Critical Dune Areas
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The Critical Dune Areas (CDA) program is administered
under the authority of Part 353, Sand Dune Protection and
Management, of the Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended.  
The CDA program protects the extremely fragile areas of
Michigan’s dunes by promoting the use of design and
construction techniques to minimize impacts of uses on
the dunes.  As defined in part 353, “use” means “a
developmental, silvicultural, or recreational activity done or
caused to be done by a person that significantly alters the
physical characteristic of a critical dune area or a contour
change done or caused to be done by a person.”
A Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality permit is required for any use within a
CDA.  Regulated activities include construction
of buildings, septic systems, water wells,
driveways, all excavation and filling, and
vegetation removal within the CDAs.  These
areas are identified in the “Atlas of Critical
Dune Areas” dated February 1989, and
adopted by the Michigan Legislature under Part
353.  Section 35313(c) requires that all
applications for permits for the use of a CDA
include in writing: “assurances that the cutting
and removing of trees and other vegetation will
be performed according to the instructions or
plans of the local soil conservation district.
Vegetation Removal Assurance
Download Van Buren
Conservation District's
Vegetation Removal Assurance
application packet.