OGL Coastal Note: Buried in snow? Plan a spring beach trip with this restoration story!

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Bookmark and Share

Coastal Notes

 

Office of the Great Lakes helps protect Lake Michigan Dunes

CZMP grant supported Ottawa County dunes protection and recreation project

North Beach Park BoardwalkHistoric North Beach Park, located near Ferrysburg in Ottawa County, has attracted visitors with its glistening waters, sandy dunes, and more than 700 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline since before the 1920s. The fragile dunes, sensitive to the effects of human use, began to show signs of extensive erosion in the early 2000s. The damage from years of heavy use and unguided foot traffic became evident as threatened Pitcher’s thistle plants became scarce and the eroding dune moved eastward, threatening to envelop a nearby access road.

To restore the dunes and protect threatened species, Ottawa County Parks initiated a systematic dune stabilization project starting in 2007. They took action by planting areas with soil-securing native vegetation, fencing off high-risk erosion areas, and constructing a designated trail loop, stair, and boardwalk system to connect with an older portion. A viewing at the top of the big dune provides a panoramic view of the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline.

A grant from the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded the reconstruction of the older boardwalk system, which had become a potential safety hazard with growing maintenance costs. The newly reconstructed trail system allows public opportunity for safe, continued recreational access to the site while protecting the ecological value of the coastal dunes ecosystem. Park visitors benefit from improved accessibility and enjoy the trail system for exercise, wildlife viewing, and photography.

 “This grant allowed us to reconstruct a well-known and popular wooden stairway that has provided access to a large open dune for generations of area residents and visitors. It now allows us to maintain public access in a manner consistent with our goal of being good stewards of the natural resources in the park system,” said Curtis TerHaar of Ottawa County Parks and Recreation.

Learn how the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program works to protect, enhance, and restore our state's coastal resources by contacting Karen Boase at boasek@michigan.gov or by visiting www.michigan.gov/coastalmanagement.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are subscribed to no topic for Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.