Staff members and volunteers at the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation are working to restore sand dunes along the Lake Huron shoreline.
Coastal Stewardship Coordinator Daniela Klicper says threats to sand dunes include erosion, mechanical removal, human traffic and even invasive species.
"Typically we use wood flat snow fencing. That snow fencing acts as a partial barrier to blowing sand and it works by slowing down the on-shore winds and causing that sand to collect behind the fence. Most sand deposition will occur within six to eight metres behind that fence position."
She says there are also ways to control or direct human traffic through sand dunes.
"We recommend having an s-shaped path down to the beach. That helps with wind erosion coming up and opening up a little bit more of that vegetation, so proper beach access is very important."
Klicper says the absence of plants allows the dunes to be blown away and the sand is lost. It also impacts habitat for species at risk in the area.