created a community vision that has the city taking responsibility for shoreline erosion on private coastal properties in exchange for easements that allow public access to the waterfront, creating a mutual benefit for property owners and the city's other residents.
Through a public planning process, Euclid developed a Waterfront Improvement Plan that will provide public access for recreational opportunities, reclaim the City’s historic beaches, restore the coastal environment, and become a catalyst for economic investment and area-wide revitalization. Construction began in the fall of 2018 and will be completed in phases throughout 2019.
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Illustration by SmithGroupJJR showing part of Euclid’s lakefront plan
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The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is seeking proposals to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zone – all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan. WCMP Grants are available for coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation.
Application materials the Request for Proposals are available on the WCMP website.
Applications are due November 1, 2019
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An informational workshop on this funding opportunity will be held next week:
Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 1:30 p.m.
Port Milwaukee
2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee
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FEMA announced the Fiscal Year 2019 application cycle this week for both the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs. The grant programs could provide funding for coastal flooding and erosion mitigation projects, including but not limited to infrastructure protective measures, wetland restoration, property acquisition, soil stabilization, and mitigation strategies.
You may find more information about the specifics of each program at the below Notice of Funding Opportunities on
www.grants.gov
:
Potential subapplicants are asked to
contact Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) by September 27, 2019
,
so that they can determine if the project is eligible and help work to put together a complete application. The state must sign off on submissions and WEM wants to help you put together a complete application that has the best opportunity for funding selection.
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If you have any questions about Lake Michigan coastal hazards or how to approach, plan, and prepare for them, please contact
Adam Bechle
608-263-5133
For more information, visit the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Resilience Project
website
Follow us on Twitter @sewiresilience for updates
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University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute |
(608) 262-0905
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1975 Willow Drive, 2nd Floor, Madison, WI 53706
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