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Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

I’ve been complaining about shore erosion for years and, after weighing different options that could save our lakefront lawn from shore erosion, we finally took action and had a stone shore erosion structure built.  Frustratingly, like with every other project we tackled this summer (why?), it did not go swimmingly.  Neighbor drama got the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) involved and after a series of personal struggles this was definitely my breaking point and I really went to the mattresses over the placement of our stone shore erosion structure, lol.  Over a bunch of big rocks, basically.  This simple project became a huge gong show and the process dragged on for months, but I was (mostly) victorious and the shore is looking great now and everything is settled.  For anyone who doesn’t live on the lake, and doesn’t give a tiny goose gizzard about stopping shore erosion, I think you still might find my shenanigans – and the impressive way 45 tonnes of massive rocks were moved around our property – entertaining.  At the very least, if you have ever gazed wistfully at my sunset lake photos on Instagram, you might be pleased to know that this lake view comes at a price.  These rocks cost $6,000.

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

Our Shore Before & The Erosion Struggles:

I didn’t think to take many photos of the shore back then, but when we moved to the lakehouse the grass was tidily secured with old telephone poles and rocks, the docks were intact and fairly solid, and the yard looked wonderful:

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

The following two summers saw record high water levels in Lake Superior and the force of the water slowly loosened and then suddenly stole all but one of our telephone poles, eroded our lawn, and demolished our docks.  One dock was actually swept away and the second heaved beyond repair.  You can see it start to fall into disrepair in this hilarious post about Szuka and the time she tried to swim across the bay.

Eroding Shore Line

The last remaining dock is wonky, but when we got approval for the rocks we were told to keep it in place.  To deal with the shore erosion, we made a call to a local gravel company to build us a stone shore erosion structure.  They had fixed our neighbors’ shore erosion problem this way and we had watched it hold for years, so we knew this solution would help – our only hesitation was the price.  Across the bay, neighbors tried various things to save their lawns from the ravages of Lake Superior: concrete blocks (they shifted), small rocks (they got swept away), DIY wire mesh boxes with smaller rocks (so much work), but massive rocks seemed like the best bet and the most natural looking solution.

Below are some more recent photos, before the work was done.  These photos were taken in early spring, when the water levels were low.  The previous years the water had been lapping over the grass, which was getting more and more eroded.

Shore Erosion Lake FrontShore Erosion Lake Superior Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

The company we hired to build our stone shore erosion structure told us that, in our municipality, we had to get a permit from the local conversation authority, which we did.  At the beginning of the spring, the water levels were low which was a great time for us to get this work done, because we were informed that the rocks had to be placed a foot from the water’s edge.  Because the water’s edge moves, it was good timing.  Unfortunately, the company we hired is in high demand so even once we had our permit in hand, work didn’t start for a couple months. Meanwhile, the water level got higher and higher and we no longer had the beach area where we had planned to place the rocks.  Once again, the water was lapping at our lawn and eroding it more.  When we finally got the call to schedule the rock delivery and get the stone shore erosion structure built, I expressed my concern that the water level had rose and we no longer had a gap between the lawn and the water.  I suggested we postpone until the next spring, because the permit was good for two years.  The owner laughed at my concern and informed me that we could put the rock exactly where we had planned.  He was so confident and had done so many shores, I decided to schedule the installation.  Truthfully, it had been so hard to pin him down to a time, and neighbors had actually been forced to wait a whole year to get work done, so I worried that if we postponed another year it might never happen.  A few weeks later, 45 tonnes of massive stones were delivered and it only took two days to transport them to the back yard and build our stone shore erosion structure.

Building This Stone Shore Erosion Structure:

It was fascinating to watch these stones carried to the backyard, one by one, and then carefully put in place.

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

As nice as it is to have work done professionally, as two avid DIYers Hubby and I were really curious about the process.  We didn’t pester the operator while he was working, but if you follow me on Instagram you caught a glimpse of just how curious I got when he left for the day!  You can tell this is before the MNR drama because I’m smiling.

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

When the stone shore erosion structure was completed we were thrilled because it’s such a beautiful way to save a lakefront lawn from shore erosion.  Concrete blocks or wire baskets filled with rocks (two popular options) look unnatural but these rocks could have always been there.   Here’s what it looked like when the work was first done – look carefully because, spoiler alert, every single rock had to be moved!

