Michigan Dune Alliance-Sleeping Bear Dunes

Notes from Nature Conservancy- Michigan Dune Alliance
From Border to Bridge
With over 275,000 acres of sand dunes lining the shores of Lake Michigan, Michigan is home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world. This area contains a combination of dunes, coastal bluffs, and Great Lake marshes which provide a great deal of economic and ecological value to the state. Despite the huge affects that these dunes have on the state’s economy and ecology, only 70,000 acres are currently protected as further pressure is felt due to the rapid development of coastlands throughout the state.

The creation of the Michigan Dune Alliance in 1999 helped to alleviate some of the pressure being felt by the state’s dune system as it works towards the conservation of these impressive landforms through collaborative efforts. Striving to protect Michigan’s west coast from border to bridge, The Michigan Dune Alliance is working towards a coordinated coastal effort and the creation of a unified vision for coastal conservation. Made up primarily of land conservancies and a variety of other organizations, the Dune Alliance is taking steps forward towards their conservation and stewardship goals.

By working together towards a collective goal, The Michigan Dune Alliance has the ability rely on the strengths of involved organizations and employ the help of the most appropriate organization or agency in their mission of seeking to secure a safe and successful future for this area which contains over thirty percent of the states endangered and threatened species. This is a unique organization that has realized the importance and possibilities associated with teamwork and have the ability to see the potential possible when resources are combined for a better Michigan coastline.