Event
- Dates
- 1986-01-09 – 1986-02-06
- Kind
- Observation
- Where
- Beaver Island
- Eras
- Modern era
- Concepts
- hydrologyenvironmentconservationinfrastructurecommunication
- Within
- Beaver Island
Summary
The March 1986 Beaver Beacon reprinted Great Lakes high-water information and Philip Keillor’s January 9 Lake Levels Update No. 10. The material warned of continued high Lake Michigan–Huron levels, spring flooding and accelerated coastal erosion, and urged property owners to consult floodplain information and plan protective measures.
Evidence limits
These are reprinted forecasts, contextual facts, and public guidance. They are not a Beaver Island parcel survey, engineering design, calibrated local gauge series, or record of later flooding or property damage.
Sources
- Reprints Island Exchange material on above-normal Great Lakes precipitation, historical lake-level changes, limited control through diversions, and a well-designed shore-protection system. It is contextual and advisory material, not a Beaver Island survey, parcel assessment, engineering design, or calibrated hydrologic dataset. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-03_Beaver-Beacon
- The held twelve-page March issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms the reprinted high-water material.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-03_Beaver-Beacon
- Reprints Philip Keillor’s coastal-engineer update: January 5 Lake Michigan–Huron level, forecast spring rise and June levels, December basin precipitation, potential 100-year flood conditions, and recommendations to consult floodplain information and plan for erosion and flooding. It is a forecast and public guidance, not a local property inspection or later outcome record. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-03_Beaver-Beacon
- The held twelve-page March issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms Lake Levels Update No. 10.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-03_Beaver-Beacon
- Reprints Philip Keillor’s update using February 6 levels and January basin precipitation: Lake Michigan–Huron levels were 11 inches above the prior year, the February level was the highest since 1887, and a July peak near the 1886 record remained possible. It is a forecast and reprinted coastal guidance, not a local gauge series, parcel inspection, or later flood outcome. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-04_Beaver-Beacon
- The held seventeen-page April issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms the continuing lake-level update.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-04_Beaver-Beacon
- Reprints general coastal-engineering guidance on groin fields, sand retention, spacing, rip currents, and storm-wave limits. It is educational context, not a Beaver Island shoreline survey, project proposal, engineering design, or evidence that groins were installed locally. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-04_Beaver-Beacon
- The held seventeen-page April issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms the reprinted groin article.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-04_Beaver-Beacon
- Reprints Philip Keillor’s update using April 6 lake levels and March basin precipitation: Great Lakes levels were rising with spring snowmelt, storm surges could compound flood levels, and Lake Michigan–Huron levels were forecast between 580.7 and 581.8 feet above IGLD at the end of September. It is a regional forecast and public guidance, not a local gauge series, parcel inspection, engineering design, or later flood outcome. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-06_Beaver-Beacon
- The held nineteen-page June issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms the continuing lake-level update.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-06_Beaver-Beacon
- Reprints Philip Keillor’s update using May 7 Lake Michigan–Huron levels, April basin precipitation, and a revised July peak forecast near 581.4 feet above IGLD. It says the high-water crisis remained active and encouraged shore protection or relocation before the fall storm season. It is a regional forecast and public guidance, not a local gauge series, parcel inspection, engineering design, or later flood outcome. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1986-07_Beaver-Beacon
- The held nineteen-page July issue PDF is paired with the canonical OCR source and confirms the continuing lake-level update.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1986-07_Beaver-Beacon
Added 4 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “High Great Lakes levels prompt Beaver Island erosion and flood guidance, 1986”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-high-lake-levels-and-erosion-guidance-1986/, accessed [date], citing Facts About High Lake Levels and shore-protection diagram, Beaver Beacon, March 1986. (and 9 further sources listed on the page).
Last revised 2026-08-04. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.
BibTeX for “High Great Lakes levels prompt Beaver Island erosion and flood guidance, 1986”RIS for “High Great Lakes levels prompt Beaver Island erosion and flood guidance, 1986”