Dune_Restoration_and_Enhancement_for_the_Florida_Panhandle_0001.pdf

Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle

SGEB-75

Reviewed: 10/2021

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Debbie Miller, professor, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32583

Mack Thetford, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32583

Christina Verlinde, UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant agent Santa Rosa County, Milton, FL 32570

Gabriel Campbell, graduate research assistant; UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32570

Ashlynn Smith, graduate research assistant; UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32583

This publication was prepared in fulfillment of reporting requirements for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Grant Agreement No. F07AP00022 (formerly 401817G016) (University of Florida projects #00068543 and #00066205) Habitat Restoration for Beach Mice: Landscape-Level Population Studies and Dune Restoration.

It was also supported by the National Sea Grant College Program of the United States Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Grant No. NA 14OAR4170108. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of these organizations.

Additional copies are available by contacting UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, PO Box 110409, Gainesville, FL 32611-0409,

(352) 392-2801, www.flseagrant.org.

http://www.flseagrant.org

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Foreword

The purpose of this manual is to provide an overview of the Florida Panhandle coastal dune systems and specific information on coastal dune restoration and restoration enhance-ment activities. These restoration techniques have been developed and tested through research and monitor-ing activities for the northern Gulf of Mexico region.

As with many projects that summa-rize information and experiences from a variety of disciplines, some sections of this manual will be useful to a broad group of individuals.

Other sections may target a specific audience. The authors have worked for many years with homeowners, local government officials, land managers, nurseries, and restoration project managers. Requests from these various audiences for a common resource that would provide both basic and targeted information pertinent to coastal dune restoration inspired us to create this manual.

This manual may serve as a tool to assist managers and homeowners with development of restoration goals, introduce restoration practitioners to required permitting processes, or assist contractors with timelines for implementing restoration activ-ities based on the knowledge of the impacted flora and fauna.

This manual begins with basic information about coastal systems along the western Florida Panhandle and provides a context for the impor-tance of dunes. Readers will find this information useful in understanding how the components of the coastal system are interrelated, learning about the diversity of plant communities that make up our coastal system, and understanding the roles of the flora and fauna found on our coasts.

The second section of the manual focuses on the restoration of coastal dunes within the western Florida Panhandle. This section provides initial contacts for permitting processes and technical information on approaches for dune restoration and explains specific restoration techniques for establishing dunes and planting dune vegetation. Readers will also learn about additional plant species that provide wildlife cover, nectar, and other kinds of food for insects and wildlife. This information is also pertinent to nursery growers, contracting agents, land managers, and local governments who partici-pate in the development of contract specifications that address plant species selection, nursery production systems, and appropriate planting locations, spacing, timing, and transplant size.

The third section of the manual provides detailed information on plant species found in the many plant communities in the western Florida Panhandle. Details on identification, biology, propagation methods, and nursery production methods as well as recommendations for successful out-planting for coastal restoration are provided for each plant. This information is useful for the homeowner to understand the timeline for production or the degree of difficulty involved in the production of these plants. Nursery growers, contracting agents, land managers, and local governments will also find this information useful in development of specifications for contracts or seed-collection permits for projects that will require access to seed or cutting materials in advance of restoration planting.

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Table of Contents

Foreword

Factors Affecting Approaches to Dune Restoration and Enhancement in the Florida Panhandle

Our Coastal Systems

Dune Formation

Dune Stability

Why Dunes Are Important

Protection from Storms

Home to Unique Wildlife and Plants

Beach Mice

Sea Turtles

Gopher Tortoises

Shorebirds

Other Beach Dwellers

Endemic Plants

Threats to Dunes

Coastal Landscapes and Associated Plant Communities

Beach and Frontal Zone Plant Community

Beach

Beach Dune

Interior Plant Communities

Coastal Grassland

Coastal Interdunal Swale

Scrub

Restoring Dunes in the Western Florida Panhandle

Coastal Construction Control Line

Preservation and Use of Existing Resources

Wrack

Uprooted Sea Oats

Active Restoration Applications

Sand Fence

Planting Beach Dune Species

Recommended Planting Dates

Recommended Plant Spacing

Recommended Planting Depth

Planting Amendments

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Wheat Straw

Fertilizer

Water Adsorbing Gel Products

Irrigation

Planting Woody Species after Beach Dune Establishment

Planting of Herbaceous Plants for Wildlife Cover, Food, and Nectar

References

General Description, Propagation, and Outplanting of Northwest Florida Coastal Plants

Plant Identification and Nomenclature Resources

List of Species by Scientific Name

List of Species by Common Name

Sand Dune Plant Species Fact Sheets

Asclepias humistrata sandhill milkweed

Balduina angustifolia coastalplain honeycombhead

Ceratiola ericoides Florida rosemary

Chrysoma pauciflosculosa woody goldenrod

Chrysopsis goldenaster

Chrysopsis godfreyi Godfrey’s goldenaster

Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. Cruiseana Cruise’s goldenaster

