(Updated 5/6/2026)
If you own a lake house, Northern Michigan, shoreline erosion is a reality you need to plan for — not just when water levels are high, but across the full cycle of conditions that Great Lakes waterfront properties experience over time.
In recent years, record high water levels drew widespread attention to erosion along Lake Michigan, with beaches in Benzie and Leelanau Counties shrinking dramatically and historic properties like Leland’s Fishtown experiencing repeated flooding from seiches and storm surge. Since then, levels have moderated, but history tells us the cycle will continue. Historically, the Great Lakes move through natural multi-year patterns of rising and falling water levels driven by precipitation, snowpack, and evaporation. The record highs of 2019–2020 followed a period of record lows less than a decade earlier.
The practical takeaway for waterfront homeowners: plan for both extremes. A shoreline strategy that only accounts for high water will leave you exposed during low-water periods when different erosion dynamics — wind, wave refraction, and exposed unstable soils — take over.
What Causes Shoreline Erosion?
Wind, waves, and ice are the primary physical forces. But the shoreline itself plays a major role in how well it resists them. Native vegetation buffers wave and wind energy, and root systems bind soil and underlying material. When natural vegetation is removed — for lawn, for views, or for foot traffic — that natural protection goes with it. The composition of the underlying soil and rock also determines how quickly a shoreline erodes under stress.
What Can a Homeowner Do?
Understand Your Permitting Requirements First
Any structural shoreline protection in Michigan — seawalls, revetments, or similar hard armor — requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This is true regardless of whether you’re on Lake Michigan or an inland lake. Permit requirements vary based on water body type, project scope, and location, so early contact with EGLE is essential before any work begins. Starting construction without the proper permits can result in costly removal orders and fines.
Consider Alternatives to Seawalls
Adding a seawall may seem like the most logical response to erosion, but it often creates new problems. Seawalls redirect wave energy downward, which can undercut the wall’s own foundation. They also concentrate wave forces on adjacent unprotected shoreline — a phenomenon called flanking — which can accelerate erosion on neighboring properties. Additionally, seawalls eliminate habitat connectivity between land and water.
Rock Revetment (Rip-Rap)
Rock revetment — sometimes called rip-rap — is often a better alternative to a hard seawall. A properly designed rock revetment absorbs and dissipates wave energy rather than reflecting it, which reduces undercutting and flanking. It also allows wildlife access to and from the water and, when sized and placed correctly, can last for decades with minimal maintenance. Like seawalls, rock revetments require EGLE approval before installation.
Living Shorelines
An increasingly recommended approach, particularly for inland lakes and lower-energy shorelines, is the living shoreline — a strategy that uses native plants, natural materials like coir logs or rock, and restored habitat to stabilize the shoreline while maintaining its ecological function. Living shorelines work with natural processes rather than against them, improving water quality, supporting fish and wildlife habitat, and often proving more durable over time than hard armor solutions alone.
The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership is an excellent resource for homeowners exploring this approach, with guidance on plant selection, installation methods, and contractors experienced in natural shoreline restoration.
Native Vegetation: Your First Line of Defense
The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership recommends the following baseline practices for protecting your shoreline:
- Site your home a minimum of 100 feet from the water’s edge. This setback preserves a natural buffer zone and reduces your structure’s vulnerability to erosion.
- Limit turf grass at the lake edge. Grass has shallow roots that do little to stabilize soil. Native plants with deep root systems are far more effective.
- Keep as many trees, shrubs, and native plants as possible along the shoreline. Their root systems bind soil, and their canopy and stems absorb wave energy.
- Minimize impervious surfaces — driveways, patios, and walkways that shed water — to reduce stormwater runoff directly into the lake.
- Preserve aquatic vegetation in and along the water’s edge, or only remove a limited amount for boating and swimming access. Submerged and emergent plants absorb wave energy and stabilize the lake bottom near shore.
Planning Ahead
If you’re building a new waterfront home or undertaking a significant renovation, shoreline protection should be part of your planning conversation from the beginning — not an afterthought once construction is complete. At Lakeshore Custom Homes, we work with homeowners and the appropriate regulatory agencies to understand site-specific conditions and ensure your property is protected for the long term.
See our related article on things to consider before building your lake home for more on waterfront site planning and permitting.
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