Presque Isle Breakwaters: Successful Failures?

Abstract

Fifty-five breakwaters were constructed in 1992 along Presque Isle, a 7 mile-long spit extending into Lake Erie, Pennsylvania. A US Army Corps of Engineers Project, the breakwaters have halted the minor erosion along much of the peninsula and a good swimming beach has been retained. On the other hand, sand was predicted to continue to flow behind the breakwaters and it has not. This has required annual bulldozing of around 30,000 cubic yards per year to remove tombolos. Preservation of Gull Point, a critical natural area at the tip of the peninsula was also an important element of the original design and environmental impact statement but it has suffered severe erosion because the breakwaters blocked the point’s sand supply. Engineering groups have declared the project to be a great success in spite of breakwater impacts on sand flow and the preservation of Gull Point. The Presque Isle project emphasizes the need for monitoring of project success or failure by independent groups.