ES IN EART 

U.S . GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 1085 
COVER: .. Windforms .. at the top of Mount Baldy. Photograph by Bob Daum. 
PUBLIC ISSUES IN EARTH SCIENCE 

By 

Catherine L. Hill, 

Barbara J. Ryan, 

and Bonnie A. McGregor, 

U.S. Geological Survey, 

and Marie Rust, 

National Park Service 

Graphic Design and Coordination by Nancy Polend 

U.S. G E 0 L 0 G I CAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 1 0 8 5 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

MANUEL LUJAN, Jr., Secretary 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive 

purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1991 

Free on application to the 

Books and Open-File Reports Section 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Federal Center, Box 25425 

Denver, CO 80225 

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Our changing landscape: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore I by Catherine L. Hill 

... [et al.]. 

p. cm.- (U.S. Geological Survey circular; 1085. Public issues in earth science) 

Includes bibliographical references. 

1. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Ind.) I. Hill, Catherine L. II. Series : 

U.S. Geological Survey circular; 1085. Ill. Series: U.S. Geological Survey 

circular. Public issues in earth science. 

F532.1509 1991 91-28137 

977.2'98-dc20 CIP 
FOREWORD 

The National Parks of the United States have been called the jewels in the crown of 

our Nation's public lands. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the National Park 

Service and the 25th anniversary of one of its premier recreational and scientific 

jewels- Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-the Department of the Interior, through 

the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, is pleased to present this 

photographic essay on some of the environmental challenges facing this park. The 

earth-science issues facing Indiana Dunes mirror national issues faced by other parks 

and public lands. 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

TM 

Wise use and careful stewardship of our Nation's parks and public lands depend on 

the assimilation of accurate and timely earth-science information. With this information 

in hand, resource managers and land-use planners have the necessary tools to make 

informed decisions and to plan for the effective use and conservation of natural 

resources and public lands. 

When gathering this information, we develop an understanding of the physical 

processes that have shaped and continue to shape our land and natural resources. The 

processes at work today are the same ones that shaped the Earth hundreds, thousands, 

and millions of years ago. 

lttDIAttA DUttES 

tW10ttAL LAKESHORE 

Understanding the physical processes of the Earth is quite difficult. Almost 400 years 

ago, Francis Bacon said "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed." To be obeyed, 

nature must first be understood. By identifying earth-science concerns that affect our 

National Parks and by gathering the necessary information to address those issues, we 

are providing the basic understanding by which we can obey nature's dictates and yet 

most effectively command the fullest use and benefit of these national treasures. l%b·l991 

25 

VEARS 

In this photographic essay, we describe issues of global change, land use, wetlands, coastal erosion, and 

contamination, all of which are environmental concerns that are being faced daily at local, State, and national 

levels. Using Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as the microcosm, we have provided a national perspective as 

well on each area of concern. As we mark these significant anniversaries, we challenge our readers to take an 

interest in these issues and to seek positive action to address them at the local level. Welcome to the exciting 

world of the earth sciences, and welcome to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Dallas L. Peck James M. Ridenour 

Director, U.S. Geological Survey Director, National Park Service 

FOREWORD III 
IV 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the unfailing support and encouragement of the 

Associate Director for Natural Resources of the National Park Service, Gene Hester, and 

the Associate Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Doyle Frederick. We would also like 

to thank the Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Dale Engquist, the 

Assistant Superintendent, Glen Alexander, and the entire staff for their full cooperation, 

with special acknowledgment to Richard Whitman and Bob Daum for their outstanding 

technical support. 

Edited by John M. Watson 

WISCONSIN 

ILLINOIS 

Gary ~ Michigan City 

Indiana Dunes 

I National Lakeshore I 

I 

I 

' ) 

INDIANA 

( ,... J , 

~I_) 

,~f""-.J./v 

I 

I 

"The Dunes of Northern Indiana are almost within a stone 's throw of perhaps one of the 

greatest industrial communities of the world. It is the only landscape of its kind within 

reach of millions .... " 

Jens Jensen, arguing for the establishment 

of a Sand Dunes National Park in 1916 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
Foreword III 

Acknowledgments IV 

CONTENTS 

National Perspective and Local Realities 1 

Global Change 5 

Land Use 11 

Wetlands 21 

Coastal Erosion 27 

Contamination 33 

Summary 39 

Further Reading 42 

Additional Information 44 

Photo Credits 44 

C O N TE N T S v 
SCENES FROM THE DUNES 

VI SCENES FROM THE DUNES 
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND LOCAL REALITIES 

Our landscape is constantly changing in 

response to forces both natural and artificial. 

The actions of wind, water, and people all 

change the land surface. Some changes occur 

over centuries, whereas others occur within 

weeks. Changes may be global in extent or 

have only local effect. Regardless of the type of 

change or length of time over which the 

change occurs, earth-science information plays a critical role in our ~:~~iF

adaptation to these changes. 

This report highlights 

some of the landscape 

changes and some of 

the processes taking 

place at one of our 

parks-Indiana 

Dunes National 

Lakeshore . With 

each earth-science 

issue addressed, a 

national or global 

perspective is presented 

first, followed by a 

description of the implication the issue has for the 

park-in other words, the 

reality of that issue at the local 

level. The issues are global change, 

land use, wetlands, coastal erosion, and 

contamination . With each of these issues, 

human involvement has played some role. The 

concept of living in harmony with nature is 

challenged daily. 

The first section, "Global Change," explains 

that change is a natural process, not just a 

process caused by people's insensitivity to the 

environment. Human activities, however, 

influence the rate at which these global 

changes are taking place. The section "Land 

Use" shows the diverse imprints people have 

left on the landscape. In the "Wetlands" 

section, the many functions that wetlands serve 

and the threats being imposed upon wetlands 

by human activity are discussed. The section 

"Coastal Erosion" explains that erosion, too, is 

a natural process and is one that human activity 

can accelerate . Millions of dollars are spent 

each year because we have difficulty 

coexisting with nature . We continue 

to build structures near or on 

coastlines and lakeshores, 

where they may be de -

stroyed by the natural 

processes of wind and 

water. Although there 

are natural sources of 

contamination, in the 

section "Contamination" we show 

that most of the 

threats to the quality 

of our air and water 

are related to human 

How society deals with 

these issues today will no 

doubt affect future generations. How the National Park 

Service (NPS) manages these issues 

within the boundaries of Indiana Dunes 

National Lakeshore will affect the park for 

many years. Information is the key to 

responsible management of global, national. 

regional, and local earth -s cience issues. 

Indiana Dunes has a unique geologic setting. 

Its landscape has been shaped by dynamic 

processes of wind, waves, water, and ice. One 

of the guiding principles in the study of the 

Earth is the theory that the present is the key to 

the past. The ongoing natural processes are 

similar to those that shaped the Earth hundreds, thousands, even millions of years ago. 

The concept of living in harmony with nature is challenged daily. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 
2 

Earth-science information teaches us that 

• Lake Michigan was created as a result of 

natural global climate change 

• The natural progression is for wetlands 

eventually to fill in with sediment 

• The surface water in wetlands is a mixture 

of rainfall and ground water that has 

resurfaced 

• Shorelines shift in response to the actions of 

wind and water; water levels and wind speed 

and direction respond to global climate changes 

Ecological Systems 

and Dynamics 

Biogeochemical 

Dynamics 

Earth System 

History 

• Ground water can travel over very long 

distances and take hundreds of years to do so 

• Dune migration is a natural process, and 

rates of movement can sometimes be predicted 

Our ability to make responsible decisions in 

managing natural resources depends upon our 

ability to predict future changes. Without 

adequate and timely earth-science information, 

we will not be able to predict changes. This 

report discusses several earth-science issues of 

national and local significance and also 

presents earth-science information that will 

help us effectively and wisely manage our 

natural resources for future generations. 

Climate and 

Hydrologic System 

Human 

Interactions 

Solid Earth 

Processes 

Earth-science information is essential for making responsible land-management decisions. 

OUR CHANG I NG LANDSCAPE 
Global change Land use 

Wetlands 

Coastal erosion Contamination 

IND I ANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 3 

GLOBAL CHANGE 

The surface of the Earth is ever changing. During the past million years, massive ice 

sheets advanced and retreated repeatedly over North America. Massive sand dunes, 

such as those in the Middle East today, have migrated across eastern Colorado and 

Nebraska. Today, this area is part of the "breadbasket" of the Nation. Vegetation 

stabilizes the dunes. When human activities or changes in precipitation alter the 

vegetation, the dunes can become unstable. The "Dust Bowl," which drove thousands 

from their farms, was caused by severe drought in the 1920's and 1930's and by landuse and agricultural practices. A change in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere 

can alter the climate significantly, including where and how much precipitation (rain 

and snow) will fall. 

Certain gases in the atmosphere of the Earth (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, 

methane, and nitrogen oxide) are called greenhouse gases. These gases behave like 

glass panes in a greenhouse. They permit the passage of short wavelength radiation 

from the sun but trap energy reradiated from the Earth's surface. The Earth's 

atmosphere warms more than would be expected under normal conditions. These 

greenhouse gases occur naturally, but human activities, such as the burning of oil and 

gas for heat, light, and transportation, also contribute to the amount of greenhouse 

gases in the atmosphere. Sediments, rocks, and glaciers record past changes in the 

Earth's environment and atmosphere. They often contain annual layers, and in special 

situations even contain seasonal layers. Corals produce annual growth bands similar to 

tree rings. These coral bands record temperature changes and changes in water runoff 

from land. Ocean, lake, or bog sediments can be banded (varved). These bands record 

Changes in storm frequency and tracks, as well as the resulting variations in the amounts of 

rainfall and evaporation, can change lake levels. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 5 
6 

RECORD OF CLIMATE CHANGE 

The study of tree rings (dendrochronology) has greatly enhanced our knowledge of climate 

changes that occurred during the past several thousand years. The counterpart of trees in the 

marine environment is the corals, which also have annual growth bands. Climate-change 

information can also be obtained by the study of corals (sclerochronology). For example, thick, 

dark density bands can be correlated with very cold winter temperatures. High rainfall and 

subsequent land runoff increase the organic material in coastal waters. The corals incorporate 

some of this organic material in their annual growth band and thereby provide a record of the 

variation in rainfall on the adjacent land. 

Corals, as indicators of past environments, are especially useful in determining past sea levels. 

Some types of coral, such as this brain coral, must live close to the sea surface. As sea level 

rises with the melting of the ice sheets, the corals must grow upward to survive. If the age of 

the corals can be determined, the past rate of sea-level rise can be estimated. As the ice sheets 

melted rapidly during the latest ice age, sea levels rose at a rate of 8 feet in 100 years. 

5 CENTIMETERS 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
the seasonal changes in sediment accumulation 

and thus reflect temperature and amounts of 

rainfall and runoff. Sediments often contain 

skeletal remains of organisms and pollen from 

plants, which both provide valuable information about past climates and environments. 

Changes in composition of the Earth's 

atmosphere are preserved in the ice of glaciers 

and ice sheets. Atmospheric gases, windblown dust, and volcanic ash are contained 

within the annual accumulation of snow, which 

eventually becomes layered glacier ice. 

______ n 

\ '-""- j ... ..,...... ........ ......,.. __ 

Anticipation and prediction of the changes in 

climate are necessary for evaluation and design 

of mitigation strategies. For example, if the 

precipitation pattern for the United States 

changes, the Nebraska Sand Hills could again 

begin to migrate, destroying farm land and 

covering the wetlands between the hills. The 

wetlands are an essential part of the centralflyway ecosystem for migratory birds. 

Changes in sea level are closely linked to 

changes in the temperature of the Earth's 

I 

I 

! GLACIER ICE ,> 

' r( l 

---; 

') ICE " I 

__ , . ---i ; \ 

i r .. ' v ,_ \ 

I TUNDRA ~;--~ -------) 

: I 

':\-:-_-----

0------

(AUGUST) 

SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURES 

Patterns of vegetation, glaciers, and sea-surface temperatures were very different 18,000 years ago. During 

cold periods, a considerable volume of water was stored in ice sheets. As a result, sea level was 410 feet 

lower than present-day sea level. Note the size of Florida as compared to today. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 7 
8 

atmosphere. During cold periods, such as that 

of 18,000 years ago, water was stored in ice 

sheets and sea level was 410 feet lower. As the 

great ice sheets in North America and Eurasia 

melted, sea level rose as rapidly as 8 feet per 

century. During the last 16,000 years, sea level 

has been rising. It is still rising (about 8 inches 

in the past century), possibly in response to 

global climate warming. The continuing rise 

intensifies the concern for coastal erosion 

nationwide. 

Even in the Great Lakes, water levels change. 

In 1986, water levels in the Great Lakes 

If our present climate changes, 

Indiana Dunes may well be 

one of the first places to 

reflect these changes. 

Left: Atmospheric gases, windblown dust, and volcanic ash are incorporated into glaciers with the annual 

snowfall, such as near Anchorage, Alaska. An annual record of the Earth's atmosphere is present within 

glaciers. The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere and is believed to be 

contributing to global warming. The present concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 25 percent 

higher than it was at the beginning of the industrial era, in the 1700's. Changes in sea level are closely linked 

to the melting of glaciers as the temperature of the atmosphere rises, such as the Engabreen Glacier in 

Norway (top right) and glaciers in the Chugach Mountains in Alaska (bottom right). 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
reached their highest levels in this century. 

Within Indiana Dunes, four bands of dunes 

record geologic evidence demonstrating that 

lake levels in the recent geologic past, several 

hundred to several thousand years ago, 

exceeded present-day and known historic 

levels. 

Indiana Dunes contains the geologic history of 

the past 14,000 years. This history documents 

that global change occurred as the massive 

North American ice sheets melted and 

retreated northward when the climate warmed. 

Each successive band of dunes is younger and 

records a progressively lower lake level, 

starting with the southernmost Glenwood 

Beach Ridge (approximately 14,000 years old) 

and continuing to Mount Baldy on the present 

lakeshore (approximately 1,000 years old). 

