top of page
Pinery_2017 (1).JPG
Resources | Beaches and Dunes

FUN FACTS

Only 2-3% of Lake Huron's shoreline is sand beach and dunes.

A mature dune is valued at $3,000 CAD/ linear metre for its services of shore protection,
water filtration, and sand drifting prevention.

Coastal dune systems are considered to be among the most fragile ecological features in North America. Great Lakes dune systems in Ontario, due to their extreme rarity and ecological fragility, have been suggested

to be of national significance.

PUBLICATIONS & FACT SHEETS

Sand Beaches and Dunes.png

Beach Conservation:

rip currents.JPG
Cobble Beaches.png
beach and dune ecosystems.JPG
Wheels.JPG
true grit.JPG
common misconseptions.JPG
trouble with beach grooming.JPG

Dune Conservation:

Beach and Dune Stabilization.JPG
Dune Planting Guide.JPG
Dune conservation healthy beaches.JPG

Beach and Dune Species:

piping plover.JPG
American beach grass.JPG

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

PROPERLY ACCESSING THE BEACH: PATHWAYS

 

There is a right and wrong way to design beach access through freshwater dunes. This video describes important considerations for creating and maintaining good beach access, including shape, size and orientation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY DUNES

Beach-dune shorelines are the most diverse ecosystem in the Great Lakes Basin. They are also the most vulnerable to human pressures. This video introduces the topic of dune conservation and outlines some of the ways beach-dune ecosystems can be protected and restored.

PRINCIPLES OF SAND FENCING

 

Sand fencing is commonly used to manage blowing sand on beaches along freshwater shorelines in the Great Lakes. Proper positioning and installation can make a big difference in how effective sand fencing is. This video outlines the principles of using sand fencing.

HARVESTING AND PLANTING MARRAM GRASS

 

Marram Grass is the pioneer plant on a beach. It is a tough plant that is able to endure the harsh conditions of a fresh water shoreline. It is commonly used to restore dunes because of its ability to capture blowing sand and stabilize a dune. This video describes how to properly harvest and plant Marram Grass.

INVASIVE SPECIES IN BEACHES AND DUNES

 

Invasive species are a constant threat to beach-dune ecosystems. Shoreline residents can do well to learn how to ID aggressive invasive species in their early stages so that the plant can be quickly removed before it establishes and takes over a beach area. This video introduces the topic of invasive plants on beaches.

SAND BEACHES AND DUNES ON LAKE HURON

 

These ecosystems are some of the most highly visited areas on Lake Huron's coast! But they only make up 2-3% of the overall shoreline. Let's learn about the threats these ecosystems experience and the unique animals that call these coastal ecosystems home.

bottom of page