Each year, the Park Staff develops a list of requests for the Partner Organizations.  In 2007 & 2008, the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes has agreed to purchase the following items:

• Loon and Trumpeter Swan Nesting Platforms ($350)
• Tractor and Brush Hog ($15,000)
• 3 GPS Units to be used by the Natural Resource Division ($750)
• Piping Plover Monitoring Supplies  ($1,500)  List of Requested Supplies
• Non-Native Plant Control Equipment  ($1,550)
• Automatic External Defibrillator  ($2100)

The following items were requested by the Park Staff for 2008.  You can help if you have one of these items and would be willing to donate it to the Park or if you would like to donate (tax deductible) money to Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes toward the purchase of some of these items.

If you wish to contribute, contact Kerry Kelly or any of the members of our Board of Directors.

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) - $2,100 Each

We would like to place an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) in each of the five law enforcement patrol vehicles.  We would like to purchase one at this time.  Currently, we carry an AED unit in only one patrol vehicle, except during the winter when the two island AED’s are brought to the mainland and carried in two more of the patrol vehicles.  Studies have shown that an AED is more effective than CPR in restoring a normal heart beat in some types of “heart attacks.”  CPR classes now teach people that the first priority is to use an AED rather than start CPR.  We annually train our visitor services staff in the use of AEDs.  We currently position AEDs at the Platte River Campground Office, the Dune Climb, the Leelanau Ranger Station/General Store, the Visitor Center, and one on each island.

Collect History of Manitou Islands - $10,000

The NPS has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars rehabilitating the historic buildings on the islands but very little on preserving the history that took place there.  This project would collect island history from the families who lived on the islands.  This would include oral interviews, copies of photographs, copies of letters and maybe a few special objects.  This project would likely compete very well for a Michigan Historical Society grant.  Grant monies might be used for recording equipment, travel, copying photos and letters, and professional help with training, procedures, and compilation. 

Historic Resource Stabilization - $2,000 and up

A wide range of funding needs exists for stabilization of historic resources throughout the Lakeshore.  Contact Tom Ulrich for more information.  In addition to these larger needs, the following projects could be accomplished by volunteers with considerably smaller monetary donations:

Katie Shepherd Hotel – North Manitou Island - $2,000

Materials needed to repair porch ceiling and porch decking.  Materials estimate $1500 for ceiling, and $1,000 for porch decking.  A portion of this funding has been donated ($500).

Burfiend Chicken Coop, and Burfiend Tractor Doors - $ 450

Miscellaneous wood 2xs, roll roofing, nails, hardware, etc. to repair structure and doors.  Materials estimate $450.

(Note – the following natural resource requests are in priority order)

Common Loon and Trumpeter Nesting Platforms - $ 350

There are 26 inland lakes within the Lakeshore.  Currently only one supports nesting Common Loons (Narada Lake).  With the recent releases of Trumpeter Swans within and adjacent to the Lakeshore, Natural Resource staff would like to prepare 5 Common Loon nesting platforms and 3 Trumpeter Swan nesting platforms (which are slightly larger).  Both are constructed of primarily natural materials (cedar logs bolted together, then covered with a plastic webbing/buoyant material and native sod and plants). These will then be anchored out in 5 feet deep water to reduce predation by coyotes and raccoons.  The general design will follow those prepared by biologists from Loon Watch or Yellowstone National Park. The swan and loon nest platforms will be placed on several lakes having a good combination of feeding and escape cover.  A majority of the lakes currently have gently sloped, sandy bottoms with small patches of bulrushes which are not able to dissipate wave action nor support the large nests needed by these species, so there is very little nesting habitat for either species.  A 2007 study and mapping project was conducted to identify the lakes providing the best feeding habitat, but that are lacking good nesting habitat due to historic logging and human activities.  Common Loons have been severely hit by the effects of Type E botulism in this area, and nesting success will likely become even more critical in future years.

Seed Harvester for Collection of Native Seed - $1,500

Lakeshore staff have been hand stripping and collecting native grass seed for years which has greatly limited the amount that can be collected while summer seasonal help is available and before the seed drops.  New equipment options allow for expedited seed collection from almost any habitat type by the use of a hand-held harvester (see diagram below).  Upcoming projects within the Lakeshore will require a far greater quantity of seed for restoration than we are currently able to provide by hand collection.  This equipment will enable us to greatly expand our seed collection capacity, and assure that adequate plant materials (of native genotypes) will be available for restoration projects within the Lakeshore.  

Piping Plover Area LARGE Protection/Interpretation Signs - $1,200

These signs are needed to educate visiting public to respect and keep clear of nesting birds, control their dogs, and learn about the biology of the birds.  These are large signs with a lot of information.  One such sign is currently permanently mounted at the mouth of the Platte River.  This sign is starting to show its age, but is still usable.  A second sign is needed near Glen Haven to indicate the plover nesting taking place at that site.  We propose to move the slightly aged sign from Platte River and place it at Glen Haven.  We would use this funding to obtain a new sign for the much more active (and more highly visited beach) at the mouth of the Platte River.  The layout for these signs is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The total cost of one large permanent sign is $1,200.

Biodegradable Sand Fence Materials - $450                                       

Natural Resource staff have begun to remove several former dune stabilization fences that were constructed of steel posts and wire mesh fencing.  Although these work well, they leave behind dangerous post tops and rusting wire that are a safety hazard to the public.  The need to stabilize dune areas with high human traffic or impacts to trails and structures remains.  By using softwood stakes and woven biodegradable materials (hemp, coconut fiber, etc.), these areas can be protected, stabilized, and restored in the approximately 3 years that these materials are expected to remain functional.  Buried under the sand they will quickly decay leaving behind no safety concerns or refuse that will need to be collected.  

Site Restoration Bioblanket Materials - $1,000

The Lakeshore is involved in an active disturbed site restoration program.  We are currently restoring sites that were previously developed for uses such as home sites, roads, businesses, gravel pits, etc.  The non-native soils are removed, the topography is restored as much as possible, non-native plants are replaced with native plants and the area is monitored to assure non-native plants do not become re-established.  Since much of the soil we are dealing with is sand, and bringing topsoil to the area brings non-native seed sources to the sites, establishing native plants is difficult due to the rapid drying of the sandy soil.  Bioblankets are natural fiber mat materials used to effectively stabilize bare soil slopes and aid plant establishment.  Their use on the sites at the Lakeshore would facilitate faster and more effective site restoration, especially on sites adjacent to streams and rivers, where soil run-off is a major factor to overcome.  This funding would enable the use of Bioblankets on approximately 5 sites.

April 15, 2008