Michigan’s water levels have recently been at all-time highs and many property owners have faced the possibility of damage to their waterfront homes, office buildings, and roadways. In many cases these risks have been mitigated using costly hard armoring practices and other ecologically destructive measures.
At Inhabitect, we do things differently when dealing with the forces of Mother Nature. We couple eco-friendly components and plant materials together in a bioengineered system that provides a natural, vegetated buffer between your commercial or residential property’s land and water.
As Certified Natural Shoreline Professionals, we provide solutions that align closely with nature—without compromising your vision. Our installations are attractive, low-impact, and ideal for ponds, inland lakes, Great Lakes shorelines, and the banks of rivers, streams, and tributaries.
By using less invasive techniques and materials—and doing so in a way that more closely mimics natural systems—there’s minimal disruption during construction to the surrounding ecosystem. Unlike hard structures like seawalls, which often lead to scouring at their base and the loss of nearshore habitat, natural shoreline treatments provide a gradual transition between land and water. This supports a diverse range of species, including fish, amphibians, and terrestrial wildlife, while also enhancing opportunities for pollination and upland habitat development. This can also help deter geese, making the shoreline more resilient, functional, and ecologically balanced.
While traditional materials like cement, steel, wood, and imported stone are commonly used in shoreline projects and often meet regulatory standards, they can appear out of place in natural environments and may impact sensitive ecosystems. Fortunately, many project sites are well-suited for more sustainable alternatives. Natural, soft armoring techniques and bioengineering practices offer effective, eco-friendly solutions for shoreline protection and restoration—blending seamlessly with the landscape while supporting habitat health.
Natural shorelines can help restore areas that have been degraded by human activities (e.g. shoreline & riverbank clear cutting, foot traffic along steep slopes, other destabilization of these critical barriers). If previous land stewardship practices have resulted in unplanned or undesired consequences, this form of restoration is the perfect fit.
Also called ‘soft armoring,’ our natural shoreline projects reintroduce deep-rooted native plants to create a system that mimics naturally stable shorelines. We solve shoreline erosion in a way that supports the neighboring waterway’s ecosystem while also protecting its waterfront property.
Natural and bioengineered shorelines are designed to withstand the erosive forces found along waterways of all types. Through a combination of materials and installation techniques, natural shorelines provide a resilient solution, not available in more traditional, hard armoring methods.
Completed in June 2024, this Lake Leelanau project marked Inhabitect’s first natural shoreline restoration of the year. The property, perched on a steep bluff, presented unique challenges, as the shoreline could only be accessed by stone steps down to the lake. Inhabitect expanded, extended, and installed additional steps to provide a safe and functional pathway, ensuring seamless, year-round access to the shore and dock while enhancing the site’s natural beauty.
Located on Lime Lake in Maple City, MI, just minutes from Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this natural shoreline restoration project reflects Inhabitect’s comprehensive design-build approach. Completed in the summer of 2023, this project transformed the property into a more functional lakeside retreat.
