School of
Natural Resources
and Environment
How to care
……and why!
How are dunes formed?
Coastal dunes are formed when sand
is trapped around the stems, leaves
and roots of plants in the vegetated
areas of the beach
Why are Dunes
Important?
The sand dune system along Navarre Beach helps protect the
mainland and buildings from the force of tropical storms and
hurricanes. The dune system absorbs the energy of storm waves
Why use different plants
to restore dunes?
Should we plant
Sea Oat Turf?
Many different species of plants
naturally occur in the dune system
This diversity
offers more
opportunities for
trapping sand and
provides habitat
for wildlife
Is it beneficial to plant more than
one species when restoring dunes?
Will a variety of plants trap sand differently
than a monoculture?
Will survival of a variety of plants differ from
survival of a monoculture?
Beach Elder
Iva imbricata
Bitter Panicum
Panicum amarum
Gulf Bluestem
Schizachyrium maritimum
Sea Oats
Uniola paniculata
Monoculture
Beach Elder
Site 7
Plantings
combining
3 species
Beach Elder
Gulf Bluestem
Site 8
Sea Oats
Sea Oats
Bitter Panicum
Sites 10 & 11
Plantings
combining
2 species
Kiosks are installed at each site to
provide information for the public
Citizen involvement and public education are integral to
increasing public coastal awareness and stewardship
How can you help protect dunes?
Utilize dune walkovers whenever possible!
Footpaths through dunes can cause “blowouts” in the
dune system during storms
Surging water washes away sand that makes up the
dune
Coastal
Stewardship
practices for
all…
Avoid picking
or damaging
dune plants
Keep pets on
a leash and
out of dunes
Don’t litter
For more information…
Visit the UF Barrier Island Dunes website at
http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/dunes
or
Visit the Navarre Beach study sites at public access
sites 7, 8, 10, and 11
Project Leaders:
Dr. Debbie Miller
Dr. Mack Thetford
Christine Verlinde
Special Thanks:
Cary Levins
Kathy Hardin
Nik McCue
Collaborators:
Josiah Raymer
Andrew Diller
Scott Jackson
Mike Martino
Barry Ballard
Tanya Alvarez