Place

Wayside: Be a Dune Protector!

An informational sign stands along a sand-covered wooden boardwalk beside a plant-covered dune slope — "Be a Dune Protector!" wayside sign at the scenic overlook at the end of the Empire Bluff trail

Audio Description

Main Exhibit Text

Dune grasses play an essential role in protecting Empire Bluff. This is a fragile ecosystem. Plants trap wind-blown sand, building and stabilizing these perched dunes. Dune plants are resilient. They survive intense wind, blistering sunlight, freezing winter temperatures, and scarce nutrients, but what they can’t survive is footsteps. Stepping off the boardwalk damages plant roots, erodes the dune, and spreads seeds of invasive species. You can make a difference. Help protect the dunes by staying on the boardwalk and on designated trails throughout the park.

Image Descriptions

Background Image

The background of this exhibit is a photo of a dune on a cloudless day. The dune slopes upward from left to right, and is covered low, shrubby vegetation. On the back edge of the dune there are taller trees. In the bottom left, there is a wooden boardwalk.

Circular Photos (left)

On the left side of the exhibit are two circular photos. The image on the left shows a closeup photo of healthy dune grass. The grass is bright green and standing upright. The image on the right shows a closeup photo of damaged dune grass. The grass appears limp and flattened, with its roots exposed.

Circular Photos (bottom right)

On the bottom right corner of the exhibit are two circular photos, each surrounded by a red circle with a slash through the images. The image on the left is a closeup photo of a spotted knapweed, a flower with pinkish purple petals. The image on the right is a closeup photo of baby’s breath, with delicate white flowers.