Lake Shoreline Erosion Control and Habitat Enhancement

Cost Considerations

The cost to apply bioengineered shoreline erosion solutions discussed above will vary depending on the existing conditions along your shoreline, including such factors as the height of the eroded bank, the rate at which water depth increases as you move away from shore, the amount of accumulated lake sediment that might need removal prior to placement of the clay or stone shelves, suitability of existing shoreline soils for use as planting bed soil material, and the relative ease of construction access to your shoreline site. The cost figures presented below represent approximate installation costs along a hypothetical "average" eroded lakeshore with a project installation length of 100 feet. The cost figures are expressed in cost per linear foot of shoreline. So, for example, installation of Shoreline Treatment #3: Submerged Sheet Piling (without Geoweb or Benthic Mesh) might cost: ($146 per linear foot of shoreline) x (100 feet) = $14,600 for this hypothetical 100-foot shoreline project.

These costs represent the installed costs by an experienced contractor in the Chicago metropolitan area. Not included in these costs are project design, project management, lake dewatering operations, post-installation plant maintenance, and repair to structures or landscaping necessary to access the site. You may wish to contact a consultant that specializes in lake shoreline projects to refine these cost guidelines to your specific needs.

Many of the project activities will need earthmoving or other special equipment to complete. The notable exception is plant plugs, which homeowners can purchase and install themselves. The retail price for shoreline plants vary, but $1.50 to $2.00 per plant is fairly common. If your shoreline needs only minor grading work, you may be able to do this by hand, or hire a contractor to brin a mini-excavator or "Bobcat" to reshape the shoreline (at about $95-$120 per hour.)