87°15' 

41 °40' 

87°10' 

LAKE 

MICHIGAN 

I I I 

5 

I I I I I I I 

5 

Indiana Dunes is ecologically unique . Here 

the Canadian conifers meet the temperate 

hardwood forests of the Northern and Eastern 

United States, as well as the tallgrass prairies of 

the Midwest. If our present climate changes, 

Indiana Dunes may well be one of the first 

places to reflect these changes. Some changes 

have already occurred. In the 1800's, old 

growth white pine was logged in the Indiana 

Dunes area. The regrowth of white pine has 

not done well, possibly as a result of the 

burning of fossil fuels (coal) in the 1880's and 

the advent of industrialization. Their tree rings 

record a reduced growth, and the few white 

pine seedlings that are produced today are 

quickly eaten by deer. Not only is the land 

surface ever changing, but associated plant 

communities often can reflect even the most 

subtle changes in climate and environmental 

conditions. 

87°05' 

I 

10 KILOMETERS 

87° 

10 MILES 

I 

I 

cc l% ~ 

~ 0 

2 ~~ ~ 0 0 0.. 

O..j 

I 

I 

I 

I 

86°50' 

EXPLANATION 

D Recent (4,000 years ago to present) 

D Tollston Beach Ridge (4,000 to 5,000 years ago) 

D Calumet Beach Ridge (11,200 to 11 ,800 years ago) 

D Glenwood Beach Ridge (12 ,000 to 14,000 years ago) 

U Industrial area 

D Lake plain and moraine 

Location of dunes and ridges showing historic lake levels at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 9 

LAND USE 

The European colonists, who arrived in North America in the early 1600's, used 

resources from the land and sea just as the Native Americans had been doing for 

centuries. As the colonies expanded, the need for new land and mineral resources 

grew also. In less than 300 years, the colonies were transformed into an industrial 

power. Demands for natural resources became sophisticated; land-use needs became 

ever more complex. 

As our population continues to grow and our material needs become more complicated 

and urgent, an area will prosper only if it can accommodate these increased needs for a 

Top left: The Pearl River in Louisiana serves as a transportation corridor for shipping of bulk 

materials. Top right: Major transportation facilities, such as this highway system in Los 

Angeles, are vital to our cities' welfare. Bottom: Airports need to be expanded as the demand 

on them increases. This "people mover," in Chicago's O'Hare Airport, helps speed travelers on 

their way. 

I NDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 11 
12 

These aerial photographs show results of decisions 

made by land-use managers over time. 

long time and if it has a secure and adequate 

natural resource base. For instance, 

transportation facilities, such as pipelines, 

powerlines, tunnels, bridges, waterways, roads, 

railroads, and airports, serve to move us and 

the many products that are vital to our cities' 

welfare. Knowledge of the geology of the land 

is essential to ensuring efficient, reliable, and 

safe transportation systems. 

Coastal areas have long attracted large urban 

populations, as evidenced by cities such as Chicago. 

Hundreds of daily activities require energy 

and mineral resources. It is estimated that each 

American requires 40,000 pounds of new 

minerals every year to maintain his or her 

current standard of living. Proper management 

of our Nation's resources and a balanced 

approach to land use allow us to use the land 

while sustaining the economy. Earth-science 

information identifies the location of natural 

The semiarid Los Angeles Basin, in California, as seen on this co/or-infrared photograph, is an example of a 

highly urbanized area that continues to be challenged by complex land-use and land-management decisions. 

Accessing and distributing water to an ever-growing population is also a difficult challenge. 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
This color-infrared aerial photograph shows a major 

part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Vegetation is shown in red. 

resources-information critical to land 

management. The land manager has to 

recognize a variety of user needs and develop a 

management plan to accommodate those needs 

while still sustaining and maintaining the land 

and its resources. Parks such as Indiana Dunes 

National Lakeshore provide a unique setting in 

which to learn how lands and resources might 

be managed and preserved in harmony with 

surrounding communities and industrial sites 

that make intensive use of the land. 

A park ranger explains how proper management of 

natural resources may allow nature and industry to 

coexist. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 13 
1 kilometer 

1mile 

U• .S. Steel 

r--1 Beach and 

L___j open sand 

- Recent dunes 

c=J Tolleston Dunes 

M ap of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. 

14 

CJ Calumet Dunes 

Glenwood Dunes 

C:=J Wetlands 

Height of dunes is measured 

from lake level and given in 

meters, with feet in italic. 

lAKE 

Portage 

TINLEY 

MORAINE 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 

~ Authorized National r--1 

c:::=:J Lakeshore boundary L=:::J Bicycle trail 

~ State Park boundary 

E:J Hiking trail 

MICHIGAN 

FORME R LAK E BOTT 
Horse trail 

Information 

I Ranger station 

I Parking 

I Restrooms 

• Lifeguarded till swimming area 

IJ Picnic area 

~~ Campground 

~~ Handicap access 

I±J First aid 

Cii) Snack bar 

~~ Interpretive trail 

!/t. Cross-country ski trail 

E:! Boat ramp 

IJ Marina 

VALPARAISO MORAINE 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 15 
16 

The region south of Lake Michigan has grown 

from an area of small fishing villages and 

farming communities to a major industrial 

center and transportation avenue for the United 

States. This growth was originally spurred by 

the presence of Lake Michigan, the sixth 

largest lake in the world, which provided a 

dependable source of water suitable for most 

uses. Today, this region is a major 

transportation corridor, with shipping ports, 

vast railroad systems, international airports, 

and interstate highways. 

Lake Michigan is a major recreational resource. 

Fragmentation of the park land by urban areas can 

create islands of natural ecosystems and can disrupt 

the natural movement of plants and animals. 

At one time, Highway 12, which runs through 

Indiana Dunes, was the major highway 

between the Eastern and Western United 

States. Now, Highway 12 has been superseded 

by several interstate highways and the St. 

Lawrence Seaway, transportation facilities that 

are critical to the area's industry. Steel mills 

with 20 percent of the Nation's steel-making 

capacity are adjacent to Indiana Dunes, as are 

electric generating stations that burn fossil 

fuels. 

As the area has developed commercially and 

residentially, Indiana Dunes has become an 

increasingly popular recreation spot. Annual 

visitation to the Indiana Dunes National 

Lakeshore has risen from several thousand in 

1966, the year in which it was established by 

Congress, to n early 2 million in 1990. These 

numbers are not surprising, because 

approximately 8.5 million people live within a 

90-minute drive of the park. 

The growth of Indiana Dunes National 

Lakeshore has occurred in stages that have 

resulted from four separate laws enacted by 

Congress. These laws, passed in 1966, 1976, 

1980, and 1986, gave the National Park Service 

the authority to purchase land and establish the 

O U R CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
park. Because parcels of land have been added 

to Indiana Dunes since the original 1966 

purchase, the boundaries of the whole park 

have become irregular, with several areas 

fragmented or isolated from other park areas. 

