The Village of Fox Point is a 2.8-square-mile suburb on the northern end of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area. Located along the pristine western shore of Lake Michigan, it is home to nearly 7,000 residents, stunning scenery, towering trees, and some of the highest valued property in the state.

Between October 2019 and January 2020 four significant storm events caused the near-record-high levels of Lake Michigan to swell even greater — with extreme winds and waves reaching 6-10 feet in height. These compound storm events significantly altered the shoreline along Beach Drive, receding 5-8 feet in most locations, and toppling trees and plants. The storm surge also clogged storm sewer pipes, damaged manholes, and encroached dangerously close to Village lift stations and sanitary sewer systems which would cause substantial residential basement backups, damages, and disruptions in service if not rectified.

Following the initial storm in the fall of 2019, the Village began to thoroughly document damages and formulate an action plan for the emergency protection of approximately 2,500 lineal feet of shoreline. In November 2019, the Village worked with a third-party consultant to develop a short-term solution, including the installation of large concrete blocks to serve as a temporary stopgap. The blocks helped to lessen the erosion but were not sufficient to completely mitigate what was to come — a third major storm event in December and yet another in January.

The Village knew it was time for greater action. In January of 2020, the Village submitted a National Coastal Resilience Fund grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and in August, was informed it had been selected to receive aid. The funding would be used for the design engineering and construction of a more robust, resilient shoreline and associated utilities. This long-term solution would serve to fortify the community’s beloved shoreline and protect homeowners, Village infrastructure, and the Lake Michigan shoreline from further future storm damage.

In March of 2021, the Village of Fox Point hired the team of MSA and FreshWater Engineering — now Anchor QEA — to develop a new coastal resiliency design to be implemented in 2022. Based on criteria within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM) Part 1, a wave climate analysis was conducted for the project and shoreline protection options were created utilizing numerical wave modeling. MSA park and recreation engineers and coastal designers then developed four concept plans showing a variety of revetment scenarios based on the modeling findings. The goal of the project was to design an enhanced native shoreline landscape with public access and an innovative protection system.

Public engagement was a key component of the design process, and MSA and Anchor QEA led three public information meetings at the concept, draft, and final plan stages to collect input from citizens and stakeholders about concept options and how each approach could potentially impact properties, Lake Michigan views, and intended uses of the improved shoreline. The project team also created a custom ArcGIS-based StoryMap to guide the public through the planning, design, and review process. This interactive online site provided an overview of the project timeline, existing conditions, a georeferenced photographic inventory, revetment cross-sections models, concept plans with aerial and cross-section illustrations, and examples of potential design features. The StoryMap also featured insightful and interactive sliding imagery that utilized aerial photos overlaid with maps, lake elevations, and design sketches to illustrate shoreline erosion impacts over time as well as MSA concept ideas.

Incorporating feedback from the public and Village stakeholders, MSA and Anchor QEA moved forward with the preferred design concept and comprehensive plan in collaboration with the USACE and Wisconsin DNR to meet local, state, and federal requirements.

As of August 2023, the revetment work is largely complete along the Fox Point Shoreline, with MSA providing construction administration for the final phase of the project and helping to coordinate revetment work with private property owners along the north shore. To date, all debris from the storm damage has been removed and the shoreline has been reshaped. Over 35,000 tons of revetment stone totaling over 1,500 truckloads has been delivered and placed along 2,500 feet of shoreline. The stormwater conveyance system has been improved to include green infrastructure such as bioretention ponds which treat water and remove contaminants before entering Lake Michigan. New access points to the water have also been added, which allow the public to safely and consistently enjoy the waters of Lake Michigan. All of this has been completed while preserving mature trees, upholding lakefront aesthetics, and maintaining views of the lake for homes along the shoreline and lower bluffs. The result is a vastly improved and fortified shoreline that will protect residential homes, shield Village utility networks, and encourage lakefront recreation for decades to come.