History of Lake Michigan Water Levels
Because Lakes Michigan and Huron are connected by a deep water channel in
the Straits of Mackinaw, the US Corps of Engineers considers them to be one
lake. Since 1918, the average lake levels have been tracked from an arbitrary
point used for that purpose. This allows the Corps to publish tables of the
average water level in Lake Michigan/Huron on a monthly basis.
View a summary of the height
above average on a montly basis.
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In 1892, Charles Starkey and other area businessmen decided that a
channel should be built connecting Lake Michigan to Bar Lake, now known as
Lake Arcadia. The channel was completed in 1893 and was maintained and
dredged until 1906. Prior to the channel being built, there was a small
natural channel into Lake Arcadia that was located to the south of the end
of Lake Street. However, this natural channel could not be depended upon for
getting larger ships into and out of the harbor in order to supply the
Arcadia furniture factory and glassworks. Starkey built a bridge pier to the
north of the natural channel and it extended out into Lake Michigan at the
end of Lake Street. The original pier extended 130 feet into Lake Michigan.
It was later extended to 1,000 feet. Below are links which will take you to
images of the bridge pier and also the location of the natural channel
according to an early plat of the Arcadia, Michigan shoreline.
http://www.arcadiami.com/Timeline/timelineearlytown.htm
http://www.arcadiami.com/Exhibits/Shipping/Pier/Pier.htm
In 1902, at the request of Starkey and other businessmen, the Army Corps
of Engineers becomes_small.jpg) involved in the harbor/channel project. Funds are
requested to keep the channel open and to rebuild the piers on either side
of the manmade channel. Unfortunately the funds do not come through and the
channel is dredged but not repaired from 1905 until 1909.
The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1909 causes the Arcadia Harbor to be
reviewed again by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors. Natural
disasters destroying much of the local agricultural crop and fires, which
destroyed the manufacturing plants have had a negative affect on commerce
and as a result, Major Kellor of the Army Corps of Engineers recommends
against further maintenance.
In 1910, representatives from the town of Arcadia continue to pursue
federal funding for channel maintenance and repair. They have some success
and are granted $20,000 for improvements in 1912. In 1913 the piers are
repaired but not lengthened. Most of the superstructure of the northern pier
is washed away and the tip of the southern pier is broken off. Additional
requests for_small.jpg) funding are made but funding is scarce and the Arcadia Harbor
has been blacklisted by the Army Corps of Engineers. As a result, the piers
deteriorate and eventually the channel closes in 1925 due to the natural ebb
and flow of the lake. The natural channel also closes and opens sporadically
and eventually all commerce from shipping ceases to exist in Arcadia.
At this point, it should be noted that sand was naturally accreting on
the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Early pictures of the beach in Frank W.
Miller’s book, Camp Arcadia The First Sixty Years, show what the beach
looked like in the mid twenties.
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In 1944, the concrete pier which exists today, was built extending 75’
out into the lake in front of the Inn. Water levels were on the rise and in
1948 four jetties were built in front of the property. These jetties were
extended in 1955 and four more jetties were installed. In 1957 the concrete
pier was extended to 83’. The last segment of the pier has now dropped
partially into the lake as a result of erosive wave and current action
against the side of the pier. On page 152 of Frank Miller’s book is an
aerial photo from 1957 which shows the pier and the jetties as they appeared
at that time. Note the build up of extended beach to the south of the pier
and the absence of beach on the northern side of the pier.
Since 1957 the Camp has fought an ongoing battle with beach erosion and
high lake levels. In 1961 the Township of Arcadia and the Waterways
Commission had the channel reconstructed and opened for recreational use.
This only increased the Camp’s battle with erosion due to unnatural currents
created by the reopening of the channel. In 1973 the Army Corps of engineers
began regular dredging operations of the channel on an annual basis. From
1973 until 1978 the dredged sand was dumped in open water. In 1979, the
Corps began having its contractors deposit the dredged sand to the north of
the northern pier in an area from 0-2800 feet along the coastline. To view
the USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) report on dredging
activities please click on the link provided:
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/OandM/text/arcadia.pdf
In 1989, the USACE encapsulated and reconstructed both the northern and
southern piers of the Arcadia Channel. Massive steel plates along with
concrete and boulders were the main materials used. According to the Corps,
the piers were not really extended at this time but were merely
reconstructed from their 1961 configurations. The project cost just under
$2,000,000 and took two construction seasons to complete the work.
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The following is a list of LCA Board motions that dealt with varying
beach projects over the years with the goal of preserving our buildings.
The item numbers refer to Camp's internal number system for LCA Board
motions.
1971-May 29_small.jpg)
42. That the shore area at the tennis courts be inspected and a sea
wall installed if necessary.
