Efforts to Save Buffalo Reef from Stamp Sand Threats Escalate

Strategic Insights -

Efforts to prevent the extinction of fish populations in Lake Superior are escalating as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) prepares to dredge the Grand Traverse Harbor for the third time since 2019. The move is aimed at saving Buffalo Reef, a critical spawning habitat for whitefish and lake trout, from being buried under stamp sand mining waste. Over the past 100 years, the stamp sands have migrated down the shoreline, devastating natural beaches and threatening to cover the reef, which is essential for the survival of the fish populations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dredging crews will return to the Grand Traverse Harbor in Houghton County this summer to continue efforts to save Buffalo Reef.
  • The Buffalo Reef Task Force has evaluated over a dozen potential ideas for disposal of dredged stamp sands and has decided to construct an upland facility for disposal.
  • The task force also plans to build a 2,000-foot-long jetty to intercept the stamp sand as it migrates south.
  • The geotechnical work for the proposed jetty was completed last fall, and design is expected to be finished in three months.
  • The construction of the upland facility and the jetty is part of a long-term project with an estimated cost of $2.1 billion.
  • The project is being executed in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other state and local agencies.
  • The loss of fish habitat, damage to property, and potential loss of jobs are some of the consequences of not maintaining the dredging project.

Statistics:

  • The stamp sands have been moving down the shoreline for roughly 100 years.
  • The stamp sands have already inundated natural sand beach areas, covering over 5 miles of shoreline.
  • The 2,200-acre Buffalo Reef is critical for the spawning habitat and recruitment areas for Lake Superior whitefish and lake trout.
  • The dredging efforts have kept the waterway open for fishing, boating, and other recreation.
  • The recent cost estimate for completing the long-term project is $2.1 billion over its timeline.
  • The project includes the construction of a 2,000-foot-long jetty and an upland facility for disposal of stamp sand.

Sources:

  • Lansing State Journal: Dredging crews to return to Grand Traverse Harbor to save Buffalo Reef. Online source: Lansing State Journal, accessed at no date provided.
  • Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Online source: Michigan.gov, accessed at no date provided.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Online source: USACE.army.mil, accessed at no date provided.