Local Legislators Introduce Bills to Protect Michigan’s Critical Dunes

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Two Michigan state legislators have introduced bills designed to provide stronger protections for the state’s critical sand dunes, making it more challenging to develop these unique areas and limiting sand mining activities. The legislation, presented by State Reps. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) and Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), was announced during a public event at Oval Beach, Saugatuck, alongside officials from the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance.

Rep. Hood’s bill aims to amend a 2012 law that relaxed restrictions on development within the critical dune areas, which constitute nearly 25% of Michigan's coastal dune acreage. The proposed amendments would reinstate stricter controls, particularly on developments that occur between the shores of the Great Lakes and the crests of the dunes, areas that are both ecologically fragile and vital to Michigan's natural heritage.

“These are dynamic spaces,” Rep. Hood emphasized, noting the importance of planning and managing these coastal areas responsibly to avoid long-term environmental impacts.

Meanwhile, Rep. Andrews’ legislation seeks to strengthen the permitting process for sand mining near the lakeshore, focusing on protecting more dunes from excavation. Under current regulations, mining in critical dune areas is limited to operations that were established before 1978 and are located within two miles of the lakeshore. The new bill would expand protections, ensuring that additional vulnerable dunes are safeguarded against potential mining activities.

The introduction of this legislation comes amid ongoing legal battles involving the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance and NorthShore of Saugatuck, LLC. The controversy centers around the planned construction of a marina basin on the Kalamazoo River, which environmental advocates argue could damage both the environment and historically significant sites, including potential artifacts from the lost city of Singapore.

In recent developments, NorthShore’s application for federal and state permits was denied in February by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Michigan, seemingly halting the controversial development. However, in June, NorthShore filed a lawsuit against the Coastal Alliance and its Board President David Swan, alleging that the group conspired to devalue the property to force a sale to the state or conservation groups.

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance remains committed to its mission. "We will not allow a baseless lawsuit to deter us from our mission to preserve and protect," stated Board Chair Bobbie Gaunt.

The proposed dune protection bills are expected to be officially introduced in the Michigan Legislature in September, with lawmakers and environmental advocates hopeful that they will be enacted to protect Michigan’s critical dune ecosystems from further development and degradation.