Michigan Environmental Council

Aug 31, 2017

Brad Garmon

Michigan is home to the world's largest collection of freshwater coastal sand dunes, most of which lie in state or local parks like Holland State Park. (Grand Haven State Park). Though a relatively tiny slice of the state's overall landscape, these dunes provide ecological, cultural and economic value that help make our state special. Indeed, dune-related activities are part of Michigan’s growing $19 billion outdoor recreation economy—which, perhaps surprisingly, exceeds those in Colorado and Utah, among other outdoor-recreation destinations. The Michigan Environmental Council hopes a better understanding of the value of dunes and other public lands value might lead to more conservation protections. To that end, MEC launched a project this summer that is collecting data on how residents and visitors experience sand dunes. This project and some of its findings would be a part of an engaging presentation by MEC Director of Conservation and Special Projects Brad Garmon.

Brad Garmon is the Director of Conservation and Emerging Issues at MEC, where he has worked since moving to Michigan in 2001. Brad holds degrees in Earth Science and Geospatial Analysis, and a master's degree in English. In addition to policy work on natural resources protection, land conservation, economic development and Smart Growth issues across Michigan, he is a member of the Michigan Sense of Place Council, the Michigan Environmental Advisory Council, the national Growth Management Leadership Alliance and the People And Land Leadership Council. He was appointed by Governor Snyder to the Michigan State Parks and Recreation Blue Ribbon Panel in 2011.