Amanda Post

Orange Beach, AL Second Graders Restore Cotton Bayou Beach Access

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What can a group of determined kids accomplish in four hours? When it comes to the second-grade class at Orange Beach Elementary School, they can restore a public beach access with roughly 2,000 native plants. On October 13th and 14th, Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center and the Sea, Sand, and Stars Nature and Science Center partnered with Dune Doctors and Gulf State Park Naturalists to host a Dune Restoration Event for 80 students to install native dune-building plants at the Cotton Bayou Beach Access, Orange Beach, AL. This educational partnership is part of Dune Doctors’ mission to promote coastal resiliency through hands-on dune restoration and classes. Dune Doctors is a coastal erosion control firm based out of Pensacola, Florida, specializing in planning, constructing, and maintaining native ecosystems and protective landscapes.

Frederique Beroset, CEO of Dune Doctors teaches a class on native coastal vegetation while holding sea oats
Frederique Beroset MBA & MS Biology taught a class on native coastal vegetation, so the students could understand how the plants work together to stabilize and build dune ecosystems.

The field trip aligned with the second-grade curriculum as students were currently learning about slow and fast forms of erosion. For some students this event was their first school field trip after entering the schooling system at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What did the Students do at the Dune Restoration Event?

Before planting, the students attended three classes on native coastal plants, dune wildlife, and dune formation. The classes were taught by Amanda Post, Educational Coordinator for Dune Doctors, Kelly Reetz the Resource Manager for the Gulf State Park, and Frederique Beroset the CEO of Dune Doctors. After the classes, the students split into groups to install the vegetation. The students worked with various native plants, including sea oats, panic grass, sea purslane, beach elder, and red morning glory.

Amanda Post teaches a class on dune formation
Frederique Beroset, CEO of Dune Doctors introduces native dune flowers to a group of students
Kelly Reetz from the Gulf State Park demonstrates how sea turtles nest by digging a hole in the sand while a group of students observe her

How Does this Dune Restoration Event Benefit the Community of Orange Beach, Alabama?

The overarching goal for the event was to help kids develop a sense of stewardship over their local dune environment. Jackie McGonigal, the Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center Coordinator, who bridged the connection between the local school and organizations shared her “goal is to increase environmental literacy.” Nikki Walker, a teacher from the Sea, Sand, and Stars Science and Nature Center, said the restoration encouraged students to develop a personal connection to the dune environment and return to Cotton Bayou Beach with their loved ones.

“Our goal is to increase environmental literacy.”

Jackie McGonigal, Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center Coordinator
Amanda Post teaches students how to properly install a native dune plant
Orange Beach, AL elementary students plant a native sea oat
An Orange Beach elementary school student digs a hole to plant native dune vegetation
A group of students try to build a coastal dune with their hands
Kelly Reetz stands next to a group of students who are installing native dune plants
Rick Martins, the Operations Director for Dune Doctors leads a group of students in planting native dune vegetation
Dune Doctors organizes coastal vegetation to be installed
Orange Beach students exit the Cotton Bayou Public Beach Access
Amanda Post stands with a group of students behind a picture sign that presents how coastal dunes form

Why Engage Students to Participate in a Dune Restoration?

Coastal dunes are nature’s first line of defense against destructive wave action. However, even though these vegetated mounds can help absorb the impacts of storm surge, dune ecosystems are threatened by foot traffic erosion and imprudent development. Dune Doctors’ mission is to promote the stewardship of coastal ecosystems by encouraging people to regard the natural coastal environment as a valuable asset that must be invested-in, respected, and cared for. With over 22 years of experience in building coastal resiliency for commercial, private, and government properties, our restoration experts share their expertise with students to help educate the next generation of Coastal Stewards. Dune Doctors organizes dune restoration events through partnerships with schools, governmental organizations, NGO’s, and other communities.

