NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

March 9, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 65

For more information, contact Jennifer Wheatley, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, 302-739-9921; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Sussex beaches need volunteers for beach grass planting on March 20
Beach grass will help stabilize dunes hit hard by coastal storms

Three Sussex County beaches – Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island – need volunteers for Delaware’s annual beach grass planting event being held 9 a.m. until noon, Saturday, March 20.

According to Jennifer Wheatley, environmental scientist with DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section and coordinator of the event, hundreds of volunteers have already signed up, but more are needed, especially at Delaware’s most southern beaches.

“We still need volunteers to plant the dunes at Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island beaches, and we are encouraging volunteers to sign up at these locations. Our sand dunes were hit especially hard last fall by three northeaster storms, and we need volunteers to help plant beach grass that was lost. Dunes are essential for protection against coastal storms, and we encourage people to join this year’s beach grass planting event.”

Volunteers are asked to sign up online at DSWC's website or by email Marcia.Cagle@state.de.us or by calling 302-739-9921.

The event, now in its 21st year, helps protect Delaware shorelines by planting Cape American beach grass on sand dunes damaged by coastal storms. Last year approximately 900 people planted more than 150,000 stems of beach grass along four miles of coastline between Delaware Seashore State Park and Kitts Hummock Beach. Since the program was introduced in 1989, more than 5 million stems of beach grass have been planted by dedicated volunteers.

Sand dunes are essential for protection against damaging coastal storms. When sand dunes are destroyed, storm waves can rush inland, flood properties and put lives at risk. Stabilized dunes absorb wave energy and act as major sand storage areas which replenish sand to eroded beaches during a storm.

Beach grass helps to build and stabilize dunes by trapping windblown sand. As the grass traps the sand, it builds the dunes higher and wider, which makes it more protective of the structures behind it.

DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section coordinates the annual beach grass planting event. The section also implements beach replenishment and erosion control projects along Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay communities to enhance, preserve and protect private and public beaches.