Shoreline erosion remains a major concern on the mind of Berrien County Commissioner Ezra Scott. At this week’s county board meeting, Scott said he recently attended a meeting of below-the-bluff residents in St. Joseph. He told commissioners erosion isn’t just a rich person problem.
“This is an economic problem that we have with these shorelines,” Scott said. “If there was no beach at Silver Beach, then the county would have to provide the parks department with more money.”
Scott said disappearing beaches and reduced shoreline also create a concern for the tax base.
“It’s awful hard to sell your property when you can’t get insurance on it and it’s a storm or two from falling in.”
Scott has also been working on addressing shoreline erosion in the New Buffalo area. He said at Thursday’s meeting he’s hoping to hear something from Congressman Fred Upton on what federal help could be obtained.
Pictured: The shoreline near Weko Breach in Bridgman.