“At Dune Doctors, we are passionate about building and maintaining healthy dunes to help protect coastal communities from storm surge. To promote the importance of this critical ecosystem, we also lead hands-on dune restoration events designed to educate and empower Coastal Stewards of all ages to take ownership over the preservation of their local beach and dune environment.”

Frederique Beroset MBA & MS Biology, CEO of Dune Doctors

Want to Build Sustainable Coastal Resiliency for Your Property?

If you live along the coastline and want to join other owners in strengthening your natural dune ecosystem, contact us at 866-386-3737 or fill out this form to request a free Dune Health Assessment. Our Coastal Restoration Experts will visit your property to evaluate the health levels of your dune environment and determine where potential failure points and at-risk areas may exist. After diagnosing the specific needs of your property, Dune Doctors will provide you with a Dune Master Plan™, a personalized roadmap designed for you to achieve coastal dune resiliency and property fortification.

Gulf Shores Kids Install 4,000 Native Dune Plants

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On February 22-23, Gulf Shores City Schools partnered with Dune Doctors and Gulf State Park Naturalists to host a Planting for Protection (P4P) Event for 185 students to install roughly 4,000 native dune-building plants and initiate a new row of coastal dunes along the Gulf State Park, AL. Planting for Protection is an educational initiative designed by Dune Doctors to promote coastal resiliency through community-based dune restoration.

Teachers from the Gulf Shores High School Sustainability Program incorporated the Planting for Protection (P4P) events into their spring semester lecture series. To help enhance the curriculum, Dune Doctors provided them with professional training on the different man-made and natural threats that contribute to coastal erosion. Leading up to the event, the teachers nominated 39 students to be P4P Mentors. Dune Doctors and Gulf State Park Naturalists trained the mentors in the installation of native vegetation. The P4P Mentors then taught the 5th-graders how to plant.

What did Students do at the Planting for Protection Event?

Debbie Williams with WKRG covered the Planting for Protection event. To read more click here.

Before each planting session, the students attended three classes on native coastal plants, dune wildlife, and dune development. The classes were taught by Cory Powell a Gulf State Park Naturalist, Kelly Reetz the Resource Manager for the Gulf State Park, and Frederique Beroset the CEO of Dune Doctors. The P4P mentors then mobilized their 5th-graders to install the vegetation. The students worked with various native plants including sea oats, panic grass, sea purslane, beach elder, and red morning glory.

What do the Students who Participated Have to Say?

Planting for Protection Mentors taught 5th-graders how to properly install native dune vegetation.

Aiden, a 5th Grader, said his favorite part was digging holes with the shovels. His classmate Briley said her favorite part was working with the gel (the gel is an environmentally-compliant method of providing newly installed vegetation with the moisture necessary to establish in sand). Both students stressed that their biggest takeaway was learning about the damaging effect of foot traffic. Briley wants everyone to “stick to boardwalks” because footpaths that cut through dunes “create pathways for storm water to reach the city.”

Jessie, a horticulture student and P4P Mentor, said this event benefitted her group because they learned the kind of work that goes into restoring their local dune ecosystems. Another P4P mentor had a clear message for the city of Gulf Shores. Kevin, a Student Ambassador with Gulf Shores City Schools, said, “these dunes are vital for the survival and health of the community along the coastline. Any opportunity the city of Gulf Shores has to restore these dunes would be widely beneficial to everyone.”

How Does this Planting for Protection Event Benefit the Community of Gulf Shores, Alabama?

The overarching goal for the event was to help kids develop a sense of ownership over the dune environment, expose the P4P mentors to professionals in the Green Industry, and provide the P4P mentors with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Jessica Sampley, the school’s Academies and Carrier Coordinator, expressed her excitement at how well the event came together and urged other schools to seize the opportunity to host one too. She said, “our goal is to educate kids who can then, hopefully, educate others to participate in preserving our local environment.” Johanna Gertsch, a Gulf State Park Naturalist, said the P4P restoration will help increase the park’s natural protective dune systems, offering greater protection for the ecosystems and communities landward of the dunes.

