Erosion Control Methods and the Effect on Beach Succession

Abstract

The academic buildings of Carthage College loom dangerously close to the always changing shores of Lake Michigan. Erosion control methods have been implemented to support the shorelines so that Carthage is not lost to the lake, but what effect do these artificial structures have on erosion and vegetative succession of adjacent beaches? Because of the commonplace use of artificial erosion control methods and the possible increase of erosion and disturbance they pose to beaches, this paper examines succession at two different beach sites; one being Carthage College with artificial erosion control structures, the other Chiwaukee Prairie beach with a more natural shoreline. Both sites were sampled with continuous transects, recording percent cover and species diversity. Carthage College had a larger species diversity than Chiwaukee Prairie; however these were predominately invasive species as compared to Chiwaukee’s more natural late successional species. Based on these observations and results, Carthage College has an earlier successional beach than Chiwaukee Prairie as supported by the increased number of invasive species at Carthage. This decline in succession may be linked to the artificial structures employed by Carthage to assist in erosion control.