evaluating the effectiveness of management techniques used at mt. pisgah
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Joe Arevalo, Taylor Emmons, Sarah Harefa, Ashley Van Wyk, and Jacob Zondag
Calvin CollegeDepartment of Geology, Geography, and Environmental Studies
EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
USED AT MT. PISGAH
Holland, Michigan – Mt. Pisgah circled in red
STUDY AREA
Trampling impact (Andersen 1995)van Dijk and Vink (2005) study results
Unnaturally angled ramp down bare sand slipface Notch in crest 5 meters lower than surrounding crest Most visitors not local and do not believe the dune has
problemsManagement techniques completed in 2009
BACKGROUND
Have management techniques at Mt. Pisgah been effective?
RESEARCH QUESTION
To measure activity on the dune. To compare extent of activity measured to results of van
Dijk and Vink (2005) study. To map and assess the presence and quality of dune
management techniques implemented. To understand visitors perception of dune management at
Mt. Pisgah.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
Measured sediment activity with erosion pins Compared extent of activity by replicating pictures
taken in 2005Mapped management techniques and human impactsGauged visitor perceptions by distributing
questionnaire
METHODS
MEASURING SEDIMENT ACTIVITY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Erosion Pins
October 25-November 1
November 1-November 8
Points
Diffe
renc
es in
Mea
sure
men
ts (m
m)
COMPARING ACTIVITY LEVELS
2005 2012
View along southern arm looking west
COMPARING ACTIVITY LEVELS
2005 2012View from blowout looking toward the crest
COMPARING ACTIVITY LEVELS
View across middle of the blowout looking north
2005 2012
COMPARING ACTIVITY LEVELS
View from base of leeward slope looking west – unnaturally angled slope
2005 2012
COMPARING ACTIVITY LEVELS
View from crest towards Lake Macatawa
2005 2012
MAP OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
MAP OF HUMAN IMPACTS:UNMANAGED TRAILS
MAP OF HUMAN IMPACTS:LITTER AND DAMAGED FENCES
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
Where visitors were from
HollandWithin an hour drive
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
Winter
(Dec-Feb
)
Sprin
g (Mar-
May)
Summer
(June
-Aug)
Fall (S
ept-N
ov)0
306090
When respondents visit Mt. Pisgah
Perc
ent o
f res
pond
ents
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
Go for
a walk
Walk th
e dog
Climb t
he du
ne
Enjoy
scen
ery
Play g
ames
Run do
wn dun
e on s
and
Observe
wildlife
Other
0306090
Activities visitors participate in while on Mt. Pisgah
20052012
Perc
ent o
f res
pond
ents
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
Visitors Level of Dune Knowledge
1 - I know almost noth-ing23 - I know a lit-tle45 - I know a lot
Stron
gly op
pose
Oppose
Neutra
lFav
or
Stron
gly Fa
vor0
10
20
30
40
Visitor opinion of dune management and inter-pretation activities
Building a boardwalk to protect dune surfaceLimiting access to protect dune areasPlanting dune grass to stabilize the dunePlacement of sand fencing to stop sand movementInterpretive sign with dune informationEducational programs such as public walks/talks
Num
ber o
f res
pond
ents
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
No problem Minor problem Moderate problem
Major problem0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Do you consider the following to be problems/an-noyances on the dune?
LitterDune climbersDog waste/noiseDamage to duneManagement efforts
Num
ber o
f res
pond
ents
VISITOR PERCEPTIONS
Strongly Disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
05
101520253035
Reaction to the statement: the man-agement efforts have been successful
Management techniques have been effective at limiting and mitigating human impact.
In general, there is public acceptance and cooperation with management techniques.
However, unmanaged trails, litter, and damaged fences indicate an uncooperative segment of visitors.
CONCLUSIONS
WORKS CITEDAndersen, U.V. 1995. “Resistance of Danish coastal vegetation
types to human trampling.” Biological Conservation 71:223–230.Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Holland State Park.”
Slideshow. <http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Holland_SP_Slideshow_334712_7.pdf>.
van Dijk, Deanna and D. Robert Vink 2005. “Visiting A Great Lakes Sand Dune: The Example of Mt. Pisgah in Holland, Michigan.” The Great Lakes Geographer 12(2): 45-63.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission who provided
our research site and Calvin College for providing facilities and equipment.
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation Grant 0942344, Melanie Manion and Deanna van Dijk.
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