The Teachers from the Gulf Shores City Schools participated in the fun too!

What is a Planting for Protection Event?

Planting for Protection (P4P) is Dune Doctors’ educational initiative designed to promote coastal resiliency through hands-on dune restoration. With over 22 years of experience, our coastal restoration experts share their expertise with students to help educate the next generation of coastal stewards. Dune Doctors organizes Planting for Protection events through partnerships with Homeowner Associations, Schools, Government Organizations, NGO’s, and other communities. Should you want to bring a P4P event to your community, please reach our team through our Contact Us form.

How Coastal Stewards Can Protect Florida’s Beach-Nesting Birds

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  • Article Highlight: Florida’s beach-nesting birds need your help! Development has decreased the birds’ nesting habitat, so mindful cohabitation is necessary to ensure successful nesting.
  • Key Takeaway: The key to successful nesting is to minimize human disturbances. A good rule of thumb is: if you cause a bird to take flight, you are too close.
  • Take Action: Watch the video below to better understand how to help shoreline birds. If you’re a waterfront property owner, reach out to Dune Doctors to have our coastal restoration experts come evaluate the health of your native landscape and address any erosion issues that impact both your property and wildlife.

The beach teems with life during warm weather. While tourists flock in mass to enjoy the coastline, millions of birds do the same – seeking out isolated Florida beaches to build nesting colonies. With this increase in human activity overlapping such a critical time in the lifecycle of different shoreline birds, mindful cohabitation is necessary to keep the environment safe and conducive to nesting. Ongoing development has made it increasingly difficult for coastal wildlife to find undisturbed, people-free beaches. Therefore, as the nesting birds are forced to share the environment with beachgoers, Coastal Stewards can help protect them by educating others on how to enjoy themselves without posing a threat to the nesting population. Through collective awareness, we can increase nesting success and hatchling survival. Below are eight ways to help beach-nesting shorebirds.

How to Help Beach-Nesting Birds Fledge their Young  

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife, birds that migrate to Florida have flown hundreds of miles to reach our shores and are “pushed to the very limit of their physical abilities” when they arrive. In a weakened state, the birds become highly susceptible to any disturbances and prefer to nest on barrier islands and sandbars, away from land predators. However, human and domesticated animals present a considerable risk – as these barrier islands and sand bars, once isolated areas, now increasingly attract beachgoers, their pets, and their boats. The vulnerable populations include gulls, terns, black skimmers, plovers, willets, and oystercatchers. Coastal Stewards can help Florida’s beach-nesting birds fledge their young by following the steps below. 

  1. Stay at least 500ft away from a group of birds. Minimizing disturbance is the key to successful nesting. The camouflaged nests are not easy to spot, so stay back to avoid accidentally crushing eggs and hatchlings.
  2. Don’t force the birds to fly. Flushing them will cause adults to leave their hatchlings vulnerable to scorching sunlight. With enough disturbances, the adults may abandon the nesting colony altogether. 
  3. Leave pets at home or keep them leashed. One dog can compromise an entire colony in a matter of seconds. 
  4. Don’t leave any trash, fish scraps, or food behind. Predators like raccoons, foxes, and coyotes will follow these food sources to the beach.
  5. Don’t feed the birds. The food source, again, attracts predators. 
  6. Don’t shoot off personal fireworks. Fireworks scatter debris along the beach, and birds may eat it. Also, the noise frightens the adults and hatchlings, leading to potential nest abandonment.
  7. Respect nesting warning signs. Avoid areas that are sectioned off for nesting and encourage other beachgoers to do the same.  
  8. Get involved! The Audubon Society and other environmental agencies are always on the lookout for volunteers. Click here to find out more.

Remember: If a bird takes flight or dive-bombs you, you are too close. 

How Can Coastal Property Owners Help Protect Shoreline Birds?

