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EPA and FWS Showcase Soft Engineering of Detroit River Shorelines
Historically, many urban river shorelines were stabilized and hardened with concrete and steel to protect developments from flooding and erosion, or to accommodate commercial navigation or industry. Typically shorelines were developed for a single purpose. Today, there is growing interest in developing shorelines for multiple purposes so that additional benefits can be accrued. Soft engineering is the use of ecological principles and practices to reduce erosion and achieve the stabilization and safety of shorelines, while enhancing wetland habitat, improving aesthetics, and even saving money.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are showcasing soft engineering of Detroit River shorelines. In total, 22 soft engineering demonstration projects have been implemented along the Detroit River shoreline between 2000 and 2006. Each of these projects results in an increase of wetland habitat. These innovative soft engineering projects have been implemented by many public and private partners as part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative of Metropolitan Affairs Coalition. See before and after photos below of the shoreline of Elizabeth Park, the oldest county park in Michigan.
 Elizabeth Park hard shoreline before engineering. |
 Elizabeth Park soft shoreline after engineering. |
A manual titled "Best Management Practices for Soft Engineering of Shorelines" is available from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Information from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on other soft engineering demonstration projects is available from this interactive map:
Soft Engineering Locations
Where
are soft engineering projects happening in the Detroit River
area?
Find out here!
