Shoreline Management
Shoreline Management Plan
Welcome to the Shoreline Management Plan web page.
The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is the result of work between 2015 and 2019 which resulted in updates to the Shoreline Management Plan for the Lake Huron shoreline within the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) area.
We would like to thank all the members of the public – including shoreline residents and industry representatives as well as municipalities - for their contributions to this plan over more than four years (2015-2019) of its development.
Natural Hazard Mapping
For mapping for the new Shoreline Management Plan, please visit the following links:
- Appendix D - ABCA Hazard Mapping - 6 MB - Very large PDF file.
- Appendix D - Interactive Mapping Website - ABCA Hazard Mapping
The updated, approved Shoreline Management Plan (in effect; approved 2019) is posted below:
Shoreline Management Plan - Approved 2019
Below is the link to the approved Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for the Lake Huron shoreline of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) area - with the exception of appendices which are posted separately (due to file size):
- Shoreline Management Plan - Approved 2019 (This is a 2 MB - large - PDF file)
The above document is a large PDF (about 2 MB in size) and contains Executive Summary; Table of Contents; 1. Introduction; 2. Legislative Authority, Policy and Technical Direction for Shoreline Management Planning; 3. Technical Analysis and Description; 4. Shoreline Hazards; 5. Shoreline Management; 6. Engagement for SMP Development; 7. References; and Appendices Titles.
Due to the size of the files, the Appendices are posted separately below. Please download the appendices separately:
- Appendix A - Draft 2016 Consultant Recommendation Report - 11 MB - Huge PDF file
- Appendix B - Considerations for Shoreline Protection Structures - 2 MB - Large PDF file
- Appendix C - ABCA Recession Rate Data - 200 KB - Medium-sized PDF file
- Appendix D - ABCA Hazard Mapping - 6 MB - Very large PDF file - Please visit, also, interactive mapping website below.
- Appendix D - Interactive Mapping Website - ABCA Hazard Mapping
- Appendix E - Shoreline Slope Stability Risks and Hazards Fact Sheet (Terraprobe Inc.) - 1 MB - large PDF file
- Appendix F - Development Guidelines 2019 - 1 MB (large) PDF file
- Appendix G - Public Engagement Process - 300 KB (medium-sized) PDF file
The above are the appendices to the Shoreline Management Plan updated and approved in 2019.
The new updated Shoreline Management Plan, as amended and approved, was posted on this web page on March 1, 2019.
Archived Content
Documents and web pages identified as archived on this website are for the intent of record-keeping, research or reference and are not revised to meet more recent standards for newer content. Following the date of archiving, it has not been updated. You may request documents in alternate formats upon request.
The followiing is the content of this web page archived on May 4, 2023:
- Shoreline Management Plan Web Page Content Archived May 2023 – 400 KB (medium-sized) PDF file
Fact sheets for property owners
Visit our Lake Huron web page for new fact sheets:
Download the fact sheets now:
- Guidelines for Lake Huron Bluff Access – 1.1 MB – Large PDF file
- Guidelines for Lake Huron Bluff Vegetation – 1.1 MB – Large PDF file
- Guidelines for Lake Huron Dune Vegetation – 1.3 MB – Large PDF file
- Shoreline Slope Stability Risks and Hazards Fact Sheet for Property Owners – Terraprobe Inc. – 1 MB – Large PDF file
Proposed Shoreline Protection Works Applications
The Board of Directors of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) approved the following documents, in September of 2018, related to applications and proposals for shoreline protection works.
- Checklist for Applications for Shore Protection - September 20, 2018
- Fact sheet - Information for landowners and contractors proposing shoreline protection works - September 20, 2018
What is a Shoreline Management Plan?
The main focus of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is to address shoreline hazards for flooding, erosion, and dynamic beaches and their impact on shoreline development.
The main objectives of this focus are:
i. To reduce or eliminate damage due to periods of erosion, flooding, and dynamic beach movement that may occur to development close to the shore of Lake Huron.
ii. To help protect existing development from potential impacts of new development.
iii. To direct new development away from hazardous areas.
The map image shows the study area.
Newsletters
Newsletter – Information updates by email – e-Newsletter
Members of the public are invited to subscribe to a free electronic newsletter, delivered by email, that provides updates about shoreline management in the watershed. To sign up to receive these updates you may visit this link:
Subscribe to e-Newsletter
Receive regular updates by subscribing to our free electronic newsletter at this link: