Saving a Gift of Nature
Grand Marais Harbor and Breakwall Restoration Project

Local Support

The overwhelming will of the residents of Grand Marais to see this issue through, until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers corrects the sedimentation problem they created, was demonstrated in the November 5, 1996 election when a majority of electors voted for a 5-year millage increase of 1/4 mill for the purpose of funding activity to restore and develop the Grand Marais Harbor.  The local fund generated approximately $10,000 per year.  Currently the fund stands at $37,000.
 

State Lawmakers Support

Concurrent resolutions were passed in the House and Senate of the Michigan Legislature requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore and maintain the original Harbor of Refuge at Grand Marais, Michigan.
(Read the full text of this concurrent resolution)
 

U.S. Lawmakers Support

Congressional lawmakers authorized a study to determine the design required and the costs involved to rehabilitate the harbor by building a new breakwater.
 

Interim Report Complete

Professor Guy A.Meadows, Director, Ocean Engineering Lab, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, The University of Michigan, has completed an Interim Draft Report on Grand Marais Harbor Rehabilitation Design Alternatives.  The interim report presents the current state of data acquisition, analysis of preliminary findings and potential design alternatives for Grand Marais, Harbor project.  Cost estimated and basic design considerations, needed by our Congressional lawmakers to include the project in the Fiscal Year 2001 Appropriation Budget, are provided in the report for three breakwater design options.

Construction of the breakwater is the original location now requires a 7,000 foot length of wall, due to shore erosion, at an estimated cost of $32.8 million.  The second proposal starts the breakwater design at the south end of the east jetty but directs the reconstruction line to the shore 15 degrees south of the original breakwater location.  This proposed design shortens the wall length to 4,800 feet and reduces the cost estimate to $19.5 million.  The lowest cost estimate is $5.6 milion for a breakwater reconstruction design that again starts at the south end of the east jetty, but directs the reconstruction line to the shore 55 degrees south of the original breakwater location.  This proposed design has a wall length of 2,500 feet.  The large cost items are the rock wall and the sand excavation.

At the conclusion of the overall study, scheduled for completion May 31, 2000, a final report will be issued by Professor Meadows which will fully address each proposed design.  Each option will be thoroughtly evaluated for both its environmental impacts as well as its engineering feasibility.  Until then our Congressional lawmakers can use the extensive data provided in the Interim Draft Report dated February 29, 2000, to position the Grand Marais Harbor Rehabilitation Project for funding in the Fiscal Year 2001 Congressional Appropriation Budget.

The Three Proposed Options:

Restoration of the original pile dikewould involve building a 7000 foot breakwall on the site of the original.  The breakwall needs to be 2000 feet longer than the original due to erosion on Lonesome Point.  Estimated cost:  $32 million.

A second proposal would angle the breakwall degrees south of the original.  This shortens the breakwall length to 4800 feet.  Estimated cost:  $19.5 million.

A third proposal would angle the breakwall 55 degrees south of the original.  This short breakwall would be 2500 feet long.  Estimated cost:  $5.6 million.

Cross-section of the proposed breakwater

 Dr. Guy Meadows, director of the Ocean Engineering Lab and the University of Michigan College of Naval Architecure and Marine Engineering, conducted the study last summer using a special underwater rover.  Dr. Meadows is a respected authority on breakwall construction whose ideas have been sought out by the Navy and the Corps of Engineers in the past.

Next: How YOU can support this project!
 

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