Conradina canescens false rosemary

Crocanthemum arenicola coastal sand frostweed

Geobalanus oblongifolius gopher apple

Hypericum tenuifolium Atlantic St. John’s wort

Ilex glabra inkberry

Ilex vomitoria yaupon

Ipomoea imperati beach morning-glory

Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. basiliensis railroad vine

Iva imbricata seacoast marshelder

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Lupinus westianus var. westianus gulf coast lupine

Morella cerifera wax myrtle

Oenothera humifusa seabeach evening primrose

Panicum amarum bitter panicgrass, bitter panicum

Paronychia erecta squareflower

Physalis angustifolia coastal groundcherry

Polygonella polygama October flower

Quercus geminata sand live oak

Quercus myrtifolia myrtle oak

Schizachyrium maritimum gulf bluestem, maritime bluestem

Solidago sempervirens seaside goldenrod

Uniola paniculata sea oats

Coastal Plant Species Form, Structure, Position, and Food Source Characteristics

Terms and Definitions

Conversions/Equivalents

Percent to ppm conversion table

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Factors Affecting Approaches to Dune Restoration and Enhancement in the Florida Panhandle

This manual provides an overview of the coastal systems located along the Florida Panhandle and outlines specific information regarding dune restoration and enhancement activities for this region of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The authors have compiled this text on the basis of local experiences with these activities, where more formal research reports are not presently available. This manual represents the work of the authors, and undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Florida, as well as information derived from local professionals, peer-reviewed academic journals, government documents, and various online resources accessed over 20 years of work on this subject area.

Our Coastal Systems

The coastlines along the Florida Panhandle are dynamic and naturally shaped by waves, wind, and sand.

Figure 1. Dune grasses on the frontal zone of the beach of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, showing the initial line of vegetation to capture moving sand. Credit: Josiah Raymer, UF/IFAS

Dune Formation

The Florida Panhandle is a high-energy coast with sufficient availability of offshore sand for wide beach formation.

Strong onshore winds carry the sand from the beach landward to allow for dune development.

During spring and summer, beaches gradually grow wider as low-energy waves deposit sand on the shore (Williams 2007). This beach sand is then available for dune formation.

Sand moves only when dry and when wind speeds are sufficient to cause individual sand grains to roll and bounce along the surface, or to be carried by wind through the air.

Dune formation begins when vegetation is present to slow winds and capture and stabilize blowing sand (Figure 1).

Dune Stability

Figure 2. A diagram of sea oats plant parts indicating where each plant part is found in relation to accumulating sand. Credit: Mica Schneider, UF/IFAS

Coastal grasses and shrubs are the biological engineers of our dunes. As windblown sand passes through the stems and leaves of perennial grasses and other types of vegetation located at the edge of the beach, wind speed is dampened and sand is deposited around the base of the plants. This intercepted beach sand remains in place because of the tall stems of the vegetation. It is further stabilized by the three-dimensional latticework of roots and rhizomes (Figure 2).

For dunes to increase in height, vegetation must be able to grow fast enough to keep pace with accumulating sand. This vegetation must also tolerate salt spray, desiccating winds, and low soil moisture.

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Figure 3. Beach dunes of Santa Rosa Island showing the herbaceous plant community composed primarily of the perennial grasses sea oats (Uniola paniculata) and bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) with beach elder (Iva imbricata) intermixed. Credit: Josiah Raymer, UF/IFAS

Coastal grasses in the Florida Panhandle such as sea oats (Uniola paniculata) and bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) grow fast enough to facilitate rapid beach dune growth. As a result, to promote growth of new beach dunes (foredunes) or to repair damaged dunes, these perennial grasses are often planted after dunes have been eroded, fragmented, or destroyed.

When there are long periods between strong tropical storms, some dunes reach great heights. The dunes reach these heights when they are stabilized by the presence of woody vegetation on the leeward side of developed dunes (Figure 3).

Why Dunes Are Important

Protection from Storms ecosystems. Shorelines are protected when waves break on beaches and dunes prevent the full force of water from reaching inland (Figure 4).

Dunes are also reservoirs of sand. The higher and wider the dunes, the larger the reservoir of sand and the greater the protection from coastal flooding, storm surge, and wave action. The resilience of the beach-dune system relies on the reservoir of sand. When dunes are damaged, sand is released and replenishes our beaches. In a healthy, resilient coastal system, this sand is then available for redevelop-ment of the dune system. Recognition of the importance of dunes for pro-tection of coastal homes has led local, state, and federal agencies to provide support to preserve and restore dunes to protect coastal communities.

Home to Unique Wildlife and Plants

Dunes are essential for the continued existence of many rare plants and animals. Entire coastal landscapes, including beach dunes, embedded grasslands, wetlands, and scrub provide critical habitat for endangered and rare endemic plant and animal species (a species that is endemic to a particular ecosystem occurs nowhere in the world other than that eco-system) (Dahl et al. 1975; Dahl and Woodard 1977; Swilling et al.1998).

Beach Mice

Four rare, imperiled subspecies of beach mice occur on the barrier islands and peninsulas of the Florida Panhandle, the Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis), the Santa Rosa beach mouse (P. p. leucocephalus), the Choctawhatchee beach mouse (P. p.

allophrys), and the St. Andrew beach mouse (P. p. peninsularis) (Figure 5).

