Why Do Ice Heaves Hurt My Shoreline But Not My Neighbor’s?

Ice heaves might beat up one shoreline more than another for one or more of the following reasons:

• Your unaffected neighbor’s shoreline may have more natural aquatic vegetation along its perimeter than yours has. I’m not sure why, but vegetation in the water seems to help combat ice heaving (sometimes referred to as “shoreline buckling”).

• Your neighbor’s lake frontage may be deeper. Shallow lake frontage is more susceptible to ice heaving. On a few occasions we’ve seen it work the other way around. Changes in water depth can play a significant role in whether or not ice heaving becomes a problem.

• Your shoreline might “stick out” just a little bit farther than your neighbor’s. We see this every spring. If you’re dealing with an ice ridge and your neighbors aren’t, compare your shoreline to theirs. Try to see where the water meets each shoreline. Your shoreline probably protrudes a little more into the lake. Even a foot matters. The longer-necked shoreline gets its head lopped off first.

Lakeshore Guys^® specializes in creating shorelines that stand up to the elements, including ice damage.  Contact us today.