Rosewood Beach is one of the Park District’s most heavily used facilities, and one of the most beautiful of our community’s assets. The near-historic high Lake Michigan water levels in the last year resulted in rapid beach erosion at Rosewood Beach. Infrastructure located at the back of the beach was in jeopardy of damage. The shoreline protection projects in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 prevented further erosion and will protect our lakefront structures and ensure this community asset will serve Highland Park for current and future generations.
Last summer, Lake Michigan water levels came within an inch of the highest figures ever recorded for the months of June and July during the century that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been keeping the data. Severe beach erosion has affected communities all along the Great Lakes.
The Rosewood shoreline protection projects were approved by the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners for Fall 2019 at the Nature and Swimming Coves and for Spring 2020 at the Recreation Cove. Both projects nourished the beaches with additional sand to protect them and our shoreline structures from the pattern of severe erosion at the beach caused by record high lake levels combined with an increase in severe storms causing damaging wave action.
Rosewood Beach is one of the Park District’s most heavily used facilities, and one of the most beautiful of our community’s assets. It is a priority for the Park Board of Commissioners to protect that asset and continue providing safe beach access to the thousands of children, adults and families that use this facility for recreation and leisure.
The Park District’s Rosewood shoreline protection projects required approval from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Fall 2019 project replenished the beaches at Rosewood’s Nature and Swimming Coves. The Nature Cove shoreline had receded approximately 45 feet and the Swimming Cove shoreline had receded approximately 55 feet according to Margaret Boshek, a coastal engineer with SmithGroup. Though the Interpretive Center at the Nature Cove has a protective revetment, current patterns of beach erosion could have put other Rosewood structures that are situated close to the shoreline at the two coves at risk over the winter.
The plan called for both coves to be built out by 40 feet. Sand was strategically placed and include a combination of:
The Rosewood Nature Cove was nourished entirely with Birdseye Sand, and the Swimming Cove was nourished with a combination of Birdseye Sand and Torpedo Sand. By completing the project in the Fall, the coves and structures were protected over the winter.
In Spring 2020, the Recreation Cove was replenished with Birdseye Sand to protect the cove, the adjacent boardwalk, and playground. Stone was also be placed along the interior of the south breakwater to mitigate the passage of sand through this area. The project was completed in April 2020.
For more information on the projects, contact Jeff Smith, Director of Planning and Projects, at [email protected] or go to our Project FAQ Page.
Permits for sand nourishment required are from the USACE, IDNR, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). A year ago, the Park District anticipated long term trends and started the process to obtain permits which will allow for sand nourishment at Rosewood Beach for the next 10 years.
The nature cove shoreline has receded approximately 45 feet and the swimming cove shoreline has receded approximately 55 feet according to Margaret Boshek, a coastal engineer with SmithGroup. Though the Interpretive Center at the nature cove has a protective revetment, current patterns of beach erosion could put other Rosewood structures at risk in the near future.
Arising from the Sand Management Working Group and in conjunction with the Illinois State Geological Survey, a citizen-science program called COASTS (Citizens Observing and Surveying the Shoreline) has been developed which trains volunteers to collect beach erosion and accretion data at sites throughout Illinois. To learn more about COASTs: https://publish.illinois.edu/lakemichigancoasts/
Emergency approval comes from United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Emergency approval would allow the Park District to proceed with the project while longer-term sand nourishment permitting continues.
The new expectation for the future is that lake levels will be more volatile, rising and falling more quickly, though the jury is still out as to whether that means the setting of new records — high or low — will be a common occurrence.
The rise and fall of lake level is a normal process for the Great Lakes. Lake level varies daily, monthly, seasonally, and annually. Just five years ago, in the spring of 2013, Lake Michigan was experiencing close to record lows.
As the Park District works to provide safe and fun beach-going experiences through routine maintenance of our beaches, we also recognize that we are part of a dynamic and complicated lake ecosystem that requires us to have proactive and flexible plans in place to continue to protect our shoreline. The Rosewood Sand Nourishment Project will stem the current pattern of severe erosion at the nature and swimming coves. Though the Interpretive Center at the nature cove has a protective revetment, continued beach erosion could put other Rosewood structures at risk in the near future. In addition, the Park District participates with other lake shore communities in the Sand Management Working Group, which partners scientists, local, state and federal agencies and the IDNR Coastal Management Program to better understand and find long term best practices for coastal issues.
