Climate change threatens Indiana dunes lakeshore

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was listed as one of 25 parks most threatened by climate change in a report released earlier this month by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report, “National Parks in Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption,” identifies the parks most affected by climate change in the United States, including well-known sites Yellowstone National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. 

To compile the list, the two groups worked together to study the effects of climate change in various regions throughout the country, specifically looking at the plant communities, said Tom Easley, director of programs at RMCO.

The lakeshore, located in Porter, Ind., is home to more than 15,000 acres of forests and dunes and more than 1,100 different flowering plant species. It spans 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. 

“When people think of national parks, they don’t necessarily think of Indiana,” senior advocate at the NRDC Theo Spencer said. “We wanted to show people that the system is broad and every state is affected by climate change.”

Spencer said the lakeshore is in danger because of high temperatures that cause dropping water levels in the Great Lakes in recent years.

In 2007, both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan dropped more than 20 inches below average. The loss of water reduces the habitat and food sources for the animals that live there, Spencer said.

The report also states that with temperatures across the board continuing to rise, people are likely to seek out the cooler climate surrounding the lakeshore, overcrowding the park and endangering the wildlife.

It also lists recommendations for what can be done by the parks to fix the situation, like reducing emissions and expanding and creating new parks to help protect more natural resources.

But even with the parks working to solve the problem, the public still needs to lend a hand, Spencer said. 

“The first thing they can do is tell their senators to help pass climate legislation,” Spencer said. “Then the public can let the parks know that they’re concerned about the risks climate change imposes.”

Supervisory Park Ranger at the lakeshore Bruce Rowe said there are plenty of volunteer opportunities at the park for people wanting to help, ranging from cleaning the trails or helping to take care of the wildlife.

“There are a lot of things that both the park and the general public can do to help,” Rowe said. “Certainly anything that would reduce our carbon footprint, such as living off the land more and reducing our pollutants, not only helps the parks but also the earth.”