Project Goal

What is the issue?

Over the past decade, higher water levels in Lake Superior have contributed to erosion and narrowing of the shoreline at Wisconsin Point. Although lake levels have since receded, greater fluctuations, both higher and lower, are expected as the climate continues to change. More intense storms are also projected, and these events can cause temporary spikes in water levels and large waves that result from storms, known as storm surge. These large waves, combined with elevated water levels, can accelerate beach and dune erosion, damage coastal habitats and shoreline infrastructure, and create hazardous swimming conditions, including an increased risk of rip currents.

What is being done?

This study will gather scientific data and community input to inform recommendations for increasing the resiliency of Wisconsin Point to these changes. Data to be collected includes water depth measurements, sediment grain size data, aerial imagery, vegetation surveys, and compilation of historical data, along with modeling of wave and energy conditions at Wisconsin Point.

In addition, we have collected input from the public through a Visitor Use Study to learn more about how visitors enjoy Wisconsin Point and what should be done to make the area more resilient.  Data will be compiled and reviewed. Following data collection, numerical modeling will support evaluation of a range of approaches to protect Wisconsin Point from impacts of climate change like changes in water level and storm surge. Findings from the study will inform management plans and future actions, pending funding availability.

What is resiliency? 

Resilience is the ability of a system to absorb disturbance while still maintaining its shape, features, and the roles it plays in the environment. For Wisconsin Point, possible climate-related disturbances might be extreme weather events, rising or dropping lake levels, changes in seasonal weather patterns (e.g., precipitation, temperatures), or even changes in use. Resiliency is the delicate balance between how sensitive a system is and its ability to adapt to changes. The concept of resiliency can be applied to both natural systems like Wisconsin Point itself (for example, the coastal beach or the dunes) and the ways people interact with the natural systems (for example, visitors or the ways we manage and maintain Wisconsin Point).

Managing Wisconsin Point for resiliency could include several approaches, including:

• Preparation for disturbance. This could include assessing hazards and risks, identifying actions to help reduce potential harms, establishing emergency management plans, and building systems with higher capacity for coping with disturbances.

• Adaptation to disturbance. This could include adapting infrastructure to work with larger storm events, using nature-based solutions that mimic natural systems, or shifting towards species adapted to warmer climates.

• Mitigation includes actions to reduce the risk of disturbance, like taking steps to reduce fossil fuel emissions or reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

What is the project status?

This study started in 2025. Data collection continued through 2025. Modeling and evaluation has begun in early 2026, supported by project partners. Depending on the results of the study, concept or engineering designs may be developed following the study. Results will be incorporated in future updates to the Wisconsin Point Management Plan.  

Who is leading the project?

Project Leads: City of Superior and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Advising Partners: Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Army Corps of Engineers, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Minnesota Land Trust, University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Minnesota Point 50, and Douglas County.

Consultant Team: Led by AMI Consulting Engineers and includes  Limno Tech, Ramboll, Nordic, and University of Minnesota Duluth.

Questions?

Contact project lead: Molly Wick, Wisconsin DNR at Molly.wick@wisconsin.gov or 715-817-8510