Dunes are essential for the protec-tion of roads, buildings, and coastal properties. They are resilient, flexible barriers that are the first line of defense against potential damage caused by wind and water from coastal storms. They absorb energy and dissipate the impact of tides, storm surges, and waves, providing protection to homes and businesses as well as our rare coastal

Figure 4. Constructed berm with sand fence located in front of coastal development and planted with a mixture of sea oats (Uniola paniculata) and bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) along Navarre Beach, Santa Rosa Island. Credit: Debbie Miller, UF/IFAS

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Figure 5. The threatened Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus).

Credit: UF/IFAS file photo

With a single exception, these beach mice are endemic to the beaches of the Florida Panhandle—they occur nowhere else in the world. The one exception is the Perdido Key beach mouse, whose range also extends to a small area in Alabama.

Sea Turtles

Our beaches are nesting habitat for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and sometimes the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Both nesting female sea tur-tles and tiny hatchlings can become disoriented by man-made lights.

Bright streetlights and houselights can lead sea turtles inland, away from the Gulf of Mexico, where they become prey to dogs, raccoons, and other animals; die of dehydration; or are maimed and killed by vehicles when they crawl into roads or parking lots.

Dunes diminish the impact of city lights and provide a barrier between sea turtle nesting habitat and human developments, thereby encouraging adult and hatchling sea turtles to move toward the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the many migratory pollinators that rely on Florida Panhandle coastal ecosystems is the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The monarch uses the milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) found on our dunes to deposit eggs and feed larvae for the next generation of butterflies. Rare endemic invertebrates are also found on our coastal landscapes. Three rare beetles, Woodruff ’s polyphyllan scarab beetle (Polyphylla woodruffi), the lobed spiny burrowing beetle (Gronocarus autumnalis), and the lobeless spiny burrowing beetle (Gronocarus inornatus), live in the dunes. A rare ground-dwelling bee (Hesperapsis oraria) is also found on our barrier islands and the immediate coastline (Figure 6).

Endemic Plants

Endemic plants such as the two forms of Godfrey’s goldenaster (Chrysopsis godfreyi forma godfreyi and Chrysopsis godfreyi forma viridis), Cruise’s goldenaster (Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. Cruiseana), false rosemary (Conradina canescens), coastal sand frostweed (Crocanthemum arenicola), gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus var. westianus), and squareflower (Paronychia erecta) are also associated with coastal landscapes (Figure 7). There are also rare plants such as the largeleaf jointweed (Polygonella macrophylla).

Gopher Tortoises

While sea turtles use the beaches during nesting periods, the gopher tortoise (Go-pherus polyphemus) finds year-round habitat in dunes. Dunes provide burrowing sites for these land animals. Both dunes and interdunal swales, the low depressions between the dunes in the coastal landscape, provide food resources.

Shorebirds

Our beaches and dunes are critical stopover habitats during migration for many birds and pollinators. Three rare shorebirds, the snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Wilson’s plover (Charadrius wilsonia), and American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates), nest on the coast of the Florida Panhandle.

Figure 6. At left, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) resting in tree canopies within backdune trees on Santa Rosa Island. At right, the rare coastal plain hesperapis (Hesperapis oraria) known also as the balduina bee mating on the flower of coastalplain honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia). Credits: Mack Thetford and Jeremy Munn, UF/IFAS

Other Beach Dwellers

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Figure 7. Endemic plant species of the Gulf of Mexico coastal dunes plant communities.

Threats to Dunes

Frequent strong weather events such as hurricanes and tropical storms cause dune loss. Big storms erode the shoreline, uproot vegetation, and may breach or completely flatten even well-developed beach dunes, leaving them fragmented and their associated ecosystems damaged or destroyed (Webb et al. 1997; Figure 8).

These storms also make beach dunes, their embedded ecosystems, and the coastal mainland more vulnerable to damage from future storms.

Figure 8. Extensive loss of well-developed beach dunes following Hurricane Ivan (2004) resulted in uprooted vegetation and flattened dunes; photo taken from Fort Pickens facing east toward Pensacola Beach. (UF/IFAS photo by either Debbie Miller or Mack Thetford)

With an increased threat of severe storms associated with global climate change and sea-level rise, the loss of dunes means there may be less storm protection available for coastal property owners. Wildlife habitat may also become increasingly fragmented.

An increase in severe storms, paired with the compounding effects of human development along our coastlines, makes natural redevel-opment of dunes and other coastal habitats difficult.

Extensive residential and commercial development along Florida’s Gulf Coast has shrunk and fragmented natural habitat. Development means fewer beach dunes, less important habitat, and less sand available for natural dune reformation. Without human assistance through active restoration, these increased stresses will change coastal dunes and beaches too rapidly and too frequently for them to repair and regrow naturally.

Coastal Landscapes and Associated Plant Communities

The coastal environment is harsh for plants. In addition to periodic large storms, coastal plants must endure salt spray, strong winds, burial and scouring by blowing sand, limited water, and low nutrient availability (Snyder and Boss 2002). Plants that live along our coastline have adapted to survive these harsh conditions and have created unique plant communities.

