Dune Restoration Begins at Alpena Park
An artistic render of how the shoreline at Mich-e-ke-wis park may look in 2-3 years. Image courtesy Drummond Carpenter PLLC
An effort to restore sand dunes along the beach of Mich-e-ke-wis Park in Alpena is underway following the project’s approval by the City Council. Led by Huron Pines, the project will help make the park more resilient to erosion, promote water quality by filtering stormwater runoff and reestablish the natural plant community along this stretch of Lake Huron.
The first phase will involve removing invasive plants from the site and installing temporary fencing to help capture windblown sand and rebuild the dunes. This work will be carried out by our staff and members of Huron Pines AmeriCorps. Native plants will be installed in autumn to further establish the dune habitat and help filter pollutants from rain and snowmelt before it reaches the lake.
The shoreline of Mich-e-ke-wis Park as it appears today.
The dune restoration project is the outcome of a community Green Stormwater Infrastructure Visioning Session hosted by Huron Pines at the public library last October. At that event, community members were presented with examples of green infrastructure — rain gardens, bioswales, planter boxes and other features for capturing stormwater runoff — and had the opportunity to rank their favorite proposals for sites around Alpena. Community members were also invited to take part in an online poll hosted on our website.
“This was the top ranked proposal by those who attended the visioning session or commented online and we intend to follow through for the Alpena community,” said Samantha Nellis, Water Program Director for Huron Pines. “This site is well suited to demonstrate the benefits of a natural shoreline for erosion control and stormwater management, so it’s a positive project all around.”
Dunes are long, raised areas of sand and vegetation running parallel to the shoreline. Multiple dunes are separated by low, wet troughs called swales. Dune and swale landscapes help protect coastal areas from storm damage and erosion during high water years and serve as habitat for native plants and animals.
Converting some of the grass area at Mich-e-ke-wis Park to dunes might even dissuade geese — whose waste is an ongoing problem for beachgoers and public works staff — from congregating at the park.
“The biggest benefits of this project relate to coastal resilience,” Nellis said. “These dune complexes really help protect against storm surges, lake level changes and the impacts of climate-related events. Having the dunes serve as a natural goose deterrent would be a bonus.”
IN THE PRESS: Dunes Restoration Project Exciting, The Alpena News
Members of Huron Pines AmeriCorps will assist in this effort as part of their service, which requires them to help restore a set amount of public land each year.
“The restoration project is a chance for members to learn more about dune ecology and get hands-on experience in a coastal Michigan community,” said AmeriCorps Program Manager Amanda Vanaman. “Many of our members go on to have careers in natural resources, so learning more about what can be done to protect the Great Lakes and working closely with shoreline communities in these efforts is especially valuable for them.”
Public access at Mich-e-ke-wis Park will not be affected by the temporary fence or the resulting dunes, and ADA-compliant beach access is being considered as part of the overall project. Park visitors are asked to keep out of the fenced area to minimize disturbance to the dunes as they take shape.
Support for this project is provided by the City of Alpena. Renderings and design by Drummond Carpenter, PLLC were supported by Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.