Waterfront property owners can help nesting wildlife by preserving and maintaining their coastal landscape. If a private dune system is overrun with invasive plants and dead plant material (thatch), it creates a hospitable environment for invasive animals that will prey on native species. Furthermore, if erosive issues like stormwater that drains seaward through the dune, an active irrigation system that kills dune-stabilizing vegetation, or unmanaged foot traffic are not addressed the dune system will enter a heightened state of erosion – negatively impacting the beach where shoreline birds build nesting colonies. Healthy, well-maintained coastal dunes are the first lines of defense against storm surge. However, their purpose extends beyond absorbing the impact of destructive wave action. Dunes are part of the coastal ecosystem that hosts a wide range of resilient animals. From shoreline birds to sea turtles and dune mice, the survival of these species, much like the survival of coastal communities, depends on proactive stewardship of our native protective landscape. That being said, proactive coastal stewardship is achieved through longterm planning and consistent dune maintenance. Dune Doctors can help you build sustainable coastal resiliency and solve erosion issues that are impacting your dune system with a personalized Dune Master Plan™ that addresses the unique needs of your property. Our team will manage all aspects of restoring and maintaining your coastal landscape in full compliance with local and federal environmental regulations. Reach us at 866-386-3737 or contact us through this form to request a site visit today.

Coastal Steward Resources to Help Shoreline Birds: 

Planting for Protection with Indigo Condominiums

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On May 27th, 2021, Dune Doctors and Indigo Condominiums hosted a Planting for Protection event in Perdido Beach, Florida. Over fifty coastal stewards of all ages participated in the installation of dune-stabilizing, native vegetation. Planting for Protection is Dune Doctors’ educational initiative and is designed to educate children and the general public in the importance of coastal resiliency. Working with local schools, organizations, and communities to conduct these unique, hands-on experiences in the dune ecosystem, Dune Doctors encourages participants to develop a personal stake in the environment and a sense of ownership over the dune’s well-being. Dune Doctors’ CEO Frederique Beroset commented, “After a child has planted a sea oat on a dune and understands how the plant helps protect against erosion, they are significantly less likely to walk through the fragile ecosystem and are empowered to educate others.” A total of 180 plants were installed by the participants in one hour.

How Sand Cliffs Condominiums’ HOA is Working to Achieve Coastal Resiliency

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Article Highlight: Resiliency against storm surge is a choice that starts with strengthening your coastal dunes.

Key Takeaway: Every storms will eventually pass. The purpose of strengthening your sand dune is to build a resilient and continuous barrier that can help absorb a storm’s destructive impact. Even if the waves severely damage the dune, protection is achieved when the storm surge is held back long enough for the storm to pass without its wave action damaging water-front communities and infrastructure.

Learn Fast: Watch the video below to learn how Sand Cliffs Condominiums maximized their investment in coastal resiliency when they restored their dune to pre-Hurricane Sally state.

Watch the Restoration of Sand Cliffs Condominiums’ Massive Dune

How can you Build Protection from Storm Surge too?

Before we expand on Sand Cliffs’ history, here are two actionable steps that can help you accelerate your recovery from erosion-based damage and fortify your property before the next storm hits.

  • First, identify any potential weak points along your protective dune. Schedule a site visit for your property and have our coastal restoration experts conduct a dune health assessment.
  • Second, strengthen your protective dune. Our team will analyze your dune’s assessment to develop a customized Dune Master Plan for you to achieve and maintain coastal resiliency.

Dune Doctors will streamline and handle your entire restoration process, from acquiring all necessary permits to ensuring the completion of your dune’s construction. For a comprehensive approach to dune management, when needed we enlist the industry’s best contractors for boardwalk repairs or replacement and sand installation.