1973-August 16
87. To make required repairs to the beach protection between the Ad.
Building and the Grebe cottage.
1974- September 1
100. To have repairs made to sea wall near tennis court area and
immediately north using bolted construction for whalers and material 10 to
12 feet deep.
1980- October 31
283. That the Executive Board be given authority to approve “jetty”
work at Weiherman Park and that balance of projects be prioritized and
cost estimated for presentation to March 1981 Board meeting.
1981- October 30
325. To authorize $25,000 (if needed and not to exceed) for capital
expenditures for store, added maintenance and shoreline protection.
1982- September 24
362. To authorize Dick Korthals to work with an appropriate ACCA
representative and possibly a representative from the Starke Point to act
on our behalf and approach the Corps of Engineers with the request that
dredged sand be transported further north than it is at present time.
1983- May 29
378. To revoke the authorized expenditure for the craft shop remodeling
and divert these funds to protecting the beach area. Funds to $35,000
authorized. High water was causing problems.
1983- November 4
385. That LCA continue its cooperation with ACCA in efforts for
shoreline protection at Weiherman Park by sharing equally the
administration, cost and use of such protection
1984- November 2
432. To ratify expenditure of $8,500 above approved budget for work
already installed. (jetty)
442. To proceed with getting materials for up to $9,000 for jetty work
1985- April 13
455. To authorize Raymon Frost to proceed as necessary to protect the
cement seawall and restore the beach, making substitutions in previously
approved expenditures and spending up to $10,000 more if necessary to
preserve the camp property.
1985- May 25_small.jpg)
461. To allocate $11,000 more for Randall to complete his jetty work;
his amount to include a bonus of $3,000 if completed by July 4,
462. To approve an additional $16,000 above the remainder of the amount
authorized in April to install 150’ of reinforced steel seawall with a
channel iron cap north of the pier in front of the Inn, and 450’ of wooden
seawall south of the pier, the entire area to be backfilled
1985- October 25
468. To approve the further expenditure of $15,000 for incremental
costs incurred this year for jetties.
1986- May 24
485. About 500 cubic yards of sand are needed to form a safe slope from
the cement seawall towards the forward seawall from the observation deck
to the center of the patio. Allen Domres of Onekama has offered to do the
work, partially as a donation, for $2/yard. The Board approved spending
the money for the sand, sending Domres a letter of thanks, and inviting
the Domres family for dinner as an expression of our appreciation.
486. To approve expenditure of up to $5,000 for the LCA’s share of the
protection of Weiherman park by the revetment process.
487. Dick Blum presented a request tat LCA be guarantor if ACCA found it
necessary to borrow money to meet project payment dates. It was moved that
LCA be guarantor of the proposed $50,000 line of credit, with written
proposals, including encumbrances, to be provided and made a matter of
record. Dick Blum proposed a modification, which Kienman accepted: Moved
that LCA be guarantor of the proposed $50,000 line of credit. ACCA will,
in turn, provide suitable collateral in terms of personal notes or liens
against property should any such borrowing take place. This matter to be
subject to the approval of counsel.
1986- May 24
496. To authorize funds up to $50,000 for shoreline protection work in
the 1986 season.
1986- November 7
501. That the board ratify several actions of the executive committee:
2) Additional expenditures for shoreline protection during the season.
502. To direct Ray Frost to determine what we can do to meet the Health
Department regulations and proceed based on that information. (Relating to
the septic tanks filling with ground water due to the high lake levels.
Septic system was pumping more groundwater than wastewater.)
503. That Ray be authorized, up to $20,000, in conference with the
Executive Committee, to allow us to operate in 1987. This includes current
sump pumping upgrade, hydrologist fee, de-watering installation,
replacement of septic tanks, and shoreline protection in front of the
buildings.
507. To authorize funds up to $10,000 from the General Fund for
reinforcement of the revetment
1987- April 4
521. To ratify the Executive Committee expenditure of $4,500 over the
budgeted amount for the revetment improvements.
527. To authorize an additional $25,000 (above the $30,000 authorized in
November) to complete the authorized projects. (De-watering system and
septic system)
528. To authorize that 1,000 cubic yards of sand at a cost not to exceed
$2,000 should be placed in front of the Inn north of the concrete pier:
The money to pay for this will come from the Forward Fund.
Camp Arcadia continues to thrive as a great place to become renewed in
body, mind and spirit._small.jpg) However, continuing to preserve this place comes at a
cost. The generosity of the LCA membership is one of the main reasons that
Camp has continued to thrive. As a board, we are currently in the process of
trying to find the best possible long-term solution to our beach issue. We
hope to find a system that will enable us to protect our buildings, provide
us with a naturally accreted beach which will be easily accessible to our
guests and also will have the least adverse affect on our neighbors to the
north and to the south.
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