Starting with a goals white sheet and with the input of many marine professionals and engineers a model was created and several production prototypes built and tested with a final design recently entering production.

We believe we have met and exceeded all listed goals as well as discovering many other positive attributes while establishing a worldwide erosion control standard, no more wondering if what you paid for is what was actually installed as it is all visible and interconnected.

The Shore Savers™ system consist of 8′ square X 8″ thick highly reinforced concrete blocks, basically high performance artificial rocks, cast in a factory with optimum attachment points installed allowing them to be linked together in a series effectively creating a protective land mattress of any size in any direction in 8′ increments. Standardly 48 blocks 4 (32′) wide X 12 (96′) long would be installed although any configuration of length and width is optional depending on the installation site. Being flat with no pointed ground side protrusions and only 78# per square foot of ground pressure (much less than a human footprint) allows the structure to cap the beach below with the front and side modules designed to pivot (or scour down) controlling scour while also presenting a corrugated ramped top surface to both absorb wave energy, deflect ice push and allow for future revegetation if water levels recede.  Provisions are included to install 6″ center pin pilings if, necessary, to control structure migration.  Obviously rocks have no provisions to keep them in place which is why they usually separate and sink requiring expensive mufti year replenishment under holding or rising water levels.

Shore Savers™ installations are applicable to any land/water intersections where water action is causing erosion and can be sized and scaled many locations such as the Great Lakes, ocean fronts , canals, aqueduct’s river or creek bottom or sides, harbor walls,  and  flood channels. Shore Savers protection surface area coverage per pound vastly exceeds that of rock revetments eliminating thousands of highway truck loads transporting rocks as well as various vehicles traversing the beach front creating waves further contributing to shoreline erosion as well as temporarily eliminating most if not all shallow water fish nurseries.  Shore Savers represents a significant investment in protecting your shoreline property now and for any future high water events as well as greatly enhancing its current use and future value.  We believe the provisions built in for covering Shore Savers and reestablishing ground cover if water levels recede are one of Shore Savers™ most important benefits, which is the preserving the aesthetics of and access to the every changing resource natural resource that is Lake Michigan.

Shore Savers™ modules are sold and delivered on a first come first delivered basis from Shore Savers LTD or through a preapproved fully insured installation contractor.

Should you be interested in a Shore Savers™ solution installation quote please complete the form on this page and we will promptly have an installation contractor you to arrange for an onsite visit.

Please see ‘The Solution’ below, for more details.

Traditional Technologies

Great Lakes Water Levels

have risen over 6′ since 2013 covering most existing beaches left after the last high-water event in 1986. The Great Lakes are projected to rise another 19 inches in 2020 putting most shoreline property and many structures at risk.

Traditional remedies to control bluff toe erosion include rock revetments, sea walls, and sandbags. Unfortunately, no erosion control structures are guaranteed due to the unpredictability of mother nature although most failures are due to inadequate design and improper installation. Most erosion control structures typically cost less to install with adequate landside access.

Rock Revetments

are an excellent solution when properly designed and installed at a cost usually exceeding $2,500 per running foot if correctly installed, obviously substandard installations with smaller amounts of smaller rocks will be much less expensive and often disappear in one good storm, less is defiantly not the more you will need. Typically, the beach is excavated as low as possible below water level, a geo textile is installed to keep the rock separated from the sand with a 24″ layer of small stone to protect the geo textile from puncture.  Progressively larger rocks are added with a front and top layer of large armor rocks to break up and dissipate wave energy. Proper installation and enough stone are critical.

Some negatives that drastically reduce rock revetment service periods include:

1. Improper design without enough rock and improper installation elevations
2. No geotextile or mattress bed allowing rocks to rapidly sink with wave action.
3. Unknow or short quantities of rock installed (demand all weigh slips from drivers)
4. Rocks move, sink, and disappear requiring multi year replenishment.
5. If shoring up under foundations ground water soil migration causes erosion and settling

Also rock revetments:

1. Make lake access for humans and animals difficult and dangerous.
2. Are very difficult and expensive to remove if lake levels go down.
3. Are not conducive to stairs, decks, or boats.
4. Require major logistics and cost to transport and install on site
5. Cause significant erosion and habitat damage with lakeside traverse

Seawalls

when properly designed and installed are a great solution as proved by the local piers. Cost are typically higher then rock revetments and vary with construction access. Typical failures are caused by;

1. Sheet piling not heavy enough allowing sheets to buckle and separate, especially from ice
2. Inadequate sheet length allowing scour (the underwater transport of sand/bottom caused by water currents resulting from wave energy dissipation) to undermine bottom sheet holdback support. (rough rule, 1/3 above water bottom, 2/3 below)
3. Inadequate tiebacks/anchors allow wall to fold lakeward bulge/fail
4. Dissipating downward wave energy creates a drop off in front of wall.
5. The change in water flow often enhances erosion on adjacent properties and sidewall extensions often need to be added creating a peninsula effect
6. No geo textile behind wall allowing backfill to erode through

Sand Bags

are a great temporary solution for holding back flood water and many have been installed on Lake Michigan, big ones, small ones, filled with sand and some filled with cement. Lack of consistent installation materials and methods make judging their relative effectiveness very difficult.

