Dunes or beaches?

[Gloria]

Did you see the snowy owls at Montrose? http://www.wildlifegardeners.org/for...12-2011-a.html

Dunes create a biological refuge along the lake while beaches bring in cash. So the Chicago areas has mostly beach along its lakeshore. But there are a a couple of bright spots.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:MMHjMQpkqOoJ:www.chicagoparkdis trict.com/docs/c5856872-b9b7-45b9-bbd3-e56aca261cb8_document.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srci d=ADGEEShA8rP0Y0PBADbOf4m7EEkaGRIzlhsijhgUAMb9Ew8v P4JX2Xn2-Yx93g0e7bcFvXiiQs-euGLS87DNlKq-MMMds844xHY9lJqbYby3roNK1bsnWgD_ZJyxWMLgHB98uBmr32 TD&sig=AHIEtbScaQXkB094wbI2eAf3nM0JXLeh-g
pdf

Video of the dunes at Loyola dunes

Volunteers ward off infestation at Loyola Beach on Vimeo

Volunteers were for the most part trying to eradicate black medic an eastern europe/asian annual weed.

Black Medic Description

Montrose dunes is no longer the only survivor in the city proper.There are several dune restoration projects happening in Chicago - South Shore Cultural Center, 63rd Street, Burnham Park around 35th, near McCormick Place as well as Loyola Beach, but this was the first. Read about how it happened.
Nature takes control at Chicago sand dune

Chicago Park District sand groomers usually drag rakes across the Montrose beach each day to keep the sand flat and clear for visitors. But they stopped raking the eastern section of the beach 10 years ago – for reasons that aren’t entirely clear but have nothing to do with ecology. Soon after, a clump of high grass-like stems caught the eye of a volunteer steward. The grass-like Lakeshore rush had not been seen in the city for 50 years and revealed the potential for a dune.

After that all it took was a fence.

Luckily, nature connoisseurs are happy to spend a Saturday pulling weeds at this city treasure. It has become a reminder of a time when ragged grasses and low mounds of sand were the norm
“[Montrose] is only unique because all the dunes that used to be in the city were destroyed as the city grew,” said Michael Chrzastowski of the Illinois State Geological Survey. “They have all been bulldozed away.”

MapQuest Maps - Driving Directions - Map

[Equilibrium]

Dunes!!! Beaches are over-rated and we've got more than enough of them anyway IMO!!! You don't happen to have a photo of that Lakeshore rush.... do you>>>?

[Gloria]

Not a good one.
They mean... Juncus balticus littoralis
Common names... Lake shore rush or baltic rush
News of the Wild - Fall 2000

Photo by John Pursell

[Gloria]

In spring I will begin to explore these dunes and try to get a few pictures of the species that are growing there. It isn't hard to find out when volunteers will be there and they always love to talk about what is happening.Some one will always to be there during work days that can identify species. Should be able to get a few good pictures of the lakeshore rush then.

[Equilibrium]

I was looking for this thread and…. here it is on my laptop. I really should pull this laptop out more. Stuff gets stuck on it that I forget about. Anywhoooo... I meant to ask a question way back when…. why do they think J. arcticus is bad, PLANTS Profile for Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (mountain rush) | USDA PLANTS ? Looks like it’s used in some coastal restorations, Juncus balticus and http://www.nhdfl.org/about-forests-and-lands/bureaus/natural-heritage-bureau/photo-index/SystemPhotos/coastalsanddune.aspx.