The Illinois State Geological Survey has released a new, interactive ArcGIS StoryMap that illustrates how the Lake Michigan coast in Illinois is changing over time and how scientists at ISGS are studying these changes.

The ArcGIS StoryMap explains the natural and human-driven processes that shape the coast, how those changes affect coastal communities, and why long-term coastal mapping is critical for managing and protecting these dynamic environments. It was developed by coastal geologist Liz Spitzer, based at the ISGS field office in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois.

Among the dynamic parts of the Illinois coast is Illinois Beach State Park, which spans 6.5 miles along Lake Michigan in the northeastern corner of the state. IBSP has experienced significant erosion in recent decades, prompting new efforts to stabilize and restore the shoreline. Two recent projects aim to slow wave energy and reduce erosion: adding a series of submerged rubble ridges and a chain of segmented breakwaters that rise above the water’s surface in various sizes and configurations. The emergent breakwaters were accompanied by extensive beach nourishment intended to replenish sediment lost over time.

Using a suite of coastal mapping tools, geologists at ISGS track sediment movement and subtle changes in elevation at IBSP, including where erosion and deposition are occurring. Aerial drone surveys and GPS are used to capture detailed topographic data, while aquatic drones, GPS, and sonar surveys map underwater terrain. When combined, these datasets, known as topobathymetric models, capture coastal dynamics and sediment transport from the exposed beach to the submerged lake bottom.

These coastal mapping datasets are open source and are highlighted in the new, interactive ArcGIS StoryMap. To view the StoryMap, visit arcg.is/0O4aOq0 (MOTION WARNING: drone video in this section may affect people with visual sensitivities. Viewer discretion is advised).

Coastal research by ISGS geologists at IBSP is funded by the Coastal Management Program at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

To support coastal resiliency research, consider a gift to the ISGS research fund.

The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.