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School of Natural Resources and Environment. Sand Dunes. How to care ……and why!. How are dunes formed?. Coastal dunes are formed when sand is trapped around the stems, leaves and roots of plants in the vegetated areas of the beach. Why are Dunes Important?.
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Sand Dunes How to care ……and why!
How are dunes formed? Coastal dunes are formed when sand is trapped around the stems, leaves and roots of plants in the vegetated areas of the beach
Why are Dunes Important? The sand dune system along Navarre Beach helps protect the mainland and buildings from the force of tropical storms and hurricanes. The dune system absorbs the energy of storm waves
Why use different plants to restore dunes? Should we plant Sea Oat Turf?
Many different species of plants naturally occur in the dune system This diversity offers more opportunities for trapping sand and provides habitat for wildlife
Is it beneficial to plant more than one species when restoring dunes? Will a variety of plants trap sand differently than a monoculture? Will survival of a variety of plants differ from survival of a monoculture?
Beach Elder Iva imbricata
Bitter Panicum Panicum amarum
Gulf Bluestem Schizachyrium maritimum
Sea Oats Uniola paniculata
Site 7 Monoculture Beach Elder
Site 8 Beach Elder Plantings combining 3 species Gulf Bluestem Sea Oats
Sites 10 & 11 Sea Oats Plantings combining 2 species Bitter Panicum
Kiosks are installed at each site to provide information for the public
Citizen involvement and public education are integral to increasing public coastal awareness and stewardship
Utilize dune walkovers whenever possible! Footpaths through dunes can cause “blowouts” in the dune system during storms Surging water washes away sand that makes up the dune
Coastal Stewardship practices for all… Avoid picking or damaging dune plants Keep pets on a leash and out of dunes Don’t litter
For more information… Visit the UF Barrier Island Dunes website at http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/dunes or Visit the Navarre Beach study sites at public access sites 7, 8, 10, and 11
Project Leaders: Dr. Debbie Miller Dr. Mack Thetford Christine Verlinde Collaborators: Josiah Raymer Andrew Diller Scott Jackson Special Thanks: Cary Levins Mike Martino Kathy Hardin Barry Ballard Nik McCue Tanya Alvarez