Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Coalition
The Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Coalition, which was formed in 1985, promotes and supports the protection, stabilization, restoration and optimum public use in keeping with private property rights of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands Area. The Coalition provides technical and educational services to its member organizations, property owners and public officials focused on the wise use and management of this unique natural resource.
The purpose of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Coalition, formed in 1985, promotes and supports the protection, stabilization, restoration and optimum public use in keeping with private property rights of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands Area. This coalition provides technical and educational support/services to its member organizations, property owners and public officials in matters addressing its purpose. The Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Coalition is comprised of member organizations interested in the stabilization of Eastern Lake Ontario's dunes.
This coalition of state and local agencies, private landowner/resource associations, and federal agencies is working in concert to:
• Assist in the stabilization of dunes as natural systems
• Develop measures to maintain their stability
• Achieve optimum public use in keeping with private property considerations and dune protection and restoration objectives
“The essence of the coalition is to bring the people together.”
During the mid to late 1970s, an undertone of concern was developing among private property owners and state/local agency staff along the eastern coastline of Lake Ontario. Concern for not just their own investment but for the general demise taking place up and down this 17 mile unique resource of a barrier beach/dune system. Uncontrolled impacts were taking place; four-by-four-wheel drive vehicles (before ATVs), trespassing throughout the dunes, trashing places of congregations. Landowners were searching for whom to turn to for guidance, protection or even enforcement of any relevant regulations. Hearing these concerns, a variety of governmental agencies and environmental groups met with the private property landowners and etched out a structured organization, a coalition of organizational members, that would provide the building blocks in addressing these impacts but at the same time would look towards the overall preservation and use of this dynamic natural resource.
The ELODC member organizations have made tremendous strides in conserving the dunes and wetlands of the Eastern Lake Ontario area. Past accomplishments include acquisition of over 6,000 acres of freshwater dunes and wetlands, restoration of eroded dunes, and completion of a collaborative research project to determine sand transport dynamics in Lake Ontario.
The ELODC member organizations have received funding from New York State for a variety of projects including: a study of recreational use trends for the Eastern Lake Ontario dune and wetland area; production and distribution of a Landowner's packet targeted at landowners along the 17-mile stretch of dunes; an update and reanalysis of the management plan for the areas; and a review of external funding support opportunities.
In 1985, the The Ontario Dune Coalition was formed, later to be known as the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Coalition.
The strength of this coalition is based upon the collective efforts through its individual members, towards a common goal.
