Using riprap rock to save a lawn on Glen Lake

From staff reports

Michelle and Greg Christensen bought their house on the east side of Big Glen Lake in September 2016, when they still had a sandy beach. Within a couple years the rising water had claimed the beach and threatened to erode and devour their grass lawn. They hired Len Allgaier of Peninsula Pavers in 2018 to install stone riprap to protect their lawn.

Allgaier applied for and acquired permits from the state, on behalf of the Christensens. Following the riprap, he placed a layer of flat bluestone on top to create a barrier.

“We did a lot of work, and the pricetag was huge,” said Michelle Christensen. “But this (lawn) is where my family hangs out. If I would have known (the water would rise this much) I would have built the house further back, so we had more yard. … We bought flood insurance this year. If the lake level keeps going up, who knows what’s going to happen?”

“I’ve heard our neighbors complain, they used to have 25-30 feet of beach,” said Christensen. “They used to have to rake sand that blew into their yard.