Rock Revetment
Rock revetment is the process of strategically placing different sized stones to absorb the impact of waterbodies made on shorelines. Along the Great Lakes shorelines, revetments are particularly important due to the constant shoreline depth changes due to storm surges and seiches.
New Heitz has the equipment and experience needed to install your rock revetment safely and correctly. First the shoreline is graded and a geofabric is placed underneath the rocks to prevent washout. Toe stones, which are larger, often boulder-sized rocks are placed beneath the water line to support the smaller rocks that are piled on top. The waves and changing water level are deflected by the rocks, which protects the shoreline from erosion.
Retaining Walls and Seawalls
For smaller waterbodies like inland lakes and large ponds, New Heitz suggests retaining walls or seawalls for your shoreline needs. Of course a smaller-scale rock revetment is also possible, however retaining walls generally offer easier access to the water at any point, rather than climbing over rocks to get to your friends that are peacefully floating away on inflatable tubes, just waiting for you to join.
Another benefit of retaining walls are that they require much smaller equipment than rock revetments, and can be set in place without disturbing much of your surrounding shoreline, which allows for a quick installation so your kids can get back to scaring all the fish away at the lakehouse.