Dunes nearest the Gulf of Mexico block onshore winds, resulting in a decrease in salt spray and sand movement inland. This causes a greater variety of plants that are less salt and wind tolerant on the leeward side of beach dunes. Starting from the Gulf of Mexico and moving landward, Chrysopsis godfreyi forma godfreyi, Godfrey’s goldenaster Credit: Natalie Hooton, UF/IFAS

Chrysopsis godfreyi forma viridis, , Godfrey’s goldenaster Credit: Natalie Hooton, UF/IFAS

Chrysopsis gossypina subsp.

Cruiseana, Cruise’s goldenaster Credit: Natalie Hooton, UF/IFAS

Conradina canescens, false rosemary Credit: Mack Thetford, UF/IFAS

Crocanthemum arenicola, coastal sand frostweed Credit:

Gabriel Campbell, UF/IFAS

Paronychia erecta, squareflower Credit: Gabriel Campbell, UF/IFAS

UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 11 -beach, beach dune, coastal interdunal swale, coastal grass-land, and scrub are plant communities that can be found along the coastline of the Florida Panhandle (FNAI 2010) in fairly predictable patterns. Sandy, unvegetated beaches and beach dunes are nearest to the Gulf of Mexico, followed by coastal grasslands with embedded coastal interdunal swales toward the mainland. Coastal scrub typically occurs at the highest elevations on back-barrier and mainland dunes, also known as backdunes. These plant communities blend into an undulating matrix where shifts in vegetation composition can be rapid with very minor changes in elevation (Figure 9; Table 1).

Figure 9. Names, descriptions, and positions of plant communities relative to the Gulf of Mexico found along the coastline of the Florida Panhandle as described by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI 2010). Credits: Figure by Ashlynn Smith, UF/IFAS. Photos by Ashlynn Smith, Josiah Raymer, and Mack Thetford, UF/IFAS

Table 1. Definition of plant communities of the Florida Panhandle Coast. (Adapted from Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2010)

Plant community Definition

Beach and wrack

Landform along the margin of the Gulf extending from the low water line landward to the point where permanent vegetation or a dune is found.

Beach litter consisting of “algae, grasses, driftwood, fruits, seeds, and carrion, along with cultural litter” that accumulates at the high tide line (wrack line).

Grass-dominated beach dunes Well-developed dune dominated by grass cover of primarily Uniola paniculata, Panicum amarum, Spartina patens or Schizachyrium maritimum.

Mixed grassy/woody beach dunes Well-developed dunes with a mix of grass and woody species. Cover of grasses is greater than that of woody species.

Coastal grassland Expanses of low, gently undulating dunes dominated by Uniola paniculata, Panicum amarum, Spartina patens or Schizachyrium maritimum with unvegetated swales and vegetated swales imbedded within.

Coastal interdunal swale Ephemeral, depression wetlands embedded within coastal grasslands

Scrub Well-developed dunes dominated by woody species

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Beach and Frontal Zone Plant Community

The most dynamic part of our coastline includes the sandy beach and the beach dunes found immediately onshore from the Gulf of Mexico. The sandy beach borders the Gulf and is shaped by wind and tides.

The foredunes, or beach dunes closest to shore, are found landward of the highest monthly tides and form when wind-blown sand is captured by plants.

Beach

The beach is a gently slop-ing landform that extends from the low water line of the Gulf of Mexico to the edge of the first beach dune. Sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle consist of white, quartz sand.

Little or no vegetation is found on the beach.

Along the beach, you can also find wrack—or beach litter consisting of “algae, grasses, driftwood, fruits, seeds, and carrion, along with cultural litter” that accumulates at the high tide line (Behbehani and Croker 1982; Orr et al.

2005; Dugan et al. 2003;

Nordstrom et al. 2012).

Although wrack is not considered a plant com-munity, it is an important food resource for wildlife such as shorebirds and ghost crabs and should not be removed (Figure 10).

Plants found on the immediate sandy areas of the beach are sandwiched between the Gulf and the first beach dunes (foredunes) and are usually transient residents, meaning they are only present for short time periods (Table 1). These plants are exposed to the harshest of conditions and exist at the threshold of possible plant survival.

One common species often found near or in beach wrack is sea rocket (Cakile species). This plant is an important food source for beach mice, but the plants only live a single growing season. Sea rocket seeds are tolerant of salt water, and the species is depen-dent on waves and wind to spread the seed.

Beach Dune

Beach dunes are herba-ceous plant communities that develop above the high tide line behind sandy beaches (Figure 11). They exist in a uniquely harsh microclimate, character-ized by salt spray, heavy winds, tidal fluctuations, and large-scale storm surges. Dune vegetation generally begins at or near high tide with the presence of creeping herbs such as beach morning glory (Ipomea imperati) (Clewell 1986) or mounding herbaceous plants such

Figure 10. Newly deposited wrack on Pensacola Beach, Florida. Credit:

Mack Thetford, UF/IFAS

Figure 11. Foredune of Santa Rosa Island showing the beach dune plant community with sea oats (Uniola paniculata), bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) and beach elder (Iva imbricata). Credit: Josiah Raymer, UF/IFAS as beach elder (Iva imbri-cata). Directly landward are the dune-building rhizomatous grasses, which are essential for the horizontal and lateral growth of dunes. Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) is generally the dominant dune-building grass on foredunes along with bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum) (Snyder and Boss 2002; Clewell 1986;

FNAI 2010). An additional grass, gulf bluestem (Schi-zachyrium maritimum) is also considered a dune stabilizer and often grows on beach dunes along the Gulf Coast.

Dune-building plants are noted for their ability to grow vertical shoots from their underground modified stems, or rhi-zomes, in response to sand burial allowing them to tolerate sand accretion. In essence, the dune-building grasses are essential for the formation, growth, and physical stability of beach

UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 13 -dunes. Beach dunes dampen sand movement, wind, and salt spray and therefore alter the environment of plant communities found landward.

Interior Plant Communities

The interior of the barrier islands, from beach dunes to sound/bay-side scrub dunes, consists of a mosaic of landscape elements including coastal grasslands, coastal interdunal swales, and scrub dunes. Bay systems and connecting waterways such as Santa Rosa Sound also influence environ-mental conditions as well as the local flora and fauna. Nearest these bodies of water are scrub dunes, open pine forest, and fringing marshes. We do not address coastal pine or salt marsh communities in this manual.

Coastal Grassland

Coastal grasslands are herbaceous plant communities that exist between beach dunes and inland woody plant communities, such as coastal scrub (Figure 12). Figure 12. Coastal grassland of Santa Rosa Island. Credit: Ashlynn Smith, UF/IFAS

Bluestems (Andropogon species and Schizachyrium species), camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), and earleaf greenbriar (Smilax auriculata) are characteristic of coastal grasslands.

The dune-building grasses like sea oats (Uniola paniculata), bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum), and marshhay (Spartina patens) are also present on coastal grasslands.

Rare plant species found in coastal grasslands include Godfrey’s golde-naster (Chrysopsis godfreyi), Cruise’s goldenaster (Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. Cruiseana), and gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus subsp.

westianus). Coastalplain honeycomb-head (Balduina angustifolia), the sole nectar source for the endemic coastal plain Hesperapis (Hesperapis oraria), which is also known as the balduina bee and sandhill milkweed (Asclepias humistrata), the food source for monarch butterfly larvae, grow here.

Other species that grow in coastal grasslands are spadeleaf (Centella asiatica), LeConte’s flatsedge (Cyperus lecontei), Spanish daisy (Helenium amarum), seabeach evening primose (Oenethera humifusa), squareflower (Paronychia erecta), coastal ground-cherry (Physalis angustifolia), Walter’s groundcherry (Physalis walteri), and heartwing dock (Rumex hastatulus).

Coastal Interdunal Swale

Interdunal swales are herbaceous wetlands found in depressions embedded within coastal grasslands or between dunes. Ephemeral swales are seasonally wet for shorter periods of time while permanent swales remain wet (Figure 13). They have a highly variable vegetative composi-tion depending on salt content of the soil, length of time standing water is present during the growing season and conditions at the time seeds germinate and plants establish. (FNAI 2010). Coastal interdunal swales may contain low shrubs such as St. John’s wort (Hypericum species), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), and yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) in areas where the soil is not always saturated. Inundated portions or deep swales may contain sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) or black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus).

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Figure 13. At left, a coastal interdunal swale of Santa Rosa Island following a recent rain with sparse vegetation and bladderwort (Utricularia sp.) in peak flower. At right, a coastal interdunal swale of Santa Rosa Island, Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dense herbaceous vegetation and occasional woody dune species occurring in the swale and on the surrounding ridges. Credit: Gabriel Campbell, UF/IFAS

Scrub

Coastal scrub is the most imperiled ecosystem in Florida (FNAI 2010) and is found on older stabilized dunes (Figure 14). It consists of a dense shrubland of stunted sand live oak (Quercus geminata), Chapman’s oak (Quercus chapmanii), myrtle oak (Quercus myrtifolia), and sand pine (Pinus clausa). Open sandy areas embedded within the oak thickets are an important characteristic, because they provide movement corridors for small mammals and reptiles. Addi-tional plant species found in open sandy areas include Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides), false rosemary (Conradina canescens), October flower (Polygonella polygama), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and woody golden-rod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa).

Figure 14. Scrub community occurring in the back dunes of the Fort Pickens unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Santa Rosa Island. Credit: Ashlynn Smith, UF/IFAS

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Restoring Dunes in the Western Florida Panhandle

Before you start any restoration activity, be sure to contact all local, county, state, and federal agencies to ensure appropriate permits for plantings, installation of sand fences, use of wrack, and other activities are in place. Below are contacts and descriptions of federal, state, county, or local regulation resources to assist in initiating contact to determine if your restoration activity will require permits or oversight (Tables 2 and 3). Please note that county or state (DEP) permits related to the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) are each independent requirements and do not suffice for a Federal Endangered Species Permit.

Table 2. Federal and state coastal project review contacts and resources.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Panama City Office https://www.fws.gov/panamacity/ Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Construction Control Line Program http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/ programs/ccclprog.htm Florida Department of Environmental Protection Sand fence guidelines and requirements Building Back the Dunes https://www.dep.state.fl.us/ beaches/publications/pdf/ BuildingBackSandDunes.pdf Sand Fence Guidelines http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/ publications/pdf/sndfncgl04.pdf

Coastal Construction Control Line

In order to protect beach and dune systems in Florida, the Florida Legislature adopted the Florida Beaches and Shores Preservation Act (parts I and II of Chapter 161, Florida Statutes). The Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) program was created as a result of this statute.

Any activity south of the CCCL requires a review from the Florida Department of Environmental Protec-tion (FDEP) to determine whether a permit is needed or a waiver can be granted. The landowner should contact the FDEP representative to discuss each project. A local field representative may be contacted for minor activities. Minor activities include dune walkovers, small decks, plantings, and sand fences. This requirement is to help the property owner to ensure success of the project and to maintain the integrity of the beach and dune system.

The CCCL (Figure 15) can be reviewed by using FDEP Map Direct which is available online at: https://ca.dep.state.fl.us/ mapdirect/?gallery=beaches

Figure 15. An example Map Direct Image depicting the Coastal Construction Control Line (in red) on Navarre Beach. Credit: FDEP Map Direct https://www.fws.gov/panamacity/ http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/programs/ccclprog.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/programs/ccclprog.htm https://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/BuildingBackSandDunes.pdf https://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/BuildingBackSandDunes.pdf https://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/BuildingBackSandDunes.pdf http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/sndfncgl04.pdf http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/pdf/sndfncgl04.pdf https://ca.dep.state.fl.us/mapdirect/?gallery=beaches https://ca.dep.state.fl.us/mapdirect/?gallery=beaches https://ca.dep.state.fl.us/mapdirect/?gallery=beaches

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Table 3. County contact information to determine if there is a local permitting process north of the CCCL. Or, contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service (1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405; 850-769-0552).

County Phone Number Office Address

Department, Division or Office Website

Bay 850-248-8250 840 West 11th Street Panama City, FL 32401

Bay County Planning and Zoning Department http://www.co.bay.fl.us/planning.php

Escambia 850-595-4988 223 Palafox Place Pensacola, FL 32502

Escambia County Natural Resources Management https://myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management

Franklin 850-653-9783 34 Forbes Street, Suite 1 Apalachicola, FL 32320

Franklin County Planning and Building Department http://www.franklincountyflorida.com/county-government/ planning-building/

Gulf 850-248-8350 840 West 11th St.

Panama City, FL 32401

Gulf County Builders Services http://www.co.bay.fl.us/builders.php

Okaloosa

850-651-7180 1250 Eglin Parkway N, Suite 301 Shalimar, FL 32579

Okaloosa County Growth Management, Building Division Inspections - Permitting http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/gm/building/permitting

812 East James Lee Boulevard Crestview, FL 32539

Jim Trifilio, Coastal Management Coordinator 850-609-5382, 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE

Santa Rosa

850-981-7000 6051 Old Bagdad Hwy, Suite 202 Milton, FL 32583

Santa Rosa County Development Services http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/development-building/index.cfm?Menu=167

Walton 850-892-8108 117 Montgomery Circle DeFuniak Springs 32435

Walton County Environmental Department http://www.co.walton.fl.us/96/Environmental

Preservation and Use of Existing Resources

One of the first considerations follow-ing storm-related or other damage to existing dunes is to determine the potential for natural dune develop-ment with minimal to no assistance.

Sea oats and other beach plants are naturally resilient to storm damage.

If not buried too deeply by sand or left exposed for too long, sea oats will regrow. Removing and discarding uprooted sea oats during clean up after storms hinders the ability of the dunes to recover naturally. Do not remove uprooted sea oats from the beach after a storm unless to use nearby for restoration purposes.

Wrack

Beach wrack is an additional resource that is important to the resilience of beaches and beach dunes. Beach litter consisting of “algae, grasses, drift-wood, fruits, seeds, and carrion, along with cultural litter” that accumulates at the high tide line or wrack line after storms is referred to as wrack. Wrack contains resources important to wildlife and aids in the development of beach dunes (Behbehani and Croker 1982; Orr et al. 2005; Dugan et al. 2003; Nordstrom et al. 2012) (Figure 9).

The rough surface of the mixture of materials that make up the wrack catches seeds of dune plants and sand carried by the wind. Trapped seeds germinate and grow with the help of wrack. As wrack decays, it supplies nutrients, protection, and moisture to the plants, potentially increasing the survival and growth of these plants.

Seagrasses and algae commonly found in wrack are nitrogen and phospho-rous sources for dunes (Williams and Feagin 2010). For these reasons, wrack has an important function in http://www.co.bay.fl.us/planning.php https://myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management http://www.franklincountyflorida.com/county-government/planning-building/ http://www.franklincountyflorida.com/county-government/planning-building/ http://www.co.bay.fl.us/builders.php http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/gm/building/permitting http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/development-building/index.cfm?Menu=167 http://www.co.walton.fl.us/96/Environmental

UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 17 -beach ecology and should be left in place (Hooton et al. 2014).

Despite the benefits of wrack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser-vation Commission (FWC) allows mechanical beach cleaning at some times of the year, which leads to the removal of wrack. Disposal of wrack collected during beach cleaning could squander a valuable resource.

Wrack removed by raking can be collected and placed around newly planted sea oats or native dune plants as a natural supplement to enhance growth of dune vegetation. Guidelines for mechanical beach cleaning (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/ managed/sea-turtles/beach-activities/ beach-cleaning-guidelines) are available from FWC and include beach cleaning permit conditions and contact information. It is important to note that beach raking also results in loss of new seedlings of sea oats and should be avoided, particularly after storm events.

Uprooted Sea Oats

Uprooted sea oats can be a good source of restoration material. Part of what makes sea oats resilient to the harsh coastal environment is their long underground stems (rhizomes).

When these stems are uncovered via erosion, they are often found scattered on the beach or piled up against buildings, remaining trees, and other structures. These scattered stems can be replanted and used for restoration.

(Figure 16). Beach homeowners have found, and research has shown, that uprooted sea oats can be used to restore dunes. If immediate action is taken to bury these stems in sand 6–12 in deep, sea oats stems and leaves will likely sprout the following summer (Miller et al. 2003). Typically, with good weather, sea oats must be replanted within 3 to 11 days

Figure 16. Sea oats rhizomes following uprooting from a storm event with new growth initiating from nodes. This material can be used for restoration following storms. Credit: Mack Thetford, UF/IFAS after they are uprooted to be successful. Additional planting may be necessary to supplement the re-planted sea oats.

Active Restoration Applications

In this section we’ll look at restoration techniques that include installing sand fence and planting nurs-ery-produced native plants. In some situations, state and federal permits may be required for these activities.

Sand Fence

Installation of sand fence in com-bination with planting vegetation has been a successful method for dune restoration, but the length and arrangement of sand fencing may be regulated in your area. This is because the use of sand fencing in the Florida Panhandle must follow federal and state regulations enacted to protect nesting sea turtles. Contact your local FDEP field representative (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/ programs/ccclprog.htm) for more information and to ensure use of sea-turtle-friendly fencing techniques.

If the intended dune restoration area does not allow for the combination of sand fencing and planting, planting alone is preferred.

Where sea turtle nesting is not a concern, many configurations of fencing have been used, but no one fencing configuration has proven to be more successful than another at collecting sand (Miller et al. 2001).

The easiest to install, straight fencing parallel to the Gulf, performs as well as several other configurations tested on the Florida Panhandle. It is actually the length of the fence that is the most important characteristic when it comes to sand accumulation.

The longer the fence, the greater the sand accumulation. Sand fencing can also provide an additional benefit by deterring people from disrupting planting sites. Consult DEP’s publication, Sand Fence Guidelines, https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/ files/SandFencingGuidelines_0.pdf.

To repeat, before designing a dune restoration project that incorporates sand fence installation, be sure to check with a DEP field representative.

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/sea-turtles/beach-activities/beach-cleaning-guidelines http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/sea-turtles/beach-activities/beach-cleaning-guidelines http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/sea-turtles/beach-activities/beach-cleaning-guidelines http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/programs/ccclprog.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/programs/ccclprog.htm https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/SandFencingGuidelines_0.pdf https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/SandFencingGuidelines_0.pdf

UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 18 -

This will ensure your project does not conflict with sea turtle nesting.

Generally, plants can be transplanted adjacent to sand fences at the time of fence installation. Between buildings and the Gulf of Mexico or gulfward of large dunes, northerly winds are diminished, and sand movement is moderate. In this case, plants can be transplanted near fences. However, in open areas with large amounts of unconsolidated quartz sand and high wind speed, sand movement is rapid, and fences may fill quickly with loose sand. This was seen in areas of complete dune and vegetation loss in the Florida Panhandle after Hurricanes Opal and Ivan. The loose sand should be allowed to settle before plants are installed. Once sand accumulation has slowed, plants may be transplanted on the newly stabilized sand adjacent to the sand fence. An alternative in this situation would be to place plants 15 ft landward and gulfward of fences at time of fence installation (Miller et

al. 2001). In this situation, planting further away from fencing allows for both plants and fencing to effectively accumulate sand.

Planting Beach Dune Species

Plants alone are often as effective at accumulating sand as planting in combination with sand fences.

Planting on a stabilized beach is preferred.

Sand berms are artificial dunes resulting from dune re-nourishment activities and are often an unstable substrate for establishing plants. It is best after sand placement to allow the sand to stabilize before planting into a berm.

Sea oats are the dominant—but not the only—beach dune species in Florida’s natural dunes. For dunes to provide their many natural benefits, including habitat for wildlife and ecosystem services such as protection for coastal homeowners, it is best if we reestablish dunes that resemble natural, nearby dunes by including the many plants that are found on them.

As a best practice, at least three to four species of herbaceous plants should be considered when restoring beach dunes. After dunes have had several years to grow and the initial plants are established, additional plant species can be added.

Obtaining appropriate plant material can be difficult, especially when using sea oats. Sea oats are protected by var-ious regulations and have genetic and phenotypic variations specific to local populations. Fortunately, sea oats are available at commercial nurseries, but be sure to ask if your stock originates from the Gulf Coast. Sea oats from a population outside of your local area may not grow or flower well. These plants may also interfere with future generations of local sea oats if they do intermix with the local populations through seed production.

The transplant size of grasses and small herbaceous species can vary considerably based on the nursery source. These plants may be grown in a variety of production systems resulting in long, narrow rootballs to short, broad rootballs depending on the dimensions of the production containers.

A common practice among producers is to remove the plants from the production containers and pack only the plants without their production containers in a box for shipping.

When plants remain in their original production systems, the restoration manager has the option to hold the plants for a longer period of time between delivery to the restoration site and planting. These plants may be easily watered and have good air movement between the leaves.

A quick review of the terms of sale and shipping options in addition to the plant materials available from a grower before ordering will provide much of this information. Otherwise, plants combined in a shipping box without pots must be planted quickly.

Also, the heat the plants generate from within the shipping containers can be detrimental.

Plantings for the establishment of new dunes should be as far landward as possible. The most successful resto-ration along the Florida Panhandle has taken place where vegetation was planted at least about 300 ft inland of the mean high tide line. This may not be possible in areas of coastal development. When possible, new dunes should fill large gaps between fragmented dunes. This will increase plant survival and allow for natural redevelopment toward the Gulf of Mexico.

What, where, and when to plant are the most commonly asked questions in regard to beach plantings to estab-lish dunes. For the Florida Panhandle, sea oats (Uniola paniculata), bitter panicgrass (Panicum amarum), beach elder (Iva imbricata), and sometimes gulf bluestem (Schizachyrium maritimum) are the most commonly planted species when planting beach dunes nearest the Gulf.

UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 19 -

Figure 17. Suggested pattern for creating planting zones when conducting restoration plantings on beach dunes along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Specific planting order will vary based on the intent of the project. Credit: Byron S. Claypool, UF/IFAS

A diversity of plants is preferred for many reasons, including food and habitat for wildlife. However, these plants should not be intermixed within the same row or zone. Sea oats will completely replace bitter panicgrass within one to two years if planted immediately adjacent to each other. Instead, planting in blocks or rows of each species maintains the diversity of the planting for a longer period of time (Figure 17).

We are recommending four planting zonation patterns because these pat-terns have resulted in greater survival, plant growth, and sand accumulation in recent studies (Stoddard et al.

2014). The first two suggested plant-ing schematics include (beginning nearest to the Gulf of Mexico) several rows of bitter panicgrass. The first recommendation is then to follow the planting of bitter panicgrass with beach elder immediately landward, sea oats landward of beach elder, and gulf bluestem behind all other species (Figure 18).

Another combination is to plant bitter panicgrass followed by sea oats, gulf bluestem, then beach elder as the most landward. Figure 18. Specific planting-order configuration recommendations when conducting restoration plantings on beach dunes along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico using four distinct planting zones. Credit: Ashlynn Smith, UF/IFAS rows of bitter panicgrass landward of sea oats, followed by gulf bluestem, then beach elder.

The second suggestion is to plant gulf bluestem landward of sea oats, bitter panicgrass landward of gulf bluestem, and beach elder on the back row or back several rows. Beach elder can also be planted in a large block well out in front of all other species, but it does not do as well when planted as the first row of plants with other species immediately landward.

If the objective of the restoration project is to build sand quickly, these planting combinations accumulate sand at a similar rate to monocultures of sea oats or bitter panicgrass. It should be noted that gulf bluestem and beach elder both have higher survival when planted behind either sea oats or bitter panicgrass, or when planted alone. Any of these planting patterns promote plant survival and dune growth.

Two other patterns of planting beach dune vegetation have proven success-ful. Both include sea oats as the plant species closest to the Gulf of Mexico and beach elder as the furthest from the Gulf of Mexico.

One suggestion is to plant the first several rows (three or more) with sea oats nearest to the Gulf of Mexico, UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 20 -

Recommended Planting Dates

Plant survival is highest when rainfall is consistent and temperatures are moderate. In the Florida Panhandle, sea oats, bitter panicgrass, and beach elder should be planted into moist soil from the months of December through April, with optimal results from March to April.

Planting during summer can be successful if summer rains are consistent. However, if summer rainfall is limited, plantings will need supplemental water. Early fall plantings have also been successful but, on average, October and May are typically the driest months in the Florida Panhandle, and plants should be established before these dry periods (Miller et al. 2001).

Gulf bluestem is an exception (Miller et al. 2014). Planting in June, July, and August is best because these are the only months of high survival for this species. June appears to be the best planting date, but with consistent rainfall, planting can also be success-ful in July and August. Survival of gulf bluestem varies widely from 50 to 100 percent, and planting outside of the recommended months can dramatically limit survival. If planting gulf bluestem in one of the previously suggested zonation patterns, leave space for the planting of gulf bluestem later in the season.

Recommended Plant Spacing

Recomme…