MICHIGANHigh lake levels, eroding shorelines a challengeThe Detroit NewsPeople assess the damage on the beach at Point Betsie Lighthouse, north of Frankfort, on Oct. 16, 2019, after gale-force winds on Lake Michigan pushed near-record-high water onto the beach along with a huge amount of woody debris. As winter approaches, lakeside residents know that storms could bring more coastal flooding, erosion, ice floes and jams that could create havoc.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsGale-force winds on Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay have caused water to erode and collapse the parking area at West End Beach in Traverse City, seen on Oct. 16.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsHigh water in Grand Traverse Bay, fed by winds on Lake Michigan, splashes onto the lawn at the Open Space in downtown Traverse City on Oct. 16.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsPiles of woody debris lie on the beach at Point Betsie Lighthouse in Benzie County on Oct. 16, as high winds on Lake Michigan swept ashore high water.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsA tree stands in the water of Saginaw Bay at Killarney Beach in Bangor Township. Residents have seen their backyard beaches diminish in recent years.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsKillarney Beach resident Julie Schultz of Bangor Township talks about the rising waters of Saginaw Bay as she stands on the seawall behind her house. She says her beachfront was three times larger when she and her family moved here years ago.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsThese weeds behind the house of Bill Thorson, 76, of Bangor Township were not covered by the waters of Saginaw Bay in 2018, he said.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsBill Thorson, 76, and Jean Tude Thuot, 74, of Bangor Township, talk about the rising Saginaw Bay waters behind their Bayshore Drive houses.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsThousands of zebra mussel shells are washed up on the shores of Saginaw Bay behind houses along Bay Shore Drive in Bangor Township after recent storms.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsKillarney Beach resident Dan Latal talks about the rising water level of Saginaw Bay as he sits on the seawall behind his house. Latal says there were 100 yards of beach here when he moved in 19 years ago.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsKillarney Beach resident Julie Schultz says her beachfront is three times smaller than when she and her family moved here years ago due to the rising water level in Saginaw Bay.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsThis sticker is displayed on the window of Killarney Beach resident Julie Schultz of Bangor Township.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsTobico Beach resident Kathy Dwan, 49, of Bangor Township, says during storms the Saginaw Bay rises to the two white paddle boards on her beach.Todd McInturf, The Detroit NewsGaps between the boat slip piers and the berm at the Luna Pier Harbor Club marina in Luna Pier show the erosion that occurred due to high lake levels this summer.David Guralnick, The Detroit NewsHigh water levels over the summer are partially to blame for damaged and tilting piers at the Luna Pier Harbor Club marina in Luna Pier.David Guralnick, The Detroit NewsA truck slowly drives through a flooded Cotterie Park Road in Leamington, Ontario, on May 8, 2019, as waves from Lake Erie batter the shoreline.Dax Melmer, Windsor StarThe same location on Old Mission Peninsula is seen at top on Sept. 4, 2011, and at bottom on Sept. 3, 2019.Kevin J. Hardy, The Detroit NewsA motorcycle traverses high water on a usually dry parking lot at the Humbug Marina in Gibraltar on July 1, 2019.Daniel Mears, Detroit NewsWillie Brown enjoys some time at his boat in the Humbug Marina in Gilbraltar on July 1, 2019, but found his table, chairs and grill in water in the parking lot.Daniel Mears, The Detroit NewsA temporary dock and walkway is a foot underwater at the launch site at Elizabeth Park in Trenton on July 1, 2019.Daniel Mears, Detroit NewsBrian Adam of Romulus walks in a flooded field near the banks of the Trenton Channel in Elizabeth Park on July 1, 2019.Daniel Mears, Detroit NewsMichael Truesdell and Nathaniel Cecil of Lincoln Park fish from a rock surrounded by water near the usual bank of the Trenton Channel in Elizabeth Park.Daniel Mears, Detroit NewsWest End Beach in Traverse City is completely under water on Oct. 16, 2019, with severe erosion in the parking area. The life buoy is usually several feet from the water on the beach.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsThe beach at Clinch Park in Traverse City is under water on Oct. 16, 2019. Gale-force winds on Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay pushed near-record-high water onto shore, causing erosion.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsIn Traverse City, the Clinch Park launch ramp parking lot was closed Oct. 16, 2019, due to high water.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsHigh winds in Grand Traverse Bay, fed by Lake Michigan, pushed near-record-high water onto the pier at the West End Beach-Holiday Inn in Traverse City, on Oct. 16, 2019. The hotel also had flooding in its parking lot.John L. Russell, Special To The Detroit NewsLarge waves on Lake Michigan, caused by high winds, crash into the St. Joseph Lighthouse and pier on Oct. 16, 2019, in St. Joseph.Robert Franklin, South Bend Tribune Via APLake Michigan floods a walkway near the docks in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago on Aug. 30, 2019. In early October, steady rain and rising tides resulted in portions of scenic Lake Shore Drive in Chicago being closed for two hours because of flooding.Lauren Abdel-Razzaq, The Detroit News