developed a protective cover with a good variety of native species on 

 the dunes at Asilomar State Beach within 4 or 5 years. It has promise 

 for use in areas of limited size elsewhere. The principal problems are 

 availability and cost of water, collection of transplants and seeds of 

 native plants, and protection from foot and vehicular traffic. 



(6) Great Lakes . Sand dunes occur around the Great Lakes , pri- 

 marily along shorelines exposed to the north and west, and are fairly 

 extensive in parts of Indiana and Michigan (Cowles, 1899). Many dunes 

 are on cliffs or escarpments well above the lake level. Major active 

 dune areas are associated with river mouths. 



The function of barrier dunes in this region is primarily to inter- 

 cept and hold sand that would move inland. Their function as a storm 

 barrier is of no practical importance. Most dunes are inland from the 

 barrier dune zone and some of the most severe sand stabilization problems 

 have been with large mobile dunes created by exposure and misuse of sandy 

 soils (Sanford, 1916; Lehotsky, 1941). Most plantings in the region have 

 been for stabilization rather than dune building. The same devices and 

 procedures used to build dunes along seacoasts apply to the construction 

 of dunes in the Great Lakes. The problem of initial stabilization along 

 these shores is magnified by the strong winds in this area, especially 

 the winter gales. However, long-term stabilization is simplified by the 

 absence of salt spray and flooding by saltwater which permits the growth 

 of a much larger variety of species than along most seashores. 



The lakeshores also differ from those along seacoasts in their lack 

 of astronomical tides; the occurence of cyclic fluctuations of lake levels 

 affects sand supply. 



(a) American Beachgrass. This grass is native to the Great 

 Lakes and is a major builder of natural dunes. It is essentially the 

 only species planted for the initial stabilization of bare sands in this 

 region. It is easy to multiply in a nursery and to transplant. Early 

 growth is rapid; it is an excellent sand trapper, and is commercially 

 available in the region. 



Potential hazards of monospecific plantings of this species are much 

 less in this region than elsewhere. There is no evidence of serious 

 stand losses because of pests such as occur on the Atlantic coast. 

 Natural invasion by other adapted pioneer and intermediate species 

 appears to be more rapid than along seashores. 



1^ Planting Methods . Planting is done by hand on small 

 areas and on rough or steep terrain; machines are used on large, smooth 

 sites. In hand planting, grass is inserted in individual holes opened 

 with a shovel, spade, or dibble. This is best done by two-man teams, 

 one man opening the hole while the other inserts the plant and firms the 

 sand around it. Machine planting is done with tractor-drawn transplanters 

 designed for crop plants such as tobacco, tomato, and cabbage. Most 

 machines can be adapted to transplanting by extending the openers or 



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