Two visits were made to this site in 1998 and a third in August of 1999. The first of these in June 1998, was a walking tour of the shoreline at Southwick State Park and various other land based stops along the shoreline. Access to the shoreline is readily available at places such as Sandy Pond, Montario Point, Selkirk, Southwick State Park and Selkirk Shores State Park. Some portions are well developed and access is via private property.
Dune crests are well vegetated with older trees and shrubs.
In one area this has been exacerbated by sand mining that has been allowed. A relatively large trailer park exists just north of Selkirk. Generally all protection observed was of poor quality and not well engineered. Homes to the north of Southwick State Park are close to the present high water mark and would be threatened primarily by flooding during higher water levels and strong storm activity from the west. The Nature Conservancy study site covers approximately 17 miles or 27 km from Selkirk Shores to Black Pond in the north.