Stabilization of Shoreline Archaeological Sites at Voyageurs National Park

Elevated lake levels resulting from dam construction in the early twentieth century is producing widespread shoreline erosion at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. In an effort to preserve a sample of the more significant archaeological sites, the National Park Service has initiated a program of site stabilization. Stabilization of the Clyde Creek and Sweetnose Island sites was accomplished during the winter months by transporting materials and supplies across an ice road. The use of filter fabric and turf-stabilization matting in association with large quantities of sediment and riprap have produced a new shoreline that serves to protect the respective archaeological deposits. This approach has successfully preserved these intact archaeological resources and avoided the costs associated with large-scale data recovery and curation of collections.