Currently, Indiana Dunes is divided into nine 

land units, many of them "islands" surrounded 

by industry, transportation facilities, 

Indiana Dunes 

is most unusual in that 

its 14,000 acres are home 

to 1,445 species of plants. 

Dune plants help stabilize and prevent sand from 

being blown away by the wind. 
18 

agricultural areas, or municipalities. This 

fragmentation creates barriers that disrupt the 

ecosystem by impairing the natural movement 

of plants and animals. 

Indiana Dunes is most unusual in that its 

14,000 acres are home to 1,445 species of 

Ecosystem Fragmentation 

plants. Only two national parks have more 

plant species: Great Smoky Mountains (1,485) 

and Grand Canyon (1,474). Each of these two 

parks has more than a half million acres of 

land-35 times as much land as at Indiana 

Dunes. 

Most ecosystems are recognized as being open systems, subject to energy inputs and outputs 

and immigration and emigration of species. Natural communities are protected within the park 

boundaries, but the park has little control outside its boundaries. Thus, the natural ecosystem 

processes are subject to disruption, and the park functions as an "island." Indiana Dunes is a 

classic example of an "island park," because it is surrounded by industry, major transportation 

corridors, agriculture, and municipalities. In addition, within the park, roads have been built, 

ditches cut, and other barriers created, all of which disrupt natural processes. The result is 

ecosystem fragmentation. 

Although not well understood, ecosystem fragmentation has the potential to disrupt the flow of 

energy or the natural movement of species and species diversity. For example, studies have 

shown forest patch size to affect the local variety of bird species. Other studies have shown that 

roads and agriculture can act as barriers to gene flow among small mammal, reptile, and 

amphibian populations. In addition, the size of the "island ecosystems" limits their use only to 

those plant and animal species that can survive and reproduce within the limited area. If the 

plant or animal species cannot survive in the "island " fragment, it will disappear from the area . 

. ' . · ... JI.f" "' ... ... .. . ,..~.~ ·-

1: ~ "_-...:.. ,, ;..::-

The unique environment of Indiana Dunes supports a large variety of vegetation, such as the white trillium 

(left) and the prickly-pear cactus (right), and is home to animals such as Canada geese, turtles, six-lined 

racerunners, opossums, and raccoons (opposite page). 

O U R CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 19 

WETLANDS 

America's wetlands are decreasing in area every year. During colonial times, about 

200 years ago, the contiguous United States had an estimated 221 million acres of 

wetlands-an area roughly the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined. Today 

approximately 100 million acres of wetlands remain-an area about the size of 

Montana. It is estimated that over the 20 years between the mid-1950's and the mid1970's, net wetland losses from natural processes and human activities averaged 

450,000 acres annually. There are many reasons for this loss, including urban and 

agricultural development and coastal erosion. Recognizing the vital importance of 

wetlands to the commercial and recreational sectors of our economy, as well as to the 

biological diversity of our Nation, many agencies currently are making efforts to 

protect, maintain, and restore wetlands. 

Wetlands can be found near coastal 

areas or in the middle of the Nation, 

miles from any coast. They comprise 

about 4 percent of our Nation's land 

area within the contiguous United 

States. Alaska has the largest 

proportion of wetlands area of all the 

States, much of it in tundra regions. 

Because wetlands are found in both 

coastal and inland areas, the water 

can be salty, brackish, or fresh. 

Wetlands occur along rivers, ponds, 

bays, and inlets-wherever the 

ground water is at or near the land 

surface, or where the land is covered 

by shallow water during part of the 

year. 

Wetlands have many beneficial 

purposes, such as helping store and 

purify water and acting as natural 

filters. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has 

created artificial wetlands to treat 

acid-mine drainage; more than 300 

wetlands have been constructed and 

successfully used to date. Wetlands 

also are habitat for fish and wildlife. 

In fact, coastal salt-marsh wetlands 

produce more plant and animal life 

than any other natural habitat known. 

Freshwater wetlands rank third in 

number of total plant and animal 

species behind saltwater marshes and 

PERCENT WETLAND 

D l to5 

0 sto12 

D l 2to25 

D 25to50 

0 soto55 

Wetland distribution around the 1780's (top) versus 

wetland distribution around the 1980's (bottom). 

(Modified from Dahl, 1990.) 

tropical rain forests. Eighty percent of the Nation's coastal commercial and recreational 

fisheries depend upon wetlands for spawning, hatchery, and nursery activities. Some 

wetlands can store large volumes of water and can thereby serve as natural water 

reservoirs and as ground-water discharge areas. The presence of wetlands in a flood 

plain can reduce the size of floods by as much as 80 percent. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 21 
22 

Wetlands provide a wonderfully productive and 

generally safe breeding ground and home for 

millions of birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants. 

More than one-third of the 564 plant and 

animal species listed as threatened or 

endangered in the United States live in wetland 

habitats during some part of their lives. 

Wetlands are important nesting sites for birds. 

The many types of wetlands include swamps, bogs, 

marshes, ponds, and peatlands. 

Lake Michigan, the historic reason for the 

economic development of northern Indiana, is 

the result of glacial retreat about 14,000 years 

ago. As the glacier retreated, a series of lakes 

(the Great Lakes) formed, and areas of dunes 

and wetlands developed. In fact, there are so 

many wetlands at Indiana Dunes that it could 

Wetlands are commonly adjacent to dunes, such as 

in Indiana Dunes. 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
More than one-third of the 564 plant and animal species 

listed as threatened or endangered 

1n the United States liv e in w etland habitats 

during some part of their lives. 

Great Marsh, in Indiana Dunes, has undergone a change in plant communities. Possibly as a result of human 

influence on the water levels, duckweed and cattails are now dominant. 

just as easily have been named "Indiana 

Wetlands National Lakeshore." This varied 

topography-from wetlands to dunes-is one of 

the main reasons for the amazing biological 

diversity found in Indiana Dunes. The variation 

in topography, soil type, and moisture provides 

many niches for a variety of organisms to 

inhabit. 

Indiana Dunes has many types of wetlands, 

including swamps, bogs, marshes, peatlands, 

and interdunal ponds. The type of wetland that 

develops in a specific location is dependent on 

numerous factors including the amount of 

water. A wetland type may change as water 

levels vary from season to season and year to 

year. Other factors determining the type of 

wetland include the level of dissolved oxygen, 

the relative acidity of the water (pH), and the 

amount and rate of water exchanged between 

the wetland and the surrounding environment. 

The type of wetland often determines the plant 

species present. Pinhook Bog is a good 

example. Here, species have adapted to the 

low mineral content, high acidity, and low 

oxygen levels of a wetland that has no output of 

water, except evaporation, and whose input of 

water is limited to the rain that falls directly on 

it. Many of the species that grow in this bog 

grow nowhere else in the dunes. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 23 
24 

Fire! 

