DescriptionRaking beaches to remove wrack (natural and human litter) to enhance recreational use and using sand fences to build and stabilize dunes are common practices on developed shores, but their effects on the landscape are not well understood. Managers in Avalon, NJ, ceased using sand fences and raking in a portion of town in 1991 but continued these management practices in other portions, providing the opportunity to compare the morphology of natural and managed dune systems. Fifteen topographic profiles each were taken in a naturally evolving area and in a managed area, where raking and sand fences are still used. Fences caused accretion to occur at a fixed cross-shore location and resulted in greater dune crest heights than at locations where sand fences are no longer used. Crest heights of the foredune ridge in the managed area range from 4.45 m to 5.27 m. Crest heights in the unmanaged area range from 2.92 m to 4.27 m. Dune volume and beach volume are greater on average in the naturally evolving area, and the dune field is wider (mean of 72 m versus 40 m) and has an additional ridge. Removing wrack from the beach prevents incipient dunes from forming, thus reducing the number of dune crests and swales that create topographic variability and increase the number and types of habitats for flora and fauna. Suspension of raking can allow the dunes to build seaward and still provide an adequate volume of sand for protection for human facilities while producing a greater variety and number of habitats.