MICHIGAN'S SHIFTING SANDS. 



EAST SHORE AREA. 



On the east shore a belt ten miles long on Thunder Bay is about one 

 mile in width. From Greenbush to Tawas. Beach there is a belt twenty- 

 live miles long and less than one-half mile wide from Greenbush to Au 

 Sable, but over a mile wide from Au Sable to Tawas Beach. From 

 Quanicassee City to Point Aux Barques on Saginaw Bay there is a 

 narrow strip fifty miles long. From Lakeport to Port Huron there is a 

 belt of approximately eight miles. Conservatively estimating the entire 

 dune sand belt of the Huron shore as averaging one-half mile in width 

 gives a belt of ninety-three miles long by three-quarters of a mile wide 

 covering approximately 40,000 acres. Numerous areas have not been 

 considered in these figures. 



Fig. 2. A condition of crust removal due to wind action, Big Prairie, Michigan. The 

 constant pull of the wind rapidly tears away the vegetable binding, leavmg a naked sand 

 swept surface. 



INLAND BLOWS. 



In various places inland there are large areas of shifting sand. These 

 are not of dime formation. The movement of Hie sand is irregular. (Fig. 

 2.) The wind causes blow holes and mounds. Onlv a tv\v of these areas 

 were studied. The largest one observed is located at Big Prairie and is 

 extensive. No means are being taken to control it because there is ap- 

 parently no prospect for large financial returns. Where such areas are 

 held privately there should be either one of two plans offered by the 

 State : 



1st. Cooperation with the owner in planting with a view toward ult 

 mate forest cover and sand control. 



2nd. Purchase by the State at a nominal price followed by reclama- 

 tion planting. 



Such inland areas of extensive proportions should be under fc 

 trol either through actual ownership or through long term cooperative 