Even the hottest of fires leaves the promise of life in its wake . Nature has endured fire just as 

it has endured rain, sunshine, and wind. If fires ceased to burn, certain communities of plants 

in the dunes, such as those in prairies, oak savannas, and sedge meadows, would cease to 

exist. Animals that have adapted to open prairies, such as the rare legless lizard, would 

eventually lose the habitat necessary for their survival. The animals and plants of Indiana 

Dunes have adapted to periodic fire, and without it many of them would perish. 

Wetlands are valuable because they store and purify water. Coastal wetlands are among the most 

biologically productive regions on Earth because they serve as the nursery area for many species. 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
This dunal pond at West Beach, in Indiana Dunes, is a rare ecosystem because it has very shallow water and a 

sandy bottom. It hosts a rare community of plants. 

Although the Indiana Dunes has many 

wetlands, a considerable number were lost or 

altered by humans before the establishment of 

the park. Since the late 1800's, wetlands have 

been drained or filled, and streams have been 

channelized to "reclaim" areas for agricultural, 

residential, and industrial development. Many 

wetlands now protected in the park need to be 

restored, but restoration in some areas will 

require the elimination of artificial drainage 

ditches. Unless carefully planned, their 

removal could impact nearby communities. 

Activities outside the park have the potential 

to adversely affect park wetlands. Continued 

channelization of upstream portions of 

waterways outside the park can damage 

downstream portions within the park by 

increasing flow rates, flooding, streambank 

erosion, and siltation. Residential and 

agricultural developments adjacent to these 

same waterways could contaminate them with 

chemical and other residues and wastes. 

The National Park Service is working to 

preserve and protect the valuable wetlands of 

the Indiana Dunes. However, as with so many 

other plans for resource protection at this 

complex park, the success of these efforts 

depends largely on what happens outside the 

park on neighboring lands. 

The location of wetlands can be coastal or inland. 

They are frequently used as resting places and 

refuges for birds as they migrate seasonally. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 25 

COASTAL EROSION 

Our Nation's coastal lands are dynamic environments. The natural appeal of coasts 

has attracted people for centuries by providing a pleasant living environment, access to 

natural resources, and ease of transportation. Presently, more than half of the 

population of the United States lives within 50 miles of a coast. By the year 2010, it is 

estimated that 75 percent of the U.S. population will live within an hour's drive of a 

coast. Of the 10 largest metropolitan areas of the United States, 9 are located in coastal 

regions. 

Coastal environments, whether adjacent to an ocean or a large lake, are constantly 

changing shape and location in response to natural processes and human activities. 

Waves, currents, and wind are natural forces that combine to continually reshape the 

beaches, dunes, and shoreline. The Nation's beaches, especially its national seashores 

This small pocket beach on a rocky coast is less susceptible to erosion than barrier islands are. 

and lakeshores, are among the Nation's most important natural assets. Storms, whether 

frequent winter events that last for days or single intense events, such as hurricanes, 

can greatly modify the shape of the coastal area and can damage or destroy structures 

such as roads, buildings, homes, and piers. 

Coastal erosion is a national problem because it affects all 30 coastal States and all of 

the U.S. island territories. Beaches are categorized into three types: (1) mainland 

beaches that stretch for miles along the edge of major land masses (such as along the 

coast of Washington, Oregon, and California). (2) pocket beaches formed between 

rocky cliffs (such as along the coast of Maine). and (3) barrier island beaches, which are 

part of a complex system that includes marshes, bays, tidal flats, and inlets (such as 

along the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast). Louisiana's barrier islands are eroding the 

fastest of any coast in the Nation, at a rate that in places reaches 60 feet per year. 

Understanding the processes that shape and change coastal regions is critical if we wish 

to live in harmony with the natural coastal environment. 

INDIA N A DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 27 
28 

ANNUALSHOREUNECHANGE 

CJ Severely eroding 

CJ Moderately eroding 

CJ Relatively stable 

Uncolored U.S. shoreline indicates no data are available; 

data are also tacking for parts of Alaska, as well as for Puerto 

Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands. and the U.S. Pacific Islands. 

which are not shown on this map. 

GULF OF 

ALASKA 

300MILES 

h--'-r-+'--.-J' 1 4bo KILOMETERS 

OKauai 

" ah ~.. HAWAII olul u 

~Sjau i 

PACIFIC OCEAN £;1 200 MILES awaii 

1------.----'---.--r' 300 KILOMETERS 

GULF OF MEXICO 

500 MILES 

i--,L1,~_,~-,~1 ~1 

700 KILOMETERS 

All 30 coastal States are experiencing coastal erosion. (Modified from Dolan and others, 1985.) 

Storms with high winds and waves create steep, 

narrow beaches, like this one at Indiana Dunes, 

where winter storms are frequent and especially 

destructive. 

Coastal erosion causes large amounts of public and 

private property damage every year. This house 

was built close to a Lake Michigan beach that was 

eroding quickly. 

By the year 2010, it is estimated that 75 percent 

of the U.S. population will live within 

an hour's drive of a coast. 

OUR C H ANG I NG LANDSCAPE 
The coastal system is a dynamic environment. 

Coastal erosion claims acres of beach and wetlands 

every year. 

The coastal system extends from the offshore 

lak e bottom or sea floor and overlying water 

(tens of miles from the land) to the onshore 

beaches, dune s, lagoons, estuaries, and 

wetlands. Sediment (sand and mud) is derived 

from rivers and the coastal area itself. Where 

sediment accumulates, it can build land; where 

it is removed, dry land can be converted to sea 

floor or lake bottom. The beach environment is 

Erosion of dunes occurs when the beach is narrow 

because the source of sand for the dunes is 

diminished and the waves can break at the base of 

the dunes, as shown here at Mount Baldy in Indiana 

Dunes. 

With the passing of time, foot traffic and off-road 

vehicles can erode the face of dunes (left) and 

beaches (above), especially when the same trail is 

used repeatedly, because vegetation cannot grow. 

I ND I ANA DUNES NA TIONAL LA K ESHO RE 29 
30 

dynamic, changing through 

the seasons of the year. 

Beach width and slope 

change with the seasons as 

wave energy changes. 

High-energy waves and 

strong winds in winter form 

a narrow, steep beach 

covered with coarse sand 

and gravel. In the summer, 

smaller waves and gentler 

winds produce a broad, 

gently sloping beach 

covered with fine sand. 

Dunes are an integral 

part of the beach environment. They form behind 

the beach as the wind Structures can be destroyed easily by the effects of storms. 

picks up the fine beach sand 

and deposits it in ridges. Dunes, ranging in 

height from several feet to hundreds of feet, 

help protect the beach by preventing storm 

waves from washing inland and transporting 

sand out of the beach environment. Dunes are 

nature's protection for the wetlands and 

lagoons behind a beach. They also protect 

structures people have built. Dunes are 

complex but fragile and can be destroyed easily 

by trampling, off-road vehicles, construction, or 

mining. Coastal erosion is a significant natural 

process in the Great Lakes, occurring at an 

average rate of 28 inches per year; land is 

gained in some places, lost in others. This gain 

and loss of land is of great concern to population centers built at lake's edge, such as 

Chicago. 

