Engineering Evaluation of Freshwater Lake Coastal Sand Dunes: A Study of Sandbanks Provincial Park, Kingston, Canada

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive engineering evaluation of the freshwater coastal sand dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park, located on the southern edge of Prince Edward County, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Sandbanks is renowned for its extensive and dynamic sand dune system, which plays a crucial role in coastal management by absorbing wave energy, mitigating storm surges, and preventing sand deposition on infrastructure. Shaped by historical glacial activities, wind, and wave action, these dunes are critical for stabilizing the beach environment, controlling wind erosion, and supporting diverse plant and animal communities. This research uniquely combines historical data with recent field studies to offer new insights into the engineering properties, geomorphological processes, and ecological dynamics that govern the formation, stability, and resilience of the dunes. The study addresses contemporary challenges such as climate change, human impact, and erosion, and proposes actionable conservation strategies that balance ecological preservation with practical land management. While focused on a specific section of Ontario’s coastal dunes, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of coastal dune systems more broadly, offering valuable guidance for their long-term sustainability and management across similar environments.