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

Our Troubles with the MNR:

On the second day of work, someone from the MNR came knocking because a neighbor had reported that we had an excavator in the water (which is forbidden).  We did not, but it resulted in a stop work order while an investigation took place.  I’ll spare you the boring details of how many back and forth calls and emails I endured.  It was frustrating because the MNR kept changing their story.  The guy who came out the first time said it was probably no big deal, we might need to get a permit, maybe some paperwork.  He said not to lose any sleep over it because there was nothing wrong with the work, it would have been approved had we gone through the proper channel.  The next person who came out echoed the same thing.  In the end though, both of them denied saying anything and the MNR decided that we had to move all 45 tonnes of rock completely OUT of the water.  They wanted to see that one foot gap between the water and the lawn.  I explained that, at this point in the season, we’d never see that one foot gap because the water seeps onto the lawn (hence the need for the stone shore erosion structure in the first place). We would have to put the rock back many feet, maybe meters, on to the lawn and tear up grass to see a gap between lawn and water.  This could potentially lower our property value (lot size matters!) and expose our poor dock to more erosion and increase the likelihood of losing it too.  I explained to the MNR that we were putting the rocks exactly where we had planned, but the water had changed and that if they came back next spring it would all be as planned.  They just wouldn’t budge – the contact person there kept saying they can only base decisions on the current water levels, they can’t go back in time.  Hilariously though, when I asked what would happen if we kept the rocks and looked at it again in May, when the water levels are low again, the MNR said that at that point, they’d refer back to the high water level of August 2018.  So today they couldn’t consider the past, but in the future they would refer to the present.  WHAT?!  So many of my questions went unanswered and when I asked a question, I’d get a phone call back with a threat.  It was unbelievable.  With all due respect to the folks who surely don’t make the rules and just have to enforce them and deal with angry homeowners like me, it was so frustrating how they flip flopped, made arbitrary rules, and instead of explaining things they just went straight to threatening me which didn’t work and left them sort of baffled when I said I wanted to go to court.

After a lot more back and forth, I just said no. We have so many land issues right now (our garage was apparently not built on our land back in 1992, and apparently we own the road and are liable for it but the municipality won’t remedy that situation unless they can make a ton of money from the transaction and they’re favoring developers over home owners) so I just got to a point where I dug in my heels.  I refused to push the rock completely out of the water.  I conceded that I would push it back a bit, or I would have the stone removed completely and just allow the dog poop and goose poop and whatever else flow into Lake Superior.  I honestly didn’t want to do that because I really care deeply about the health of the lake, but I was pretty much done with getting pushed around when it comes to my property’s border.

I spent many sleepless nights searching past lawsuits and decisions made by the Supreme Court of Canada on similar issues.  I learned about riparian rights and how the MNR doesn’t use the correct legal definitions of ownership when it comes to the high and low water lines.  Given that the young woman we dealt with used the word “groin” and not the proper “groyne” to refer to a jutting out piece of rock we had, I don’t think she was prepared for someone like me.  More back and forth ensued and finally I sent her a photo of the shore erosion structure and asked the MNR to draw a line where they wanted the rock moved to and, in the end, I think they compromised because the line they drew was a few feet back but definitely not out of the water.  We complied and pulled the rock back which actually made the rock wall taller, something that, aesthetically, we actually preferred.  The MNR also asked that we taper the rock wall so we lost our “groyne” (I still have my groin though, lol) and I was happy with this compromise.  After so much back and forth, and waiting, and delays, once we got the go ahead the company came back quickly to do the work which was approved via email and then in person by the MNR and the case is finally closed!  At the end of the day, it’s definitely our mistake because we know now that we should have also contacted the MNR in addition to the conservation authority.  We just listened to the company we hired, who was just as surprised as we were because they got their info from the municipality and had put rocks in the water for other customers if the water level rose after acquiring a permit.  Hilariously, the MNR had a battle with our municipality over the same thing, so the MNR folks conceded that they have a lot of education and bridge building to do because even our municipal office didn’t know the rules!

Am I totally silly for digging in my heels for a bunch of rock?  Totally!  Is it stupid that I didn’t do the research beforehand? Yes. But was it worth it? Yep, I’m not going to lie, it was.  Although I’d have preferred none of this headache, I’m glad I didn’t back down because I would have been so miserable losing so many feet of property because the water was high the day the work was done.

Here’s Where the Rock Was Pulled Back to:

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

The stone shore erosion structure looks so good and the large rocks are doing a great job of containing our once-eroding shore.  With the shore restored, we were motivated to tear down the second, janky dock and next spring we’ll do something to make the remaining dock look better.  The leaning flag pole and yard light (which crowded into every sunset photo I tried to take!) were also removed.  Here it was before:

And now that’s gone!

Large Rocks Along Shoreline

The lawn looked a little tore up from the shore up, lol, so we laid some sod and grass seed, which are starting to take.  9/10 geese agree the new sod is delicious.  We still need to find a better way to permanently keep them off our property, but that’s a battle for next year!

