With water level fluctuations operating on daily, seasonal, and annual cycles, and with frequent disturbances from high winds, large waves, seiches, and storms, the Laurentian Great Lakes are truly dynamic freshwater systems. In this blog, part 2 of a series on the dynamic coastlines of the Laurentian Great Lakes, we will discuss the mechanisms by which erosion can occur on these coastlines, look into why hardened shoreline structures are an inadequate and potentially ecologically harmful option for managing such issues, and provide an introduction into the best options to implement instead.