Michigan clay bluff caused by erosion

Erosion is the cause of the Lake Michigan shoreline having a rare occurrence called clay-seepage bluffs. An ecologist who visited the site stated that very few locations had similar terrain, according to Kalamazoo Gazette.

The vertical cliffs of the Wau-Ke-Na Preserve, which reside on the Lake Michigan shoreline between Saugatuck and South Haven, are instances of the very rare clay-seepage bluffs, the media outlet reports.

Scientists recently ventured to the area to catalogue the plants, continuous flow of water and rare soils contained in the 127-acre preserve, according to the media outlet. These experts found a plethora of grasses, rare flowers and trees all extending from the almost-vertical slopes of the bluffs.

“They are very unique sites, and each one is like a surprise,” Josh Cohen, an ecologist working for the project, told the media outlet. “We don’t have a classification of the clay-bluff type. We hope to include that natural community in the near future.”

Erosion can have a profound effect on surfaces, including the creation of almost-vertical slopes. However, this gradual destruction can be mitigated through the use of top products from Impact Absorbents such as Straw Wattle for Erosion Control.  

Scroll to Top