How to Prevent Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore ErosionStone Shore Erosion Structure Aerial View

With all of the drama, I never ended up getting Adirondack chairs so next summer I want to spruce up the fire pit area, paint some chairs aqua, and restore the dock into a little deck area.  But we made major progress this year!

Stone Shore Erosion Structure: How to Save a Lakefront Lawn from Shore Erosion

In the end, apparently it was a neighbor who called the MNR in retaliation because I didn’t wave hello to her.  I don’t know for sure, though, but I really believe that the world is peopled by children masquerading as adults.   (I’m no exception).

P.S. Don’t Forget to Pin for Later:

How We Stopped Shore Erosion on Lake Superior

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15 Comments

  1. julie @ thehyperhouse.com
    September 17, 2018 / 11:44 am

    I think it was a cause worth fighting for. The new look is great and it seems like a good balance between protecting your rights and property and protecting the environment. I’m so sorry to hear you had to go through such a hassle!

    • Tanya from Dans le Lakehouse
      Author
      September 19, 2018 / 12:03 am

      Thank you 🙂 I felt so silly fighting over a bunch of rocks but it really does help keep stuff from washing into the lake and it helps keep our property intact so it’s a win-win. I’m just happy that it’s all settled and approved and now I can enjoy it!

  2. skaetzer
    September 17, 2018 / 3:08 pm

    ahhh… lake life. We finished building our lake house 3 years ago and I’m still holding my breath that we will get a visit/call from the DNR (US Dept of Natural Resources) saying that a neighbor has complained. So far, so good. Your shoreline looks great and I’m sure you can rest easy now that that part is taken care of.

    • Tanya from Dans le Lakehouse
      Author
      September 19, 2018 / 12:02 am

      Oh that’s so stressful for you! I hate that feeling of something hanging over my head. It’s been so long I imagine you won’t have any troubles? I’m hoping so anyway!!

  3. September 19, 2018 / 12:27 pm

    Your post came at the perfect time for me. I have to do this on the lake shore in front of my house. We have lived here for 2 years with no erosion, but this past summer it is drastic. We need to add RipRap that are smaller rocks then the ones you used. They are approved by the DNR on the lake. I hope the process for us goes smoothly. Your shore looks great now. Enjoy!

    • Tanya from Dans le Lakehouse
      Author
      September 20, 2018 / 2:05 pm

      After I realized our mistake and started researching more, I did notice that the rip rap was the approved choice for rocks in the water. So much to know about this! I am hoping your shore work goes smoothly – it’s great you’re catching it now. One of our neighbors lost 15 feet of shore so it’s such a good idea to try and stop the erosion before it gets too bad. I was watching some videos of some cliffside lake houses homes tumbling off due to crazy erosion. It’s not just an aesthetic choice, as lakeside folks know all too well. Good luck! I’d love to see photos when you’re done.

  4. ShellyP
    September 21, 2018 / 8:23 pm

    It sounds like the MNR was making up the rules / enforcing the rules on a situational basis and that is just not fair. In situations like that there needs to be compromise while policy and protocol is figure out and then enforcement after that. Sound like they were trying to determine policy and protocol after the fact. Anyway, you were right to dig in your heels and I would have probably had the same reaction as you to the “groin” and “Groyne” situation and used it as my cue to shift into beast mode. looks beautiful and, yes, let’s do everything we can to protect Lake Superior. 10% of the world’s fresh water is in Lake Superior.

    • Tanya from Dans le Lakehouse
      Author
      September 21, 2018 / 9:40 pm

      I was surprised how much the rules shifted during the process and what the different interpretations were. I am just grateful I wasn’t charged and fined, like some people have been. It’s nice to hear that I didn’t completely lose perspective and that other folks would have reacted similarly. Ultimately my intentions were good, I did want to protect against erosion because it’s not good for the health of the lake or our properties.

  5. Jason
    July 4, 2020 / 2:00 am

    Looks really nice. If you think the water was high recently you should have seen it in the Summer of 1985.

    Sorry about the neighbor, it wasn’t me!

    I honestly can’t thank you enough for tearing down that “janky” light. Hated it from the moment Lenny put it up.

    • July 4, 2020 / 11:07 am

      Everything I keep hearing is that it used to be really low and there were beaches and people walked the beach. Interesting to hear that it was high before.
      Glad the neighbor wasn’t you, lol, but I have a pretty good feeling who it was 😉
      I can imagine that janky light was all the worse when the light was ON. Sorry we couldn’t remove the dock, too, the Conservation people wouldn’t let us remove that and we have no idea how to fix it… It was weirdly made. Len was an odd duck when it came to constructing some things.

