elevation 12 feet above low-water datum. Ice forms a protective coating 
over beaches during winter months, but the lifting and battering action 
of shifting ice floes during the spring break-up must be considered in 
designing shore structures for structural stability. 
The District and Division Engineers concluded that there is sufficient 
beach material available to provide beaches of the minimum width necessary 
to protect the bluffs from erosion by wave action for a considerable 
portion of the study area. This material is presently accumulated in a 
wide beach that appears to have moved eastward from the shores of Cleveland 
to the westerly part of the study area. It can be expected to continue its 
eastward movement unless prevented by retarding structures. They concluded 
that the most economical method for the protection of a large part of the 
shore frontage within the study area is by constructing groins to retard 
the movement of this material and retain a suitable beach of minimum 
width for protection of the bluff, while permitting the remainder of the 
material to continue its movement eastward. Artificial placement of fill 
will be necessary to create beaches in the extreme westerly end of the 
study area, and at other localities after the greater part of the area 
has been protected. They also concluded that an overall plan of artificial 
nourishment would have general benefits exceeding those of other plans 
considered. Where no beaches now exist, nor are particularly desired, 
protection of the bluff can be provided by a seawall or revetment. 
The Beach Erosion Board concurred generally in the conclusion that 
groin construction is the most economical method of protecting individual 
properties, provided only limited reaches of the total shore length are 
considered. If the entire shore is involved, the costs would be increased 
by an item for artificial placement of fill. The Board also noted that 
the estimated annual costs of the revetment and seawall plan, if con- 
structed in lengths of over 120 feet, would be somewhat less than those 
of the artificial nourishment plan. However, in the absence of a natural 
supply of beach material continued erosion may be expected lakeward from 
revetments and seawalls. Moreover it noted that the costs of the artificial 
nousishment plan were based on available costs without complete 
investigation of sources and also include a liberal allowance for mainten- 
ance, Considering these factors, the Board was of the opinion that a 
complete investigation of sources of material and methods of placement, 
a study beyond the scope of the present report, should be made. Such a 
study might result in substantial reduction of the estimated costs of a 
comprehensive artificial nourishment plan. Considering also the greater 
general benefit that would accrue from such a plan the Board concluded 
that its economic justification might be found to be greater than that of 
any other plan. 
The Beach Erosion Board recommended that local interests consider 
adoption of a comprehensive plan of protection by artificial placement of 
a sand beach, either directly over the entire length, in stockpiles or as 
a feeder beach near the west limit of the area, based on their own 
determination of economic justification. In the event that protection of 
individual properties is necessary, the Board recommended that private 
owners consider adoption of the plans of protection by groins, revetment 
18 
