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Save the Dunes
The National Park Service is planning to implement new efforts to reduce damage to dunes caused by overuse. An informational meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday May 5, 2011 at the Michigan City, City Hall located at 100 East Michigan Boulevard in Michigan City, Indiana. An initial focus of this effort will be portions of Mt. Baldy.

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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/...4a22927d79.html

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore officials plan to restrict visitor access to some areas of the park to protect the natural landscape.

In a news release issued Monday, officials said studies are showing vegetation that should be a natural part of the dune at Mount Baldy is being trampled by visitors, causing plants to die and speeding up erosion of the dune.

Similar problems are being seen at other dunes within the National Lakeshore footprint as well, officials said.

The initial focus of the access restrictions will be on Mount Baldy, with trails being altered to allow the vegetation to grow.

National park officials will conduct a meeting on the issue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 5 at Michigan City City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd. National Park Service employees will describe the impacts on the dunes and options for reducing damage.

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Save the Dunes
A meeting is being held at Michigan City Hall tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. regarding erosion of Mt. Baldy. If the erosion is not slowed down, it is predicted that the parking lot and US 12 could be covered in a matter of years. Come learn about how human impacts are affecting this landmark and provide your input on what can be done about it.

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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/...b6de09ffe5.html

MICHIGAN CITY | Mount Baldy, the iconic 126-foot sand dune at the eastern edge of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, is getting a little too bald.

Officials from the National Lakeshore hosted a public meeting Thursday evening at City Hall in Michigan City to describe factors causing Mount Baldy's erosion, to present restoration plans, and to receive public comment and suggestions.

"We are here tonight because they (the Dunes) are struggling, they are damaged, and they are hurting, and we need your help," said Sue Bennett, the parks' chief interpreter.

Bob Daum, the park's chief of resources management, said although two-thirds of dune erosion is from natural causes, the park is seeking to limit the damage caused by humans.

Daum estimated the sand of Mount Baldy moves 11 to 18 inches per year.

"A significant portion is from people," said Daum. "Foot traffic on steep slopes moves tons of sand."

Daum presented a slide show that included aerial photographs of damage caused by visitors to Mount Baldy, Central Beach and West Beach.

He explained beachgoers who hike across the grass on the Dunes kill the vegetation that holds the sand in place, which promotes erosion.

Daum pointed out a "spider web" of trails created by beach visitors on a slide.

"It's hard to find a spot in that picture that doesn't have a footprint," Daum said.

To help restore damaged areas, the park will create a trail system on the Mount Baldy marked by simple fencing, and educational and directional signage. Within the next few weeks, park employees and volunteers will plant dune grass in strategic areas to encourage recovery.

"We will designate official places to hike and other areas for protection," Daum said. "It (recovery measures) affects less than 10 percent of the dune."

Some area residents at the meeting were concerned the plans might limit a visitor's experience and enjoyment of the park.

While officials at the meeting said their focus is to protect and preserve the Dunes, restoration will ensure visitors can continue to enjoy the park for years to come.

"Our primary job here is to protect the resource but at the same time have people come in and see things and learn about things," said Mike Bremer, chief ranger.

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http://www.wbez.org/story/help-indiana-dun...-mt-baldy-86140

More than two million people visit the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore each year, mostly during the summer months. It turns out that all the attention is having an effect on one of the most popular areas—Mount Baldy.

The 130 foot tall sand dune is the reigning champ of most popular spots within the national park. Nature created Mount Baldy roughly 40,000 years ago, but it has only taken a few decades’ worth of trampling to erode the dune. Put simply, all the bare feet are killing the dune grass.

“So many people come to Mount Baldy and I think they just really don’t know they’re damaging the dune. They don’t know that dune grass is really a fragile grass,” said Bob Daum, Chief of Resource Manager for at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

During a meeting at City Hall in Michigan City Thursday night, Baum told park goers and others that when the dunes grass dies, nothing holds sand in place, and the dunes erode. The effects of drifting sand are pronounced enough that Mount Baldy is moving about 15 feet per year.

Daum annnounced a plan that the National Park Service hopes will let dune grass spring back. The project includes putting up snow fences in certain sections of the dune, near its base and at its peak, so the grass can grow.

“Some temporary fencing to let that dune grass basically resprout,” Daum said. “And once it’s resprouted it will slow down that sand that’s blowing through it and the dune will grow again and actually end up being more beautiful.”

Some of that fencing will start to go up starting on Tuesday. The National Lakeshore is looking for volunteers to help out with putting it up. If you’re interested, call Lynda Lancaster, Program Manager the National Park Service, at (219) 395-1682.