  6. Jason
    July 4, 2020 / 5:40 pm

    Thanks for the reply. The water was low for a few years. We used to have a ski hill but I promise you, we never had walkable beaches. Like you guys, we have a sailboat we used to keep on our mooring out front. In 85′ we had it tied in the front yard. Having to stack your rocks higher may prove a blessing if we ever get back to that.

    You were very gentle in your characterization of Len. I liked the guy well enough (rest his soul) but I was down there several times as he and Joan were building your house. And before when it was Brownlee’s original log cabin. “Odd duck” construction techniques sums it up.. He was an electrician so I presume that’s all sound.

    Feel free to wave or not wave, I promise not to take it personally. MNR won’t let me pull my dock either and don’t get me started on what is a near 5 decade fight with the Municipality over the road.

    Best wishes and truly, great job on the house!

    • July 5, 2020 / 11:13 am

      That’s wild that you had your sailboat tied to the front yard! Water really must have been deep! We’ve found a spot for our mooring and we can barely see it from the house, we had to go pretty far to get the depth for the keel. We are hoping to finally sail it home this month after years of keeping it at a (borrowed) slip in town.

      Since you’ve been here for the construction of my house, do you happen to remember when the bunkie was built, roughly?

      I always try to wave, but I don’t always see people. I promise it’s nothing personal!

      Is the fight with the municipality to move the road off our properties? I’d get in on that fight! I didn’t think it would bother me but after seven years of living here, I wish we had a deeper lot for sure.

      Thanks so much for your kind words about the house and the changes we’ve made 🙂

      • Jason
        July 8, 2020 / 7:15 am

        I’d say you’re welcome to my mooring, which you are! It’s a 1200 lb concrete block out in the lake but I think your keel runs a bit deeper than mine and I’d think the depth could be marginal.. I too keep mine in the marina but I also have an apartment in town which gives it a convenience it wouldn’t if I lived out here permanently. It’ll be nice to see your sailboat out there.

        I wouldn’t swear to it it but I am fairly certain your bunkie was built 2, maybe 3 years after the house. The garage after that. The bunkie having been a sauna I believe and built on the foundation of what had been a woodshed before. Where the garage is used to be atv trails on to your property because the son of the original owners of the property owned the Honda atv dealership. There were numerous atv trails across the road in the pit as well and behind many of the camps , including back to the harbours (such as the one pictured in your boat painting post) behind and down to the next camp filled bay (I don’t want to disclose your location so no names.)

        The fight over the road was started by my father. To his credit, he did get the trailer park removed from the lake, which also, kind of sadly, resulted in the burning down of the Lodge. The municipality will not budge on moving the road. I have the original plans which show the road where it was supposed to go IE: behind our properties. My understanding is the road was put in by the sawmill that used to sit on the point and they just put it where it cost the least. My fight with them now is to indemnify us if someone is injured or killed on our segment as we’re open to suit should that occur.

        Sorry, that got a tad long! And I really do admire what you’ve done with your house and yard, it’s beautiful.

        • July 11, 2020 / 9:59 am

          That’s so kind of you to offer up your mooring! We did get ours in so now the pressure is on to sail home, haha. Neighbors have joked that they think our boat is imaginary.

          Interesting that there used to be ATV trails where the garage is, that’s sort of odd because it’s between the two houses. My property seems too small for trails, lol. I love learning about what used to be, here on the bay.

          Thanks for not disclosing the location, I do try to keep it secret 🙂

          Yes, I’ve had that argument with the municipality too and I don’t like the risk of responsibility. I wanted to trade because behind the bit of property I own across the road lies the old road allowance that you’re talking about, and I wanted to at least trade one section of that for the road, and make that bit of land bigger and not “own” the road, but the municipality shut us all down.

          You’re always welcome to email me about anything: [email protected] – maybe we can try to convince the new council.

  7. Jason
    July 17, 2020 / 6:30 am

    Your neighbours had 2 Honda ATV’s, in fact he still has one. Hence no complaints about the trails around your house. We had three, you may have seen them pulled out in front of my garage last year when I gave them away.
    The neighbours two doors down to the North of you had two. The neighbours two doors South of you had 2. The neighbours up around the point had two. And Tom, the original owner of your property had two and all his grandkids had their own. This was when there were only 9 camps. Hence the prevalence of ATV trails.

    There were a lot fewer people and a lot more kids back then. All the front yards were essentially open property for the 15 or so kids out here. Don’t get me wrong, I like my privacy so I’m not harkening for ye old days, just saying it was quite a bit different. Though I’d be lying if I didn’t say I miss the days when I could look out front and see nature, not houses.

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