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Sand dune systems on the Great Lakes are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems along Canada's Great Lakes shorelines. They are also rare coastal features as they amount to only 1.5 per cent of Ontario’s Great Lakes coastline. These rare gems are also places with high quality beaches that are the most attractive locations for beach goers.

To promote dune conservation and the use of native plants, the Lake Huron Coastal Centre has recently released its “Dune Planting Guide.” In creation of this guide, the Centre partnered with the University of Guelph’s School of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning.

“It’s important to make the connection that dunes help to preserve high quality beaches, but that some of our activities can contribute to their decline, and the decline of our beach quality,” said Geoff Peach, Coastal Resource Manager. “Minimizing our impacts can mean leaving behind some of the old practices that have led to dune degradation.”

Dunes are appreciated around the world for the value they provide as shore protection, habitat to rare plants and animals, providing high quality recreational beaches and reducing risk of E. coli bacteria exposure. “The New Zealanders have a saying. No vegetation, no dunes. No dunes, no beach,” said Peach. “There is a direct connection between healthy dunes and healthy beaches, degraded dunes and degraded beaches.”

Dune vegetation that helps to anchor the dunes can be damaged easily. Crossing over the dunes with care, using designated pathways to the beach, can help. Getting involved in a dune restoration program with the Coastal Centre can benefit where dune damage is significant.

Keeping our lakeshore as natural as possible has a wide range of benefits ecologically, economically and aesthetically. The Coastal Centre Dune has a number of dune conservation publications available online to anyone interested in protecting the health and biodiversity of our beaches. This information can help with tips for planting appropriate native plants, and strategies for improving beach health.

Maintaining the quality of our beaches and dunes is up to each one of us. Let’s keep Lake Huron a great lake.

(for more information on dune conservation, or to get a copy of the Dune Planting Guide, contact the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation – (519) 955-6269 - www.lakehuron.ca). 

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Tuesday, July 03, 2012