Dune Stewardship Initiative

Boardwalk through dunes to beach at Minnesota Point

The Dune Stewardship Initiative is a collaborative effort to support and strengthen stewardship of the dunes on Minnesota Point. The initiative brings together the Minnesota DNR, the Coastal Program, the City of Duluth, Minnesota Sea Grant, Minnesota Point 50, and more community partners to support simple, doable actions that help dunes stay healthy over time. This shared effort focuses on practical behaviors that reduce impacts and strengthen dune resilience.

Why dune stewardship matters

Dunes on Minnesota Point are dynamic landforms shaped by wind, waves, and the slow movement of sand. Native plants play an essential role in holding these systems together—their roots trap sand, stabilize slopes, and help dunes recover after storms or high-water years. When vegetation is healthy, dunes can absorb energy produced by waves and protect inland areas from erosion and flooding.

Because dunes are both sensitive and slow to recover, even small disturbances can have lasting effects. Repeated foot traffic, informal trails, and trampling of vegetation break down the plant cover that holds sand in place. Once these areas are damaged, wind and waves can erode them quickly, and natural recovery may take years without active restoration.

Small, everyday choices—like staying on designated paths, avoiding fragile vegetation, and using dune-friendly plants at home—make a meaningful difference. When many people take simple actions, dunes stay healthier, more resilient, and better able to protect the shoreline and the communities that depend on them.

Social trail on Minnesota Point

What the initiative is doing

The Dune Stewardship Initiative is bringing partners together to share clear, consistent messages that help people care for the dunes on Minnesota Point. This work supports the new Dune Stewards Program and helps residents and visitors take simple actions that protect dune vegetation and the overall coastal dune ecosystem.

The initiative is:

• Coordinating shared dune-friendly messages,

• Preparing for Dune Stewardship Day, and

• Launching the Dune Stewards Program to support ongoing community stewardship. 

Together, these efforts build a shared, community-based approach to caring for the dunes.

In the news: Listen: Green Visions: Sand Dune Stewardship on Minnesota Point (The North 103.3, September 23, 2026, 8‑minute interview with Karen Updegraff, Regional Plant Ecologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This interview shares a clear overview of why dunes matter and the simple stewardship actions for residents and visitors to care for the dunes.

How you can get involved

Everyone can help care for Minnesota Point’s dunes — and there are easy ways to get involved.

Everyday actions

• Stay on designated paths and access points.

• Avoid stepping on vegetation and move with minimal impact.

• Report concerns or damage when you see them.

• Learn what makes the dunes special.

• Join us at Dune Stewardship Day.

If you live on Minnesota Point

• For yards on Minnesota Point, consider native, site-appropriate plants.

If you want to get more involved

• Join the Dune Stewards Program. Sign up using this form.

• Help remove invasive species (trained volunteers only).

• Take part in stewardship activities when you’re interested.

• Help share simple dune-friendly tips with friends or neighbors.

• Continue learning about the dunes.

Funding

This project is funded by Federal Award NA25NOSX473C0124 from the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce provided to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program.