Overview

A very valid consideration is a client’s vision of his or her lake front property when and if the water levels recede. A huge slope of giant rocks or concrete construction waste, as recently allowed to be installed, creating a not so scenic and a dangerous and/or inaccessible path to the beach in not conducive to aesthetics or property values while requiring considerable expense to remedy and removal can cost more then installation if possible. These types of hard structures also create many challenges should steps, stairs, decks, or other typical lakefront amenities wish to be installed.

Unfortunately, there are little to no recent studies on the effectiveness of any erosion control structures performance since the last high water occurrence around 1986. The only remnants of that study period are some exposed rotting wood walls as the water level decreased, some steel seawalls that were correctly installed and a few barley visible rock revetments. Many property owners, understandably due to the capital expense, have chosen the least expensive option: gambling that the lake levels will go down which unfortunately created a shortage of both materials and competent contractors in both marine construction and house moving, resulting in a drastic increase of cost due to the newly developed demand. 

Our advice before committing to any erosion control method project is at the very least; request a construction drawing, a written contract detailing all materials to be used and their quantities, a construction timeline, and a proof of workmens compensation and public liability insurance from your contractor. 

If you have an erosion control project in mind but are now wondering if Shore Savers would be more beneficial to you and your property, please do not hesitate to contact us with any inquiries or questions. 

The Advantages…

• Installed only by reputable contractors with insurance proofs on file
• Cost effective compared to other options
• Fast installation (typically less than a week depending on weather)
• Recyclable and nonpolluting
• Robust construction exceeding ACI standards for reinforced concrete
• 120-ton mass to counteract wave forces
• Pile retention eliminates slope migration if needed
• Galvanized and coated connection hardware
• Corrugated surface causes turbulence to dissipate wave energy
• Corrugated surface retains suspended soils and allows for future re-vegetation
• Self-adjust for front and side scour
• Removable, can be stored and reused or sold
• Expandable to adjoining properties
• Can be installed in all weather with reasonable surf
• Can be installed from land side with suitable nearby crane access
• Eliminates wind scour from covered surfaces
• Uses local materials and local materiel suppliers
• Maintains bluff face regardless of water level
• Allows limited boat access
• Gradual slope profile has less adverse effect on adjoining properties
• Limits sedimentation of near shore and off shore aquatic breeding nursery’s
• Enhances shallow water breeding nursery depending on lake levels
• Allows reasonable shoreline access to humans and wildlife
• Allows stairway securing and installation
• Allows deck or boat house installation
• Allows installation of overtopping barriers if needed
• Can be installed without removing existing tree lines or vegetated slopes
• Allows the establishment of optimum 2 to 1 slope for re-vegetation
• No protrusions and pile caps allow traverse of rubber tired or tracked equipment
• Reduces lake erosion filling which contributes to high water level

Shore Savers™ Installation Process

You can predict the future!

Spending summers near water has been a human tradition for thousands of years. In recent history the stunning scenic vista’s with its ever changing moods and sunsets, spotted boats and freighter’s, cooling lake breezes, the gentle lapping of waves or roaring surf, and walking the beach’s  warm soft sand or hard packed beach while avoiding getting splashed have created generations of memories for grandparents, fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, and especially grandchildren.

Stewardship is defined as supervising or taking care of something, as taught to physicians the latin phase, “Primum non nocere”, or translated “first, do no harm” is often used.    Part of the Shore Savers system original design considerations included an assessment of all environment impacts, the ease of covering over, removing, and/or recycling Shore Savers modules was only a few of the many listed positive attributes contributing to the final design.    As to predicting the future, you can be assured that many erosion control structures, especially several thousand ton sinking rock revetments, will be your stewardship legacy for many generations long after water levels have receded while limiting beach access, creating multiple voids taking years to cover if desired, while providing a scenic vista totally unrelated to the Lake Michigan beach of your memories. Total removal of a rock revetment is almost impossible and cost could easily exceed the cost of installation with recycling difficult and expensive.  What will be your legacy?