Euclid residents experiencing shoreline erosion can access resources through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Lake Erie water levels have been higher than average for the last two years. Compounded by heavy spring rains, erosion rates are increasing – close to three or four feet per year.

In mid-June in Eastlake, Ohio Senator Kenny Yuko along with State Representative John Roger and Willowick Mayor Richard Regovich convened a meeting of stakeholders to discuss worsening erosion on Lake Erie. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Scudder Mackey presented on the topic. City of Euclid Planning and Development Director Jonathan Holody attended the meeting and commented, “This is an important and timely issue for lakefront residents. We greatly appreciate Senator Kenny Yuko organizing this conversation.”

Lake Erie water levels have been higher than average for the last two years. Compounded by heavy spring rains, erosion rates are increasing – close to three or four feet per year. “We saw a very significant increase in the number of phone calls we received about erosion that was occurring on people’s private property,” said Mackey in an Ideastream article published on June 14th, 2018. The City of Euclid’s Department of Planning and Development has also received numerous calls this spring from property owners outside of the Euclid Waterfront Improvements Plan, a precedent-setting approach to erosion mitigation.

The state of Ohio is helping mitigate erosion by offering Temporary Shore Structure Permits, a simplified permit application designed for private property owners in emergency situations that have experienced “catastrophic erosion,” according to Mackey. The state also offers free consultations to lakefront property owners, where an engineer surveys a property and offers guidance on the best way to protect a shoreline – protections such as large blocks of rocks that waves can crash up against.

For more information on resources available, Mackey’s powerpoint presentation is viewable on the City of Euclid’s website under “Announcements” as well as at this link:

www.cityofeuclid.com/uploads/Erosion_June18_DRAFT.pdf