Concurrent Education Session

SUN-D07: Rubble Ridges: A Nature-Based Solution for Great Lakes Coastal Communities

Sunday, October 6, 2024

3:45pm – 5:00pm ET

Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 151AB

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AICP, NY/HSW, FL

Lead Speaker(s)

Theresa Ruswick

Principal
PROOF Projects
Philadelphia, New York

Speaker(s)

Cody Eskew

Senior Scientific Specialist, Coastal Studies
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Program
Chicago, Illinois
Matt Henderson, PE

Principal Coastal Engineer
Anchor QEA
Liverpool, New York

Discuss the process, methods, goals, and initial results of a $1.5 million coastal resilience project in Lake Michigan. The project resulted from three years of research and interagency collaboration to create a new form of coastal protection using in-water habitat to protect terrestrial habitat and park land.

Learning Outcomes:

Become familiar with the concepts and functional ideas behind the “rubble ridge” nature-based solution.
Learn the characteristics and qualities of Illinois Beach State Park that make it unique.
Examine permitting and technical issues related to this type of construction in public waters.
Understand how the aesthetic and ecological goals drove the design and engineering innovation.