Sediment, systems, and stakeholders: An integrated approach for addressing shoreline and ecosystem resiliency in the Great Lakes

There is growing urgency to protect Great Lakes shorelines due to overlapping environmental and societal pressures. Periods of high water levels have led to severe flooding, shoreline erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Warmer temperatures, reduced ice cover, and more frequent extreme weather events are altering shoreline ecosystems and sediment transport patterns and decreasing the stability of shoreline systems. In many cases, these impacts stem from changing hydrologic conditions that allow storm surge and wave action to overwhelm coastal defenses. These impacts can also put shoreline structures, roads, and infrastructure at risk and result in additional financial burdens for municipalities and property owners.

At the same time, the Great Lakes Areas of Concern – areas designated by the International Joint Commission where significant impairment of beneficial uses has as a result of human activities – continue to face long-term challenges from habitat loss and degradation of waterways, that limit their ability to support biodiversity and resilient ecosystems.

To address these multifaceted and interdisciplinary challenges across the Great Lakes, an integrated system-based approach is required for sustained resilience and should include:

• System-wide thinking
• Data-to-design linkage
• Risk transparency
• Defined sediment beneficial use pathways
• Long-term performance and adaptability

Sediment is both a risk factor and a critical resource. In some Great Lakes coastal areas, sediments are derived from bluffs, supplying the material needed to sustain beaches and barrier bars. When these sediment pathways are disrupted by shoreline armoring or poorly aligned infrastructure, the downstream effects can include increased erosion, loss of protective features, and heightened community risk.

Conversely, sediment that is protective of the natural systems can also present challenges when contaminated or poorly managed. Navigation dredging, legacy contamination, and harbor sediment accumulation create regulatory and environmental constraints. However, recent large-scale programs have shown that sediment can successfully be reframed as an asset. Coordinated dredging initiatives have successfully reused material for beach nourishment, bluff stabilization, and habitat creation, demonstrating that beneficial reuse can align environmental and infrastructure objectives.

Therefore, a unified sediment management framework built around three pathways should be used for the most effective outcomes:

1. Containment or remediation of contaminated sediments
2. Sediment removal where necessary for navigation or risk reduction
3. Beneficial reuse to restore natural systems and strengthen resilience

Advanced field methods are unlocking new insights into how shorelines function. For example, sediment tracer studies such as Radio Frequency Identification-enabled “smart rocks”, track movement over short-term storm events and longer seasonal cycles. These studies have quantified transport rates of hundreds of feet per day during storm conditions and revealed how sediment moves back and forth along the shoreline over time. In addition, drone surveys and remote sensing provide a broader picture of shoreline evolution in an easily visualized manner. Digital dashboards are then used to translate complex datasets into centralized accessible tools for planners and stakeholders.

Equally important is the integration of this data into decision-making frameworks. Risk assessment tools can evaluate hundreds of shoreline assets, incorporating factors such as flooding probability, exposure risk, asset vulnerability, and replacement costs. Through this approach, assets and shorelines are prioritized, enabling stakeholders to make informed investment decisions. The key shift is not just more or better data, but data that is directly used for planning, design, and funding decisions.

Effective resilience strategies combine engineered approaches with natural system processes. Rather than attempting to control dynamic coastal systems, the goal is to work with them.

Engineered solutions such as breakwaters, revetments, and dredging have historically been the standard tools used for shoreline protection and sediment management. These options are still necessary for protecting critical infrastructure and stabilizing high-risk areas. However, they do not represent the only solutions and can be integrated with nature-based features that enhance system performance. Barrier bars, beaches, wetlands, and even woody debris play important roles in moderating sediment transport and reducing erosion. Studies have shown, for example, that natural debris can trap sediment and help maintain shoreline stability.

Restoration planning further expands this approach by reconnecting fragmented ecosystems. Planning efforts require the integrated evaluation of terrestrial, aquatic, and riparian habitats, identifying opportunities to enhance biodiversity, improve hydrologic function, and build long-term resilience.

The most successful designs are, therefore, hybrid solutions, engineered for reliability and guided by natural processes.

Even the most technically sound strategies depend on effective delivery. Large-scale resilience programs demonstrate the importance of governance frameworks that align stakeholders, streamline regulatory processes, and enable rapid implementation.

Stakeholder engagement is central. In regional resilience initiatives, meetings with local communities, state and federal agencies, and asset owners help define priorities, identify risks, and build consensus around solutions. This collaborative approach leads to projects that reflect both technical needs and community values.

Regulatory pathways must also be integrated early in the process. Environmental review, permitting, and compliance requirements can significantly influence project timelines, but when addressed proactively, they can enable smoother implementation and reduce delays.

Finally, resilience programs benefit from a programmatic approach to delivery. Rather than advancing projects individually, regional frameworks allow for prioritization and coordinated execution of projects within funding constraints. A structured process better allows for the successful completion of many coordinated shoreline projects supported by local communities.

The Great Lakes represent one of the world’s most complex and valuable freshwater systems. Ensuring their resilience requires moving beyond fragmented approaches to embrace the integration of science, design, and stakeholder priorities. By focusing on sediment as a unifying element, leveraging advanced data tools, and delivering projects through aligned governance frameworks, the model provides a pathway to turn uncertainty into actionable solutions.