Reservoir shorelines are often impacted by severe erosion due to excessive slopes, saturated upland soils, and chronic wave action. Affected shorelines remain unvegetated, resulting in bare substrate, receding banks, and decreased water quality. Conventional bank rip rap effectively reduces erosion; however, habitat benefits are minimal. Rip rap breakwaters, installed ~10 – 40 feet from the eroded bank, may stabilize banks and produce protected littoral/wetland habitat. The objective of my study is to determine if rip rap breakwaters, installed ~10 – 40 feet from the eroded bank while producing protected littoral/wetland habitat. To accomplish this objective I will monitor erosion, stabilization, vegetation, and animal populations in the breakwater protected areas and compare these results to unprotected areas on Kinkaid Lake in Southern Illinois.
