How You Dune? – Gears in the Sand – Episode 3

In Saugatuck, it’s symbiotic. Hundreds of acres of preserved, rare, freshwater dunes can be found along the area’s coast. That, in turn, has created delightful small towns with big tourist economies. But all this goodness did not come from nothing, and there’s still goodness still to protect.

Saugatuck’s dunes and economy have come about through years of yeoman’s work building relationships, working through the courts and organizing. David Swan, its president, joins us in the third episode of our Gears in the Sand podcast series to talk about Saugatuck’s story and how proposed legislation can help other towns find similar success without as much slog.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts

Learn more about the Environmental Council’s dunes work here.

Learn more about the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance here.

Interested in playing a role in dunes advocacy? Let us know by emailing beau@environmentalcouncil.org. He’ll get you set up.

Common Groundwater is hosted by the Michigan Environmental Council and Lansing resident Beau Brockett Jr.

Our music is “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi, arranged by Derek Zhang and performed by Jackson resident Taj Wallace.

Our 2024 series is sponsored by Kalsec, a global ingredient company headquartered in Kalamazoo that meets the highest recognized social and environmental standards through its B Corps certification.