In Indiana Dunes, the 18-mile shoreline 

retains much of its natural character. Adjacent 

to the park's beaches, however, the shoreline 

has been altered by the construction of harbors 

and industrial complexes and the use of rip rap 

(large boulders) to protect the shore. Of the 41 

miles of shoreline between Michigan City, Ind., 

and the Illinois border, more than half have 

been altered to protect private residential or 

industrial properties. Structures, such as the 

jetties at Michigan City, 

Burns Harbor, and U.S. 

Steel, interrupt the 

normal longshore 

(parallel to the beach) 

transport of sand. The 

beach is built up as sand 

accumulates on the 

updrift side of structures; 

the beach erodes as sand 

is then removed on the 

downdrift side. 

In an attempt to slow or prevent coastal erosion, engineers place sand on the 

beach of Mount Baldy to maintain the beach and prevent erosion of the dune. 

Shoreline erosion in the 

park results especially 

from storms in the early 

spring and late fall and 

during mild winters, 

when ice on Lake 

Michigan does not freeze 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
to the shore. In March 1964, Lake Michigan 

began rising until it reached a record high for 

the century in 1986. When lake levels are high, 

the beaches become narrow. The waves break 

at the base of the dunes and erode them. 

Narrow beaches provide less space for the 

2 million visitors who use the beaches during 

the summer. People are forced onto the 

foredune, where they interfere with the plants 

and animals present and cause trail erosion. 

High lake levels and their resultant narrow 

beaches also reduce the sand supply available 

to replenish and build the dunes. 

In order to prevent Mount Baldy from eroding, 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers placed 

120,000 tons of sand in front of it in 1981. This 

placement of sand, called beach nourishment, 

must be continued to provide protection. By 

spring 1984, all the sand that had been placed 

on the beach was gone, and the waves were 

again breaking on the base of the dune. 

Beaches are among our Nation's most valuable assets. 

Just as people can delay, but not reverse, 

natural processes, people can also accelerate 

such processes. A case in point is the use of 

breakwaters in the vicinity of Burns Ditch and 

Michigan City. When the transport of sand is 

interrupted along a coast, erosion can increase, 

such as occurs to the west of the breakwaters at 

Burns Ditch, and sediment deposition can 

increase, such as occurs on the east side of 

Bethlehem Steel on Cowles Bog Beach. The 

Michigan City breakwaters cause deposition on 

the city's Washington Park beach while causing 

erosion of the beach in front of Mount Baldy. 

Plants, such as marram grass, help stabilize 

the dunes. As people create footpaths in the 

dunes and the grass dies, the wind picks up the 

sand and moves it farther inland, where it 

buries woodlands. Blowouts and depressions in 

the dunes occur where large volumes of sand 

have been removed. Thus, a seemingly 

harmless action, such as the passage of feet 

alone, can change the face of the dunes. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 31 

CONTAMINATION 

Contamination of our environment is becoming an increasing threat. We worry about 

the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink; the quality of each is 

threatened by a multitude of activities. Factories discharge airborne pollutants through 

their smokestacks; pesticides become airborne during application. Almost any activity 

above or below the land surface has the potential for contaminating soil or water. 

Although some sources of contamination are natural, contamination generally is a result 

of human activity. 

Examples of sources of environmental contamination include: 

• salt stockpiles 

• urban runoff 

• sewage overflows 

• slag piles 

• wastewater ponds or lagoons 

• wastewater injection wells 

• landfills 

• salvage yards 

• septic systems 

• drain cleaners or other household chemicals 

• motor oil 

• fertilizers or pesticides 

• animal feedlots and stockyards 

• automobile exhaust 

Above: Industrial fires, such as this storage tank 

fire in Houston, Tex., can introduce contaminants 

into the atmosphere. 

Left: Airborne particles can originate from 

natural sources such as volcanic eruptions. 

These eruptions can release large quantities of 

ash, gases, and aerosols, which can circle the 

globe in the stratosphere. 

Often, we do not realize that a contamination problem exists until it is too late. In air 

and surface -water resources, it is likely that we can see the contamination. With our 

ground-water resources, however, the flow of water occurs below the land surface, and 

problems go undetected until that water reaches the surface-either naturally (as 

discharge to a lake, river, stream, or wetland) or artificially (as discharge from a well). 

Water is constantly moving through the global hydrologic cycle, which includes water 

as precipitation and snowmelt. Water moves on the land surface toward lakes, rivers, 

streams, and wetlands (runoff) or goes into the ground (infiltrates) to become ground 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 33 
34 

Evaporation and transpiration from 

surface-water bodies, land surface, 

and vegetation 

* Strea mflow 

to oceans 

Consumpt ive use 

and ground-water 

flow to ocea n 

Evaporation 

fro m oceans 

Ocean 

Water is constantl y moving through the hydrologic cycle. 

water. Ground water moves much more slowly 

than surface water does. Ground water moves 

through aquifers (water-bearing sediments) 

toward lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. 

Ground water can flow toward deeper aquifers 

and ultimately flow to the ocean. Evaporation 

of surface water and water returned to the 

atmosphere by plants (transpiration) provide 

the atmospheric moisture for rain or snow and 

complete the flow of water through the 

hydrologic cycle. 

If water becomes contaminated as it moves 

through the hydrologic cycle, the path it takes 

can determine the degree to which it is 

contaminated and the time it will take to be 

cleansed. One concern with ground-water 

contamination is the very slow flow rate. 

Whereas surface-water flow rates are 

commonly measured in feet per minute, 

ground-water flow rates are commonly 

measured in feet per year. These slow rates of 

movement become significant when we are 

waiting for an aquifer to naturally flush out 

contaminants, or purge itself. It is not 

uncommon for a contaminated aquifer to take 

decades to clean out. Prevention of groundwater contamination in the first place is 

preferable to cleaning up ground-water 

resources after they have been contaminated. 

Activities that take place at the land surface in 

one location can affect water-quality conditions 

over a much larger area. Homeowners who 

apply fertilizers or pesticides to their lawns 

incorrectly can contaminate ground water 

easily, which can flow to their wells or to 

neighbors' wells. A landfill at the edge of a 

town can contaminate ground water flowing to 

an adjacent town's well field; agricultural 

application of pesticides in one State can easily 

contaminate ground water or surface water in 

an adjacent State. 

OUR CHANGING LA NDSCA PE 
Scientific information pertaining to the 

hydrologic cycle and the stresses on the cycle 

plays a critical role in the management of our 

water resources at local, regional, national, and 

global scales. For example, scientific 

information is needed to quantify the potential 

effect of contamination, to document areas 

where air or water resources have been 

contaminated, and to predict recovery times for 

the contaminated areas. 

Although the potential sources of contamination mentioned previously are national issues, 

their presence at Indiana Dunes has also made 

them regional issues. As indicated in the "Land 

Use" section of this report, the southern shore 

of Lake Michigan is one of the largest industrial 

centers in the Nation and is a major 

transportation corridor for the Midwest. 

Agricultural land, which has a contamination 

potential from fertilizer and pesticide use, is 

being converted to suburban or urban land, 

which has a different contamination potential 

(septic systems and urban runoff). 

