- by Jenna McGuire

This is why intact and healthy sand dunes are important. Some of the stunning Sauble beach sand has blown up town over a block in this case. This is because the dunes have either been taken out entirely or are only in a single strip of foredune with a lot of pedestrian traffic damage.

People do not advocate for dunes to be "pain-in-the ass-nature-hippies", lol. Dunes literally keep this most precious resource from leaving town. Plus they can be a rich tapestry of wonder and learning and an opportunity for an authentic tourism product and a unique location brand.

I spend a lot of time in Lake Huron dunes from Tobermory to Bayfield. Intact dunes do not allow sand to escape this distance. Notice it is the highest quality, small-grained, "soft", quartz sand that gets blown. Leaving the heavy, gritty, gravelly stuff on the beach.

How can we all help?.....

.□ Advocate for always leaving existing dunes and beach vegetation intact.

□ Encourage and support restoration and planting programs.

□ Do not drive or park on sand beaches and dunes.

□ Avoid informal trails through dunes.

□ Help and support the groups that do this important work like the Lake Huron Coastal Centre, Plover Lovers, Owen Sound Field Naturalists, etc.