Figure 1 - Nourishment Program

Regional Issue 3: Nourishment Program West of Michigan City

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the ongoing nourishment program at Mount Baldy (figure 1). On the west side of the harbor, the National Park Service (NPS) and the USACE have been addressing the erosion problem in this critical dune area. A number of factors exist that make sediment placement at Mount Baldy very difficult to accomplish. They are inadequate funds and the difficult logistics of getting sediment suitable for beach placement to the area. The dune area is surrounded by critical wetlands requiring the Corps to build a temporary road through the wetlands to access the placement site. This activity adversely affects the wetlands, which is unacceptable to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).