Rosewood Park Shoreline Restoration/Enhancement Project |

Case Study

Rosewood Park Shoreline Restoration/Enhancement Project

Overview

Baird completed coastal modeling and analyses to support design development for a shoreline restoration/enhancement project in Highland Park, IL, located on the east shore of Lake Michigan north of Chicago. The $14.5M project includes beach, bluff and gully restoration/enhancement elements.

Project Highlights

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with the Park District of Highland Park (PDHP), completed a shoreline ecosystem restoration project at Rosewood Park, IL under the Section 506 Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Authority. The project site is characterized by a 40 to 50 ft high bluff fronted by a narrow beach. The project concept developed by USACE included a series of offshore breakwaters containing pocket beaches, along with various bluff and gully stabilization measures. Baird provided coastal engineering modeling and analyses to support the USACE in the final design of the shoreline improvements, including offshore breakwaters, groynes and beach fill. As part of a separate project, the PDHP was responsible for the planning, design and construction of various landside improvements to provide enhanced recreational and educational opportunities for the local community.

Project Challenges:

Long term fluctuations in lake level result in significant variations in wave action, sediment supply and beach width at the site
Regulatory approval process requires proponent to demonstrate that the project will not have adverse impacts on adjacent shorelines
Numerous stakeholders with multiple objectives, including ecosystem restoration, erosion protection and recreational and educational opportunities
Requirement for execution of marine and landside works as two separate projects

Project Solutions:

Extensive modeling and analyses to simulate coastal processes under full range in lake level conditions, and to guide design development to provide effective shoreline protection while avoiding adverse impacts on adjacent shorelines
Project layout “streamlined” and beach cells “overfilled” to facilitate natural sand bypassing and to limit the risk of sand being trapped by the project
Extensive public consultation and coordination amongst the project team to blend engineering and ecological best practices with forward-thinking recreational and educational programming to serve the community’s needs over the long term
Effective coordination of two contractors to minimize conflicts and delays in project execution

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