Stabilization of Beaches and Dunes by Vegetation in Florida

Davis, Jr., John

INTRODUCTION: Extremely valuable natural assets of the State of Florida are its coastal areas, especially its beaches and dunes that have become over the years the prime areas for recreation, homes, and associated commerce. Cities have grown on or near these beaches to serve residents and visitors alike. The attractiveness of these strand areas has made them the most valuable real estate in Florida. At the time of early settlement and until recent years the beaches and dunes had retained most of their natural configuration, and erosion and other deterioration were due mostly to storms. Recently, however, significant stretches of beaches and some dune fields have become severely altered in many areas due to structures and activities that have increased erosion of sand and other materials, and in some cases altered offshore currents. Considerable concern has been expressed over how to retain these valuable assets, not only by decreasing the changes but also by making some restoration of the areas most depleted. The shores have been partly built up and even extended seaward by the natural growth of plants that formed certain distinct kinds of vegetation that stopped and held materials brought in by waves, tides, and winds. Dense plant growth held these materials in place in the form of dunes. The purpose of this report is to provide coastal strand property owners and managers with guidelines for the use of vegetation in the protection and restoration of Florida beaches and dunes. This vegetation is described In Part I of this publication, and some methods of using plants to repeat the natural process of dune formation are considered in Part II.