ASSESSING SHORELINE CHANGE ON MINNESOTA’S NORTH SHORE: ESTIMATING EROSION RATES AND IDENTIFYING HAZARD AREAS

Minnesota’s North Shore along Lake Superior is a dynamic environment; with abundant recreation opportunities and a growing tourism industry, with millions of visitors to the region each year. Meanwhile, local communities are growing as industries and natural amenities attract more year-round and seasonal residents. Development pressures are high, with limited private land available throughout the coast and a public desire for proximity to the lake. Recent coastal storm and flooding events combined with rising water levels throughout the Great Lakes have resulted in massive erosion and property damages along the coast, prompting efforts to reassess erosion hazards and provide resources to owners. One such effort, the Coastal Erosion Hazard Mapping (CEHM) Task Force is working to update erosion hazard maps for the entire North Shore. The CEHM project is using a combination of aerial photography, Lidar imagery, and fieldwork to measure historical recession rates. Here we present a case study of Park Point, also known as Minnesota Point, a sand spit bar that extends into Lake Superior from the Duluth shoreline. We demonstrate the use of sets of aerial and Lidar imagery and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Digital Shoreline Analysis System to assess historical and recent erosion on Park Point. This ongoing project will provide a defendable erosion hazard map for Park Point and other North Shore communities to guide development and inform property owners of their inherent risks.