How do dunes protect the beach

Some native plants typically used for dune stabilization in Michigan include:. Preserving and restoring our dunes not only protects our environment, but it also protects our way of life. Dune restoration is not without its flaws.

Whether you chose beach nourishment or added vegetation, dune restoration can be an expensive process, and the results are only temporary at best. Dune restoration done poorly can kill native species and accelerate erosion even further. Restored sand dunes with native vegetation can help prevent runoff. The plants will absorb rainwater and other precipitation, preventing flooding and runoff.

Sand dunes are a natural force against coastal erosion. They protect the coast against high waves and storms, and they adapt naturally to the wind and water in a way that disperses energy and protects the coastline.

Remember, dunes are dynamic by nature. Even a dune that has been stabilized will shift in response to the wind and the waves. However, sand dune stabilization is an important part of erosion control. Beach nourishment and native plants are two methods we employ to stabilize dunes in Michigan. Erosion Control. Sand Services. Skip to content. February 24, Significant dune erosion can occur in just a few hours, but full sand dune and beach recovery can take years.

After the storm, the beach area repairs itself first before the dunes can recover. Gentler wave action moves sand back to the shore, slowly rebuilding the beach. Dry sand is then blown further inland and trapped by sand binding vegetation to repair the eroded dune. The diagram above shows how dunes are repaired following beach recovery.

Natural dune repair depends on a good cover of native sand binding grasses, such as spinifex and pingao, to trap moving sand. Erosion through climate cycles sees shorelines on Waikato beaches move naturally over periods of decades, with the largest changes usually seen near estuary and river entrances.

Though periods of erosion can continue for years, in most cases it is not permanent. Simple cost effective strategies can reduce human disturbance and increase vegetation cover, which in turn increases the ability of existing dunes to provide maximum flood protection.

It is a win-win for humans and wildlife. Dunes are absolutely critical to reducing coastal flooding. So how do we ensure they continue protecting us? If you live in the Plum Island area, keep your eyes out for a notice announcing a community meeting this winter that will be devoted entirely to addressing erosion and dune restoration on the north end of Plum Island. This Bill Saves Wildlife in Crisis. Urge Congress to Support It.

Learn More. Other options include planting beach grass, erecting fencing, building dune paths and walkovers to prevent trampling of the dunes in multiple areas. See CT Beaches and Dunes for more information and resources. Dunes can be protected in two ways with fencing. Fencing can serve to keep people off fragile dunes and beach grass by designating paths to cross the dunes. Fencing can also serve to help sand accrete in the dunes.