1. School of Natural Resources and Environment

2. How to care ……and why!

3. 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

4. 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

5. Why use different plants to restore dunes? Should we plant Sea Oat Turf?

6. Many different species of plants naturally occur in the dune system This diversity offers more opportunities for trapping sand and provides habitat for wildlife

7. 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?

8. Beach Elder Iva imbricata

9. Bitter Panicum Panicum amarum

10. Gulf Bluestem Schizachyrium maritimum

11. Sea Oats Uniola paniculata

12. Site 7 Monoculture Beach Elder

13. Site 8 Plantings combining 3 species Beach Elder Gulf Bluestem Sea Oats

14. Sites 10 & 11 Plantings combining 2 species Sea Oats Bitter Panicum

15. Kiosks are installed at each site to provide information for the public

16. Citizen involvement and public education are integral to increasing public coastal awareness and stewardship

19. How can you help protect dunes?

20. Footpaths through dunes can cause “blowouts” in the dune system during storms Surging water washes away sand that makes up the dune Utilize dune walkovers whenever possible!

21. Coastal Stewardship practices for all… Avoid picking or damaging dune plants Keep pets on a leash and out of dunes Don’t litter

22. 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

23. Project Leaders: Dr. Debbie Miller Dr. Mack Thetford Christine Verlinde Special Thanks: Cary Levins Mike Martino Kathy HardinBarry Ballard Nik McCueTanya Alvarez Collaborators: Josiah Raymer Andrew Diller Scott Jackson