DNR talks about Oman's Creek project

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Ironwood - A group of Little Girl's Point residents and others who use the Oman's Creek boat launch gathered at Gogebic Community College Thursday to talk with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources about plans to provide a more long-term fix to the issue of sediment build up at the creek's mouth.

"We recognize this site as one of the most important Lake Superior boat access sites in the Western U.P. - if not the entire U.P.," said Eric Cadeau, a regional planner working on the project.

He praised the site for its popularity, its easy access to the fishery off Little Girl's Point and its usefulness when launching smaller crafts.

He said the DNR has completed 95% of the design for a groin that is intended to stop the westward movement of sediment along the coastline from filling in the creek mouth and blocking access to the Oman's Creek boat launch.

A groin is primarily designed to stop sediment movement rather than create calm water and thus isn't necessarily built to the same height as a jetty, breakwall or other similar structure.

The purpose of Thursday's meeting was to touch base with the community and ensure the groin construction is still a priority for those who use the DNR facilities at Oman's Creek.

"I would say it was great dialogue between the DNR and the users, the community," Cadeau told the Daily Globe after the meeting. "It was really great feedback, they really understand the issues."

The meeting was needed, according to Cadeau, as recent changes in the design have increased the costs considerably.

Cadeau said recent soil borings showed there was an additional six feet of loosely compacted soil below where the groin is planned, increasing the amount of material needing to be dredged from two feet to eight feet. This extra cost, along with cost of the additional material to bring the groin above the water level, increased the cost of the project from roughly $1.1 million to $1,921,915.

Of this total cost, $1,557,530 is for the construction of the groin, with an additional $189,666 for other shoreline protection and $174,719 in a 10% contingency fund.

The design shown Thursday will extend approximately 150 feet out into Lake Superior and will be located east of the creek mouth, with its centerline located east of the boat launch's pit toilet.

"The footprint of this groin is quite large. It's 60 feet at its base, but ... the crest at the top of it is only 12 feet wide," Cadeau said. "It's intended to be that big because it side slopes. ... That way, when wave energy impacts it, instead of impacting it bluntly it's going to ride up it and dissipate that energy up.

"It helps protect that groin from failure from severe storms."

He said the groin was designed to withstand a 25-year wave event, which he called the industry standard. Anything more durable would likely have become cost prohibitive, Cadeau said.

It will likely sit five feet above the lake surface.

Cadeau asked whether users of the Oman's Creek facility would prefer the construction of the groin or whether resources should be devoted to other site improvements - such as additional lighting, parking or improved kayak-canoe access to the creek.

With most in attendance optimistic about the groin's potential, Cadeau said after the meeting confirmation of the project's funding could come within the next month, with permitting possibly being completed within the next 120 days.

He said the construction would likely take most of a boating season and could start as early as next year.

Additional comments on the project and site in general can be sent to Cadeau over the next two weeks by emailing [email protected].