ALGOMA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – High Lake Michigan water levels are making a trip to the beach a bit more challenging.
Experts say records are being set for the time of year, and there may be more to come.
The mile-long stretch of sand is considered by many to be one of Lake Michigan’s gems, but Crescent Beach in Algoma is shrinking with water levels on the rise.
“I would say in the last seven years, maybe half of the beach front is gone. What we used to see is a lot of sand area, has kind of been replaced by little rocks, and cobble,” said Sara Robertson, Algoma Parks and Recreation Department Director.
Robertson tells FOX 11 storms bring wind, waves, and damage too.
City crews groom the beach each week, and volunteers like Mike Dovichi and his wife Jan Dovichi comb the area cleaning up after recent storms.
“Pipe insulation. A lot of cigarette butts. That, and shotgun shell casings, Yeah, it’s surprising.”
Bigger items like tires have washed up too. Robertson says in addition to the cleanup, improvements are scheduled to begin this fall. Part of the storm water system will be rerouted to the north, taking runoff away from the beach.
“We can’t win against Mother Nature, but we do our best to just keep on top of it, and make sure that it’s a safe place for people to enjoy the beach.”
With summer approaching, more and more people are expected to visit Crescent Beach, and volunteers say picking up every bucketful of debris helps.
