Fences Help Build Sand Dunes on Lake Huron Shorelines

by Bob Montgomery

The Lake Huron Coastal Centre is working with shoreline residents and municipalities along the Lake Huron shoreline to create sand dunes during low water level periods.

Stewardship Program Coordinator Alyssa Bourassa says snow fences are an important resource that anyone can use to help kick start the formation of a dune. She says the formation of sand dunes is very difficult in disturbed areas so they use fencing to capture the blowing sand and create sand dunes behind the fencing. She adds, by keeping the sand on the beaches they prevent it from blowing inland which creates problems in parking areas, along the boardwalk and in marinas so it's really important to keep that sand on the beach.

Bourassa says they plant dune grass behind the fencing and that helps to hold the sand in place on the beaches. She also says the fall is the best time for dune planting because the plants tend to like the colder weather and it encourages them to dig down deeper into the sand and develop roots. So she says if anyone is thinking of putting up fencing to capture the sand, now is the time.

Bourassa says anyone looking for more information about putting up fences or planting plants to build up sand dunes can find it on the Lake Huron Coastal Centre web site.

Email bob@huroncountynews.ca if you would like to see your ad here.