NOAA Funds Ensure That a Treasured Campground Stays Intact

The Takeaway: NOAA and the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program led a study that resulted in moving a beloved campground to a safer location.

Intense storms along Lake Superior’s rugged coast were slowly washing away F.J. McLain State Park. Park officials worked with NOAA and the state coastal management program to study the problem and come up with solutions. They recommended moving the park a safe distance from the coastline to preserve the ability of 160,000 annual visitors to enjoy its outdoor amenities and two miles of windswept northern shore. Construction crews finished building a new bathroom and shower building and are continuing to work on a new section of campground at the park to be completed by the 2019 camping season.

NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management funded the plan. Partners included the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. (original 2017; updated 2018)