29 Undergraduate Research, Part II (Posters)

Session showcases undergraduate research. Topics include geoscience-related fields (e.g., resources, hydrology, oceanography, climate, environmental science, geospatial, informatics, health, policy, & education). Undergraduate student/s must be the lead author/s presenters with faculty mentor/s as co-author/s. This session welcomes both poster and oral presentation submissions.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
RCC, Lower Level Hall

Human Impacts on Dune Recovery in a Lake Michigan Dune System

Paper number: 29-20
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

Dune recovery after foredune destruction during high lake levels is natural to healthy dunes, but human impacts on the process are poorly understood. This study investigated whether park visitors affected the movement of sand from beach to dunes in a beach-dune system on the east coast of Lake Michigan: two sites with popular trails through the dunes to the beach, and one site without a managed trail. Our study objectives included mapping the extent of human disturbances and natural dunes along the shoreline, recording dune activity, and documenting human impacts. We used Trimble GPS units and GIS to map alongshore distribution of dune types and disturbed areas, unmanaged trails and managed trails, and vegetation patterns. We measured dune activity with sand traps, erosion pins, surveying topographic profiles from shoreline to first dune crest, and photographs. We recorded human impacts by GPS mapping unmanaged and managed trails, measuring trail characteristics, observing and photographing vegetation patterns, and evidence of other human impacts. The two sites with popular trails show higher rates of human impacts through foredune development, larger width of managed and unmanaged trails, more sand movement, and altered profiles compared to the site without a popular trail. The managed trail sites have higher rates of sand movement compared to the site without a popular managed trail. Our results suggest that recovery of the destroyed foredune is inhibited by the impacts of human activity along managed trails. The investigation of dune recovery from storm erosion at other coastal sites should include studying human impacts as a potentially influential variable. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411566

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