Hear it from Randy Smith the Property Manager at Sand Cliffs Condominiums

“Dune Doctors made my job easy. All I had to do was worry about signing checks. They handled all of the coordination between government regulatory agencies and the sand contractors. We reached out to Dune Doctors after Hurricane Sally. They took care of the permitting for our emergency sand placement and provided quotes from different sand contractors. After the new dune was finished, they stabilized the loose sand with native vegetation and installed a row of sand fences to initiate another protective berm. The old dune is gone, but the dune and plants did what they were supposed to do. They protected our infrastructure.”

– Randy Smith

Sand Cliffs’ History of Coastal Stewardship

Since the early 2000s, Sand Cliff Condominiums’ HOA board and property manager have achieved coastal resiliency by investing in their protective dune system. The community recognizes their dune is a valuable asset that should be invested in and cared for to bolster their protection from storm surge. Sand Cliffs preserved and maintained their dune-building vegetation by having our team add grasses and fertilize the plants as necessary. To help further delay storm action from ever reaching their infrastructure, Sand Cliffs also installed vegetation and sand fences seaward of their existing dune. The sand fences helped trap wind-blown while the plants anchored it in place. These combined efforts resulted in a dune system with multiple lines of defense that were able to protect Sand Cliffs from storm action for nearly two decades.

How did Hurricane Sally Impact Sand Cliffs Condominiums?

When Hurricane Sally made its unexpected landfall in Alabama, Sand Cliffs’ dune absorbed the shock of the powerful storm surge and 90% of it was eliminated in the process. However, besides the erosion, the storm’s wave action caused zero structural damage. Located roughly 120 miles east of where Hurricane Sally made landfall, Sand Cliffs Condominiums sits on the outskirts of Panama City Beach and experienced storm surge that was estimated to be 3-5ft high. Their beach’s width roughly measured a mere 70ft north-south. This short width of recreational beach area led the surge to directly crash into the well established dune. While the waves caused heavy erosion, Sand Cliffs’ dune did precisely what it was optimized to do: absorb a hurricane’s destructive wave action, sparing the community’s infrastructure.

Four Invasive Plants that Can Disrupt your Dune Ecosystem

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Four Invasive Plants Crowding Out Native Coastal Plants

Coastal plants anchor sand dunes and protect against erosion, but these four invasive plant species are crowding out native vegetation and could disrupt your dune ecosystem. 

Very few plants can survive the dynamic forces that shape the coastal environment. From powerful winds to temporary periods of drought, the dune ecosystem can home only the most resilient collection of well-adapted plants and small animals. Unfortunately, four invasive plant species have managed to grow under these conditions and compete with native plant communities for the limited food and water available. These threatening plants include beach vitex, beach naupaka, Chinese tallow, and the Australian pine. All four have caused documented damage by displacing or hybridizing with native species. 

Brought in from all over the world due to quality traits deemed useful or beautiful, exotic plants, if left to grow unchecked, don’t face the same restricting environmental factors from back home and can greatly alter the plant communities they are introduced into. With many major ports of entry all along the Gulf Coast, the American South has received countless foreign plants and animals that have been either deliberately introduced or happened to hitchhike into the country hidden amongst cargo.

What are invasive Plant Species? 

Every year, the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council releases a comprehensive list of invasive plant species and divides the plants into two groups: Category 1 and Category 2. The first group is comprised of plants that have caused ecological damage through crowding out or hybridizing with native vegetation. Category 2 is a collection of plants that rapidly spread but has not yet altered local plant communities as drastically as Category 1. Once a species from Category 2 is documented to cause ecological damage they are reassigned to Category 1. For the sake of this article, we looked at Category 1 coastal plants listed in the 2019 Florida report and cross-referenced with the noxious weed list of each Gulf Coast state to see if there was any overlap. For a standard definition, any foreign plant that gets established and spreads is considered invasive, and a noxious weed is a plant that is legally restricted by a government body.  