The plan calls for both coves to be built out by 40 feet. Sand will be strategically placed and include a combination of:
There are many reasons for Great Lakes water levels to rise. In Lake Michigan, a primary reason is the balance between evaporation and precipitation. Back-to-back cold winters in 2013 and 2014 contributed to the sudden increase in 2014. Ice cover blocked typical patterns of winter evaporation and then contributed to subsequent runoff from melting of snow and ice. Stronger storms and unusually wet years since then are pushing Great Lakes water levels up.
Rosewood’s recreation cove located at the south end of the beach will not be replenished as part of this project because there are no structures at risk along the cove.
The project was completed at the Recreation Cove including placement of the sand to protect the cove, the adjacent boardwalk, and playground. And, stone was placed along the interior of the south breakwater to mitigate the passage of sand through the area.
The delivery of sand began on April 8 and will continue into early next week. This will be followed by the delivery of stone.
The Park District’s quick action to implement the emergency sand nourishment project earlier this fall at Rosewood Beach served its purpose protecting Rosewood’s parking lot, boardwalk, and structures from the devastating damage the November 11, 2019, and January 11, 2020, storms could have caused. The Park District is also working on options to make structural changes to Rosewood Beach that would protect the beach in the long term. The options under consideration include:
– Underwater Weirs – placed at the opening of the coves to break intense wave action from reaching the shore.
– Reducing the Gap Width of the Breakwaters – to break more waves from reaching the shore.
– Back of Beach Revetment – providing a steel barrier along the boardwalk to protect the back of beach structures and parking lot.
Staff will provide the Board with recommendations at the February General Meeting.
The Rosewood Beach Sand Nourishment project began on schedule, Monday, October 21. During the week, significant progress was made placing the Birdseye sand in the Nature Cove. Sand is being strategically placed along both the Nature Cove and the Swimming Cove with a steep grade at the water’s edge. Once placed, the sand will begin to shift providing a more gradual grade.
The sand for this project has been sourced from a local Illinois quarry where thousands of years ago it was part of the same ancient watershed as Lake Michigan. This sand meets Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regulations that protect water quality from contaminants such as PCBs and asbestos.
The Illinois Department of Nature Resources (IDNR) and IEPA regulate sand used for all projects along the Illinois shoreline. Sand must meet IEPA water quality standards and be geologically the same as the sand that comes from the bottom of the lake. Luckily, most of Illinois was blanketed by thick layers of sand from glaciers that retreated 14,000 years ago. As a result, sand can be sourced from local quarries that meet the IEPA water quality and geological standards.
As the Park District works to provide safe and fun beach-going experiences through routine maintenance of our beaches, we also recognize that we are part of a dynamic and complicated lake ecosystem that requires us to be proactive and flexible to continue to protect our shoreline. The Rosewood Beach Nourishment Project is an example of that proactive flexibility.
The Park District also participates with other lake shore communities in the Sand Management Working Group, which partners scientists, local, state and federal agencies and the IDNR Coastal Management Program to better understand and find long term best practices for coastal issues.
The Rosewood Beach sand nourishment project is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 21. This emergency project will address the current pattern of severe beach erosion caused by record-high lake levels and is necessary to protect beach structures at the nature and swimming coves. It is a priority for the Park District to move quickly to protect Rosewood Beach and continue providing safe beach access for our community.
The trucks transporting sand to the beach are expected to exit Highway 41 at Lake Cook Road and head east, then south on Saint Johns Avenue, turn right onto Lincolnwood Road, and follow Sheridan Road until reaching the Rosewood Beach entrance. Trucks will return using the same route.
During construction, Rosewood Beach, including the lower parking lot, will be closed to pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The project is expected to take approximately 6 weeks to complete. In compliance with the City of Highland ordinances, the work will take place between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm on weekdays and 9 am and 5 pm on weekends.
The Park District is seeking emergency approval from United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to proceed with a sand nourishment project at the Rosewood Beach nature and swimming coves this Fall. The goal of the project is to stem the pattern of severe erosion at the beach caused by record-high lake levels combined with an increase in severe storms causing damaging wave action over the past year. Emergency approval would allow the Park District to proceed with the project while longer-term sand nourishment permitting continues. Permits required are from the USACE, IDNR, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).
This week, SmithGroup, the engineering firm working with the Park District, is finalizing their calculations for the beach slopes and volume of sand required to complete the project. This information, along with a request to for the project’s emergency approval, will be sent to both the USACE and IDNR. The Park District anticipates these approvals will take approximately two weeks. Also, next week, SmithGroup will begin working with contractors to provide pricing on the project. Final pricing will be presented to the Park Board for their review and approval in the next several weeks.
