Saving Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline; new efforts to protect it

MILWAUKEE – A College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) researcher says tons of of properties in southeast Wisconsin may find yourself in Lake Michigan. Now, there’s an effort to guard it. 

Nancy Watson and her husband purchased lakefront property in Racine County to have views of the dawn over the water. 

“It’s so lovely within the morning,” mentioned Watson, “I really like the home. I cherished constructing it.” 

When the Watsons began constructing in 2001, they’d an enormous yard and never a care on this planet. 

“It didn’t appear to be we have been having an issue, it was very sneaky,” mentioned Watson. “Then the water went up, and stored going up.” 

SIGN UP TODAY: Get day by day headlines, breaking information emails from FOX6 Information

Watson mentioned the true wakeup name got here in 2019. Some lakefront homes, together with one only some miles down the street from Watson, have been teetering on the sting. A number of needed to be demolished.

“I used to be getting actually frightened with how briskly it was going to go,” mentioned Watson. 

Neal O’Reilly with UW-Milwaukee has been learning erosion for the reason that Eighties. He’s the college’s director of conservation and environmental sciences. 

“It’s difficult is the reply, so the answer isn’t straightforward,” mentioned O’Reilly, “The problem is de facto cash as a result of we’re speaking massive, costly options. I’m undecided our authorities is prepared.” 

O’Reilly mentioned whereas Lake Michigan water ranges peaked in 2020, they’ve been excessive earlier than. They’ll be excessive once more. The distinction now’s individuals have constructed by the lake — tearing down the pure timber and vegetation that used to guard the shoreline. 

“It’s not that the lake is consuming away on the bluff,” mentioned O’Reilly. “It’s that the bluff slumps down into the lake when it turns into unstable.” 

Which means saving the shoreline is as much as the individuals who personal the land. 

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking information alerts within the FOX6 Information app for iOS or Android

Tom Stolp is the chief director of the Ozaukee Washington Land Belief. 

“The future of this land and whether or not our group has a nature protect or not is within the fingers of the group,” mentioned Stolp. 

The nonprofit is working to protect 131 acres of lakefront property off Lake Shore Highway in Ozaukee County. Nonetheless, to show the ¾ of a mile of shoreline right into a nature protect, the nonprofit might want to elevate an extra $1.5 million by September. If not, a developer may purchase the land as a substitute. 

The nonprofit was set to obtain a greater than $2 million grant from the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund to purchase the property. Nonetheless, the grant was stopped when a state legislator anonymously objected. 

“Conserving improvement cited in wise locations, not so near this necessary pure space, is one thing we’re supportive of,” Stolp mentioned.

As for Nancy Watson, she doesn’t remorse constructing. 

“On no, in no way,” mentioned Watson. 

Nonetheless, Watson has recommendation for individuals with lakefront goals.

“Search for some good excavators. Get that fastened immediately,” Watson mentioned.

In 2020, Watson spent greater than $300,000 to embed granite into the clay in entrance of her property. She feels assured her home will stand for many years to come back, however has her house available on the market as she seems to downsize. Watson desires individuals to grasp that with nice views comes nice accountability. 

“I feel it’s the burden you tackle while you need to put a property on a lakefront as a result of water will take what it desires, except you do one thing actually necessary to cease it,” Watson mentioned.