Effort planned to restore dunes-beaches in Marquette

The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) and City of Marquette will host a community–wide volunteer event Saturday to help protect and restore the Lake Superior dunes and beaches within the city limits. Marquette has over ten miles of Lake Superior shoreline.

SWP volunteer planting native dune grass at McCarty's Cove, Marquette
SWP volunteer planting native dune grass at McCarty’s Cove, Marquette

The event is open to the public including families, businesses, schools, churches and community organizations. All ages welcome. Volunteers for the event will be meeting at the Superior Watershed Partnership offices in Presque Isle Park on Saturday, September 28th at 10:00am. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves. Participants will be assisting in transplanting native beach grass, removing invasive plant species and picking up litter.

Less than 10% of the entire Lake Superior shoreline is made up of sand beach and coastal dunes. Most of Lake Superior’s coastline is rock, cobble or gravel.

By helping to transplant native beach grass, removing invasive plant species and picking up litter, the SWP says volunteers will help protect and restore the local dune ecosystem.

In the case of rain the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) is an award winning Great Lakes non–profit organization that has set national records for pollution prevention and implements innovative, science–based programs that achieve documented environmental, economic and educational results.

For more information on the dune restoration event please visit the SWP website www.superiorwatersheds.org or call (906) 228–6095.