The National Park
Service (NPS) is working cooperatively with the Town of Beverly Shores to
protect Indiana Dunes National Park’s Lake View parking area and a portion
of Lake Front Drive from erosion.
According to NPS,
“Recent Lake Michigan storm waves have washed away the dunes that protect
both the parking area and a portion of the nearby public road. Without
intervention, the parking lot, road, and the public utilities buried near
them could be damaged or destroyed by future storm waves.”
Beginning on
Friday, the town and NPS will begin to install and fill 300 linear feet of
sand traps on the beach, above the high water mark, in front of the parking
lot and road. The public can assist by staying out of the area while heavy
equipment installs the sand traps and fills them with sand.
“Lake Michigan’s
water level remains well above the long-term average,” NPS said. “The higher
lake level, in combination with recent storm waves, has resulted in
continued erosion and narrower beaches along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The National Park Service will continue to monitor the conditions at Lake
View and along the entire 15 miles of park shoreline.”