Our dune area is treasured by seasonal visitors for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, camping, hiking and bird watching. Sunsets over the lake are second to none. Our dune area includes approximately 16.7 miles of shoreline owned and managed by the state of New York and open to limited public use. Thousands of visitors use the area each year, and the number continues to grow annually. The value of our dune system for recreation is tremendous, both personally to each visitor, and economically to the eastern shore economy.
Dunes have very important natural values as well.
Our dunes provide habitat for a variety of birds and wildlife. Two rare or threatened plant species thrive there. Wetlands are an important buffer that protects Lake Ontario water quality from the impact of activities that occur on adjacent uplands. Wetlands trap sediments, pollutants, and excess nutrients carried by runoff. They also store excess water during high-water periods and release it during drought.