Timeline Stories

Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Planting for Protection, Educational Initiative

For over five years, since 2021, Dune Doctors has partnered with Gulf State Park staff and Gulf Shores City Schools to host a student-led dune restoration initiative. Each year, approximately 200 students place recycled Christmas trees along the seaward toe of the dune to promote the capture of wind-driven sand. The students then plant roughly 3,000 native dune grass and other diverse species around the trees to help initiate the formation of a new coastal dune. 

 

Location: Saint George Island, Florida
Client: Government

Over two years, Dune Doctors collaborated with MRD Engineering and the Department of Environmental Protection to develop new dune revegetation models for large-scale coastal restoration projects. This effort included the design of 21 study plots to evaluate the effects of plant size, plant spacing, mulch application, and various sand capture devices, including sand fences, slats, and burlap, on accelerating sand accumulation. 

 

Location: Inlet Beach, Florida
Client: Residential
DMP™ Phases Implemented: P1, P2, P3, & P4

The Keroff family partnered with Dune Doctors to implement a comprehensive Dune Master Plan following the repair of erosion damage beneath their boardwalk. The project included the manual placement of 100 cubic yards of sand to stabilize the dune system. Vegetation was improved through a full dune cleanup, removal of dead plants and invasive vines, and fertilization to support native dune-building species. To further strengthen the restored dune, a new row of sand fencing was installed to accelerate the accumulation of wind-driven sand.

 

Location: Breton Island, Louisiana
Client: Government
DMP™ Phases Implemented: P2

The $72 million North Breton Island restoration project, initiated in 2020, is part of an ongoing effort to expand Louisiana’s barrier islands by hundreds of acres and extend the lifespan of critical nesting habitat for brown pelicans and least terns. Through extensive dredging effort, the expanded land also supports other visiting and foraging bird species, including the threatened red knot and piping plover. As part of this large-scale restoration effort, Dune Doctors installed 15,300 linear feet of sand fencing to promote sand accumulation and stabilize emerging dune systems. Image credit: USFWS

 

Location: Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Client: Commercial
DMP™ Phases Implemented: P1, P2, P3, P4

During Hurricane Sally in 2020, two neighboring properties, Dune Villas and Sago Sands, sustained storm surge damage that eroded portions of their dune systems. The key difference between the two communities was the extent of erosion they experienced. Sago Sands, which was operating under our Dune Maintenance Program, retained more than 80% of its dune system. In contrast, Dune Villas, which was not under a maintenance contract, suffered a near-total loss of their dune system.

 

Location: Navarre Beach, FL

Planting for Protection

A Day for the Dunes was an educational event hosted and sponsored by Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS), Dune Doctors, and Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center. Local marine and coastal conservation groups put together educational stations with interactive lessons about coastal and marine ecosystems and led a beach cleanup. Under the guidance of Dune Doctors and high school students from NBMSS, roughly 500 community members planted 1,350 sea oats on Navarre Beach dunes. Read more about the event.