Volunteers are shown participating in the Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter’s first dune restoration event of the year on Saturday. (Staff photo by Craig Alaniz)
By CRAIG ALANIZ
Reporter/Photographer
press@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter hosted the first dune restoration of the year Saturday, November 17, at Beach Access 1 in South Padre Island.
Rob Nixon, Chairman of Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter, said Surfrider Foundation in partnership with the City of South Padre Island continue to restore dune line to help preserve and restore beaches as well as provide habitat for local flora and fauna. He said the dunes will provide natural infrastructure protection for the Island.
There were 110 volunteers including the Girl Scouts, UTB Costal Studies Classes, Shore Line Task Force and others from the Laguna Madre area helping plant 14,000 dune plants that will help fill in a dune gap created by a temporary vehicle access.
Dune restoration sites are chosen if there are gaps between dunes to help prevent wash-outs, Nixon said.
“We want to protect the dunes and keep them from going into the ocean,” Nixon said. The dune restoration was a result of a $150,000 grant awarded to the city. Nixon said the grant was enough to double the dune restoration efforts from last year.
Nixon said this dune restoration season has 14 scheduled plantings. The next dune restoration is scheduled for Saturday, December 1, with the site to be determined.
Read this story in the Nov. 22 edition of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
Comments