When visiting the coast, you can’t help but notice the beautiful sand dunes along the beach. These dunes are important for the ecosystem, environment and cities. The natural growth of sea grasses, sea oats and shrubs helps hold them together by creating a root system that keeps the sand in place. Acting as a wall, sand dunes help protect beaches and property from damage from high winds, storm surges, waves and tides. The dunes are the first line of defense [...]
Earlier this year we were reminded of how fragile our beautiful coastline is. Hurricane Sally visited and definitely overstayed her welcome with hours of hurricane-force winds and torrential rain battering our beaches, homes and businesses. Do you know what is the greatest natural protection we have from storms? The sea oats and other vegetation that help hold our dunes together. The stately sea oats can create a root system as much as 10 times the size of the rest of the plant. All of those roots hold on to sand. As sea oats [...]
When you arrive at the beach, excitement takes over and you want to get to the water as quickly as possible. But, wait! How are you going to get there? Chances are, your vacation rental has a wooden path just for this purpose. That iconic boardwalk is more than an easy way to get to the beach. It’s also the protector of the beach dunes. The beach dunes along our sandy shores provide habitat for the diverse wildlife of the [...]
In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan pummeled our shoreline with 100-plus surface winds as a category three hurricane. In addition to strong winds, Ivan brought an eight-foot-plus storm surge. The wind and water erased the numerous dunes of our coastline and it has taken years for them to build back. Each year as June 1 rolls around, our thoughts are on hurricane season and what needs to be done to protect our livelihoods. One of the ways we protect our homes and businesses that dot the coastline is a wall built by nature: the beautiful [...]
June is here! And it’s a great time to talk about a big question you might have: “What is with all the signs telling me to stay off those beautiful sand dunes?” Why is it a good time to talk about sand dunes? While June brings plenty of sunshine and breathtaking days at the beach, it also brings the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 through November 30. One reason it’s important to refrain from damaging [...]
When you visit our Alabama beaches, you may notice signs that prohibit walking on sand dunes or damaging the sea oats. There’s a reason we protect those dunes. Our coast and beaches need them. Why? Glad you asked. Those hills of sand act as a natural barrier to protect inland areas against storms and waves. When these barriers are damaged, high surf and strong waves brought on by storms are free to flow farther inland, potentially bringing greater devastation to [...]
How much do you know about those sea oats you see growing on the dunes of the Alabama coast? We’re sharing six facts below to help you brush up your knowledge. 1 – Sea oats are a widespread grass that is drought resistant and immune to fungus infections. That makes them a hardy species for the tough coastal environment, even using the sand that collects around it to stimulate the plant’s growth. 2 – The scientific name for sea oats [...]
Kids like keeping their planet healthy and clean. They love the beach and want to take care of it. You can help them do that during your visit to the Alabama coast this summer. Below are the basic Leave No Trace principles that kids can learn and implement. Know Before You Go. Learn the Leave Only Footprints rules that prohibit leaving items on the beach after sunset. Teach your kids this rule and let them help you tote the beach [...]