Fertilizers and pesticides can be sources of water 

and air contamination. 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore lies east of 

and within a vast urban and industrial complex. 

The park also contains "islands" of 

industrialization within its boundaries. Indiana 

Dunes, located within the "prevailing 

westerlies" -a region of the country where 

winds blow primarily from the west-is 

essentially downwind from Chicago and Gary 

The ground water in Indiana Dunes is vulnerable to contamination from industria/landfills and other sources. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 35 
36 

ITROGEN 

AND 

ERBICIDES 

"r. r 

Diagram showing some of the effects of agricultural/and use on the quality of soil and water. Large arrows 

show the direction of ground-water flow. 

and receives airborne contamination from these 

sources. Airborne particles containing heavy 

metals enter lakes, streams, rivers, or wetlands 

by falling with rain or snow. In order to 

estimate historical air contamination, park 

scientists collected cores of peat from Cowles 

Industrialization is important to our Nation's wellbeing but causes air and water contamination if 

preventive measures are not used. 

Bog. Cowles Bog was selected for study 

because it is not fed primarily by streams; thus, 

any metals detected in the core could be 

attributed to airborne contaminants. It was 

concluded from the study of the cores that, as 

industrialization occurred upwind from the 

park, the deposition of contaminants rose 

dramatically in relation to presettlement levels. 

The first rise in metal accumulation above 

presettlement levels (1850-90) is probably 

related to coal burning on steam locomotives, 

residential fires, and rapid growth of the iron 

and steel industry. Continued growth of the 

iron and steel factories during this century and 

operation of coal-fired powerplants brought 

increased metal accumulations. The parts of 

the cores that represent the years postdating 

1978 contain lower metal concentrations, 

perhaps because of a reduction in steel 

production or an increase in emission controls. 

Other air pollutants, including ozone and 

various sulfur compounds, have been shown to 

be toxic to selected plants. Effects on growth 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
Bogs can be affected by contaminants that are transported by air or water. As an example, highway deicing 

salts stored nearby had an adverse effect upon the plants in Pinhook Bog. 

and reproduction, particularly of the white 

pine, have been documented through studies of 

tree rings. Lichens in Indiana Dunes have 

decreased in number by about 90 percent since 

the turn of the century. 

Other changes in vegetation may be caused 

by acid precipitation. The pH of rainfall at 

Indiana Dunes is 4.5, which is approximately 15 

times more acidic than uncontaminated rainfall, 

which has a pH of 5.7. 

Water quality has also been adversely 

impacted at Indiana Dunes. Neighboring 

industrial, agricultural, and residential activities 

all present water-quality hazards. Major waterquality concerns at Indiana Dunes include 

bacterial contamination at swimming beaches, 

road-salt contamination, parking lot and 

highway runoff, industrial landfill contamination, seepage into the Little Calumet River and 

drainage ditches from sewage systems, 

industrial outflows, treatment ponds, and 

agricultural runoff. Heavy metals and high 

levels of nitrates and PCB's (polychlorinated 

biphenyls) have been found in surface water 

and in ground water. High bacterial levels, a 

danger to human health, h ave resulted in the 

closing of some beach areas and placed some 

restrictions on use of the Little Calumet River. 

Pinhook Bog was severely affected by highway 

deicing salts until the salt, which was stored 

nearby, was removed. 

Another water-quality concern is litter, trash, 

and general dumping. Hazardous materials 

dumped with trash or spilled during accidents 

pose a threat to water quality. 

General dumping poses a threat to water quality. 

I ND I ANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 37 

SUMMARY 

The actions of wind, water, and people all change the land surface. Earth-science 

information plays a critical role in determining how well we adapt to the changes and, 

in the longer term, whether we can live in harmony with nature. All of the earthscience issues discussed in this report are global issues. Indiana Dunes National 

Lakeshore also faces the challenges presented by each of these issues. Following are 

some challenges we must face. 

Human activities, such as the burning of coal, oil, and gas, contribute to the amount 

of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere. A warming of the Earth's 

surface may result. 

As our population grows and our needs for natural resources (including land and 

water) increase, an area will have to accommodate these increased needs if it is to 

prosper. 

It is estimated that each American requires 40,000 pounds of new minerals every 

year to maintain his or her current standard of living. 

It is estimated that over the 20 years between the mid-1950's and the mid-1970's, 

the net wetland losses averaged 450,000 acres each year from natural forces and human 

causes. 

By the year 2010, it is estimated that 75 percent of the U.S. population will live 

within an hour's drive of the coast-a dynamic and fragile environment that will likely 

be changed by the increased population stresses. 

Almost any activity above and below the land surface has the potential for 

contaminating soil or water resources. This contamination can spread over large areas 

and take decades to be detected and removed. 

The natural processes discussed in this report have been occurring for millions of 

years. Earth-science information provides us with estimates of extent and rates of 

change. We need this information to transform the challenges presented here into 

opportunities for locating new or additional land, water, and mineral resources; for 

emphasizing prevention of contamination rather than cleanup; and for increasing our 

ability to live in harmony with nature. 

Responsible stewardship of our natural resources requires the balancing of human 

needs and expectations with resource realities. Although in theory many of these 

resources are renewable, they are renewed at very slow rates-often not in our 

lifetimes. Responsible stewardship accommodates these limitations. 

Coordinated multidisciplinary efforts and increased cooperation among Federal, State, 

and local agencies, universities, and the private sector will help ensure that lessons 

learned at one scale or in one location will be communicated to people working at a 

different scale or in a different location. 

Research and field investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park 

Service have enhanced the understanding of the processes affecting the Earth, but 

more work is needed. Through concerted efforts, earth scientists will be able to provide 

decisionmakers and the public with the information and interpretation they need in 

order to plan wisely for future generations. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 39 
40 

CHOICES ... 

If we are going to live in harmony with our 

changing landscape, we must manage it and use it wisely. 

OUR CHANG I NG LANDSCAPE 
CHALLENGES . . . 

Our challenge is to reduce our dependence on 

energy and minerals and to reduce the 

pollution and contamination that are 

byproducts of our consumption. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 41 
42 

FURTHER READING 

INDIANA DUNES 

Cockrell, Ron, 1988, A signature of time and eternity, the administrative history of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 

Indiana: National Park Service, 480 p. 

A comprehensive history of the process and the people that led to the establishment of Indiana Dunes 

National Lakeshore. 

Engle, J.R., 1983, Sacred sands: The struggle for community in the Indiana Dunes: Middletown, Conn., Wesleyan 

University Press, 288 p. 

Franklin, Kay, and Schaeffer, Norma, 1983, Duel for the dunes: Land use conflict on the shores of Lake Michigan: 

Urbana/Chicago, University of Illinois Press, 302 p. 

Waldron, Larry, and Daum, Robert, photographer, 1983, The Indiana Dunes: Eastern Acorn Press, 39 p. 

A nontechnical publication about Indiana Dunes with beautiful photographs of the park. 

GLOBAL CHANGE 

McKee, E.D., ed., 1979, A study of global sand seas: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1052, 429 p. 

