Vegetation Plan - Ontario Parks

APPENDIX 4: Use of Sand Fencing
Sand fencing can be used in the beach and foredune to help stop sand from accumulating in undesirable areas.
The following guidelines are taken from Peach (2005).
• Fencing requires 40% - 50% porosity for optimum sand accumulation;
• Wood slat snow fencing is preferable; plastic fencing is prone to decay from ultraviolet radiation;
• Fencing is used to slow the onshore wind speeds, allowing sand to accumulate behind the
fence;
• The rule of thumb for sand fencing placement is, “Significant sand deposition will occur in an
area behind the fence measuring about eight times the height of the fence.” (i.e., a one-metrehigh
fence will have significant accumulations eight metres behind it);
• Fencing can be placed during the fall before Thanksgiving weekend and removed in the spring
prior to peak tourist season. It can be used all year as well;
• When water levels are low, multiple rows of fencing can be used;
• Note: In areas with Pitcher’s Thistle where this management technique is used, sand
accumulation should be monitored as Pitcher’s Thistle is tolerant of sand accumulations of only
2-3 cm per year;
• It will also be important to monitor sand accumulations and adjust fences accordingly;
• Newly accumulated sand will be loose and susceptible to erosion, and consideration may be
given to using this technique in combination with planting to give the accumulated sand stability;
(See Appendix 5)
• Sand fencing is generally used for the first 2-3 years of the project until vegetation has been
established sufficiently to act as the primary sand-trapping mechanism.
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