Beach Vitex: Vitex Rotundifolia 

Native to the western Pacific from Korea to northern Australia, the beach vitex was intentionally introduced for horticultural purposes including dune stabilization. The University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants explains that a decade after being introduced the plant demonstrated its invasive potential by rapidly reproducing with short growth time. The beach vitex affects dune plants by smothering the vegetation and reducing sunlight levels with its dense leafy mats. With a high drought and salt tolerance, the beach vitex is a strong competitor. Unlike sea oats, the primary dune stabilizing plant along the Gulf Coast, this invasive does not have a complex root system and is, therefore, less effective at anchoring sand in place. 

Beach vitex covering sand dunes

In the picture above, beach vitex is growing out of the cracks in the concrete and spreading along the walkway. In the picture below, you can see how the plant has overtaken the landward portion of the dunes.

Half Flower, Beach Naupaka: Scaevola Taccada 

Often depicted on postcards sent from Hawaii, the half flower or beach naupaka is a beautiful plant known for its year-round flowers. Native to the Indian and Pacific Ocean region, the beach naupaka is a large, bushy shrub that grows directly on the beach. Used to prevent coastal erosion on certain islands of the Pacific, the plant prefers well-drained pebbly or sandy soil and can handle saline spray. Unfortunately, it has invaded and displaced native vegetation of many Caribbean nations and certain Gulf Coast communities. The Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services classifies the beach naupaka as a noxious weed and legally prohibits its distribution. 

Invasive plant Beach Naupaka growing along the coast

Australian Pine: Casuarina 

The Australian Pine is another plant legally prohibited to buy or sell in the state of Florida. Native to Australia, the South Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia, the Australian Pine can grow up to 150 feet tall. According to the Florida Wildlife Conservation (FWC), the trees were originally introduced into the US to form windbreaks around canals and other structures but has since escaped cultivation. The FWC states the population must be managed because the tree threatens “beach plant communities by quickly invading newly accreted beaches, beaches where dredge spoil has been deposited, and beaches where a storm has destroyed existing vegetation.” The Australian pine produces a dense leaf litter that covers the ground. This decaying matt limits the sunlight’s reach to the native vegetation below. The pines also tend to uproot easily during high winds and topple over to create safety hazards that block coastal storm evacuation routes. 

Invasive plant Australian Pine growing along the coast
Image was taken by James St. John

In the image above, you can see the Australian pine’s dense leaf mat.

Chinese Tallow: Sapium Sebiferum 

Introduced to the USA during the 1700s, the Chinese tallow was primarily used as an ornamental plant but has since exited domestic cultivation to the wild where it presents an enormous issue for a variety of native habitats. The Chinese tallow can grow along the coast or in swampy waters and can thrive in both shade or direct sunlight. The University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants states this highly adaptable plant has invaded the southern coastal plain from South Carolina to South Texas and can be found in over half of the counties in Florida. The plant is legally prohibited in all Gulf Coast states. 

Invasive plant Chinese Tallow
Image was taken by Tatters.

What can you do to protect your dune ecosystem from invasive plants?

A dune ecosystem is a living community of plants and animals that requires routine maintenance and special care to help mother nature protect your property from storm surge and erosion. We have discussed the impacts of four invasive plant species, but not everyone is qualified to remove them. Follow these steps to preemptively minimize invasive species around your property:

  1. Do not attempt to trim or remove the invasive species, as these plants often can reproduce from seeds or cuttings. Weed whacking will burst ripe seed pods and cast them into the wind causing the invasive species to spread at a higher rate. 
  2. Have our professional team come look at your dunes to diagnose weaknesses in the plant community before invasives can take advantage of your property.
  3. Analyze your dunes with our Dune Diagnostic Form in hand to spot different environmental threats by matching what you see around your property to the images on the form. Download the form here. 

References and Useful Links 

University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Chinese Tallow

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Australian Pine

University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Beach Naupaka

University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Beach Vitex

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2019 List of Invasive Plant Species

Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States 

National Park Service: Alien Invaders – Exotic Plants in the Everglades