Illustrates the processes contributing to the formation of sand dunes and dune fields on a global basis. 

Photographs and satellite images show the distribution of major sand dunes around the world. A good 

reference text. 

National Geographic Society, 1988, Earth '88; Changing geographic perspectives: Washington, D.C., 392 p. 

Summary of the Centennial Symposium convened by the National Geographic Society, which addressed 

critical issues facing our planet today, such as population, pollution, ecological changes, climate change, 

water management, and energy. 

Schneider, S.H., 1989, Global warming. Are we entering the greenhouse century?: San Francisco, Sierra Club Books, 317 p. 

Examines the causes of worldwide climate change and the greenhouse effect. Also provides an 

entertaining look at the science, personalities, and politics behind the problem of global warming. 

Scientific American, 1989, Managing Planet Earth: Special Issue, v. 261, no. 3, September 1989, 190 p. 

Offers a series of articles that address the various aspects of global change from the perspective of the 

hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Proposes a series of strategies to deal with agricultural, 

energy, and manufacturing needs. 

LAND USE 

Robinson, G.D., and Spieker, A.M., eds., 1978, "Nature to be commanded ... ": U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 

950, 95 p. 

Illustrates the use of maps of earth-science information for decisions related to land and water 

management. 

WETLANDS 

Chabreck, R.H., 1988, Coastal marshes; ecology and wildlife management: Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 

138 p. 

Part of a series on wildlife habitats; this volume describes the coastal marshes of the United States with 

particular emphasis on the northern Gulf of Mexico coastline. Environmental influences, plant and 

animal communities, and the reasons for alteration and loss of marshes are clearly explained for the 

nontechnical reader. Sections on marsh management and the future of marshes give the author's 

suggestions for minimizing damage to this ecologically valuable environment. 

Cowardin, L.M., Carter, Virginia, Golet, F.C., and LaRoe, E.T., 1979, Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of 

the United States: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-79/31, 131 p. 

Describes different types of wetlands across the country. A technical presentation of each type of 

wetland, with photographs. 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE 
Dahl, T.E., 1990, Wetlands losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Washington, D.C., 13 p. 

Documents the historical wetland loss nationwide. A compilation of existing data from a variety of 

sources. 

Mitsch, W.J., and Gosselink, J.G., 1986, Wetlands: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 539 p. 

This textbook reviews different structures and functions of wetlands and discusses their ecological 

characteristics. A reference for scientists, engineers, and planners involved in the management of 

wetlands. 

Watson, J.R., and Carney, Dave, 1988, Crisis on Louisiana's coast ... America's loss: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New 

Orleans District, in cooperation with the State of Louisiana, 13 p. 

Explains the economic and ecological importance of Louisiana's wetlands, the causes of their loss, and 

the steps being taken by the State and six Federal agencies to address this critical problem, in an easyto-read style. 

COASTAL EROSION 

Dolan, Robert, Anders, Fred, and Kimball, Suzette, 1985, Coastal erosion and accretion: U.S. Geological Survey National 

Atlas, scale 1:7,500,000. 

Dolan, Robert, and Lins, Harry, 1986, The Outer Banks of North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 

1177-B, 47 p. 

Analyzes highly urbanized Fenwick Island and the less developed islands of North Carolina to 

demonstrate the processes and hazards associated with coastal barrier islands. The intended audience 

includes land-use planners, managers, and developers. 

Morrison, H.R., and Lee, C.E., 1981, America's Atlantic Isles: Washington, D.C., National Geographic Society, 199 p. 

Beautiful photographs and readable text describe the wide variety of islands found along the U.S. 

shoreline from Maine to Florida, as well as the range of wildlife and human communities that inhabit this 

region. 

Pilkey, O.H., and Neal, W.J., ser. eds., variously dated from 1983 to 1991, Living with the shore: Durham, N.C., Duke 

University Press. 

This series currently contains 14 volumes, each of which examines the shoreline of an individual State 

(Florida has two volumes, for east and west Florida). The books are intended for a nontechnical 

audience. They review the geologic history, the history of development, the coastal processes affecting 

the shoreline, human intervention on the shore, government programs affecting coastal real estate, and 

safeguards to take when buying or building to prepare for storms and hurricanes. The books also 

contain a detailed analysis of the entire shoreline with recommendations of where to buy shore property. 

Williams, S.J., Dodd, Kurt, and Gohn, K.K., 1990, Coasts in crisis: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1075, 32 p. 

This nontechnical publication describes our Nation's varied coastal environments and the natural 

processes and human actions that modify them. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of earthscience information in addressing this vital issue. 

CONTAMINATION 

Council on Environmental Quality, 1989, Environmental trends: Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 152 p. 

Provides information on the current and foreseeable trends in the quality, management, and utilization 

of the environment and the effects of environmental trends. It is a wealth of statistical information in 

graphical presentation. 

Johnston, R.H., 1986, Water quality issues; factors affecting ground-water quality, in U.S. Geological Survey, National water 

summary 1986-Hydrologic events and ground-water quality: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2325, 

p. 71-86. 

Discusses the important factors affecting ground-water quality. Natural processes, human activities, 

hydrology, and climatic setting are all involved. 

Waller, R.M., 1988, Ground water and the rural homeowner: U.S. Geological Survey General Interest Publication, 

37 p. 

This booklet provides general information on ground water, types of wells, and ground-water quality 

issues of interest to rural homeowners. 

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 43 
44 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 

1100 N. Mineral Springs Road 

Porter, IN 46304 

Earth Sciences Information Center 

Purdue University 

Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing 

1158 ENTM 214 

West Lafayette, IN 47907 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Water Resources Division-District Office 

5957 Lakeside Boulevard 

Indianapolis, IN 46278 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Center for Coastal Geology 

600 Fourth Street, South 

St. Petersburg, FL 33701 

PHOTO CREDITS 

Leo Childs-p. 33 (right) 

Ron Circe-p. 6 and 41 (top) 

Bob Daum-p. VI (upper left, center, lower left), 13 (lower right), 17 (bottom), 24 (upper left), 30 (bottom), 35 

(bottom), 37 (top), 39, 40 (bottom) 

William Davis-p. 37 (bottom) 

EROS Data Center-p. 13 (top) 

Gil Fraga-p. 32 

Andrew Grosz-p. 22 (bottom), 29 (upper left) 

Nils Haakensen-p. 8 (upper right) 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-p. VI (upper right, lower right), 16 (bottom), 18 (right), 19 (top, middle 

right, bottom left and right), 22 (lower right), 23, 24 (upper right), 25 (top), 26, 28 (left), 29 (upper right and 

lower left) 

Linda Jacobsen-p. 3 (upper right), 38 

NASA-p. 1 

Gary North-p. 3 (upper left, center, lower right), 4, 5, 8 (left, lower right), 10, 11 (all), 12 (all), 16 (top), 19 

(middle left), 20, 22 (top), 24 (bottom), 25 (bottom), 27, 29 (lower right), 30 (top), 31, 36, 40 (top), 41 (top) 

Emma Pitcher-p. 18 (left) 

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE