BRICK – Most people aren’t thinking of the beach in the winter, but a group of volunteers spent the afternoon planting dune grass to help the beaches thrive – and to protect residents.
Dune grass is a simple way to use the shore’s own ecosystem to bolster itself. The grasses provide a root system strengthening the dunes against wind and waves. Even after huge storms, like Superstorm Sandy, it was clear that areas with dunes were better protected than those without.
The planting is a natural way to fight two problems: erosion and flooding, said Jill Nilson, the chair of the Chair of the Surfrider Foundation’s Jersey Shore Chapter, which encompasses Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Most shore towns get plugs of grass to plant every year, she explained. Some towns have employees plant them, while others partner with volunteers. Some towns rely heavily on shore homeowners to plant them.
Although the warmer months might be associated with planting, dune grass survives better if planted during the winter, she said.
Dune grass planting is just one of the Surfrider’s many initiatives, which also include reducing plastic waste and advocating for beach access.
“We try to hold an event at least once a month,” she said. The organization is made up of volunteers who love the ocean and want to help protect it.
For more information on dune grass plantings, beach clean-ups and other initiatives, visit jerseyshore.surfrider.org
