PREFACE 



This report is published to improve the understanding of Great Lakes bluff 

 recession and the factors controlling it. It is the final report of a 4-year 

 study of 17 profile lines located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. 

 The work was carried out under the coastal processes program of the U.S. Army 

 Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC). 



The report was prepared by William A. Birkemeier, Hydraulic Engineer, 

 under the supervision of C. Galvin, former Chief, Coastal Processes Branch, 

 and C. Mason, Chief, Field Research Facility Group. 



The author acknowledges the assistance of many individuals in collecting, 

 editing, and analyzing the data. The first 3 years of data (August 1970 to 

 July 1973) was collected under contract by Dr. R.A. Davis and graduate 

 students of Western Michigan University. The final period of data (October 

 1973 to December 1974) was collected by E. Tompkins and a surveying party from 

 U.S. Army Engineer District, Detroit. Their efforts are commendable because 

 of the difficulty involved in monthly surveying of the complex and steep 

 terrain which borders Lake Michigan. 



P. Pritchett and M. Czerniak (both formerly of CERC) assisted in the data 

 editing and analysis. Reviews by Dr. D.L. Harris, C. Mason, and E.B. Hands of 

 CERC; C. Johnson of the U.S. Army Engineer Division, North Central; the 

 Engineering Division of the Detroit District; C. Kureth of the Traverse Group; 

 and Dr. R.A. Davis of the University of Florida contributed greatly to 

 improving the final report. 



Comments on this publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 

 approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 172, 88th Congress, 

 approved 7 November 1963. 



TED E. BISHOP 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 



Commander and Director 



