Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle
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SGEB-75 Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle Debbie Miller, professor, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Milton, FL 32583 Mack Tetford, 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 Tis publication was prepared in fulfllment 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. Te views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily refect 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.fseagrant.org. UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 2 - Foreword Te purpose of this manual is to or assist contractors with timelines contracting agents, land managers, provide an overview of the Florida for implementing restoration activ- and local governments who partici- Panhandle coastal dune systems and ities based on the knowledge of the pate in the development of contract specifc information on coastal dune impacted fora and fauna. specifcations that address plant restoration and restoration enhance- species selection, nursery production ment activities. Tese restoration Tis manual begins with basic systems, and appropriate planting techniques have been developed and information about coastal systems locations, spacing, timing, and tested through research and monitor- along the western Florida Panhandle transplant size. ing activities for the northern Gulf of and provides a context for the impor- Mexico region. tance of dunes. Readers will fnd this Te third section of the manual information useful in understanding provides detailed information on As with many projects that summa- how the components of the coastal plant species found in the many plant rize information and experiences system are interrelated, learning about communities in the western Florida from a variety of disciplines, some the diversity of plant communities Panhandle. Details on identifcation, sections of this manual will be useful that make up our coastal system, and biology, propagation methods, to a broad group of individuals. understanding the roles of the fora and nursery production methods Other sections may target a specifc and fauna found on our coasts. as well as recommendations for audience. Te authors have worked successful out-planting for coastal for many years with homeowners, Te second section of the manual restoration are provided for each local government ofcials, land focuses on the restoration of coastal plant. Tis information is useful managers, nurseries, and restoration dunes within the western Florida for the homeowner to understand project managers. Requests from Panhandle. Tis section provides the timeline for production or the these various audiences for a common initial contacts for permitting degree of difculty involved in the resource that would provide both processes and technical information production of these plants. Nursery basic and targeted information on approaches for dune restoration growers, contracting agents, land pertinent to coastal dune restoration and explains specifc restoration managers, and local governments inspired us to create this manual. techniques for establishing dunes and will also fnd this information useful planting dune vegetation. Readers in development of specifcations for Tis manual may serve as a tool to will also learn about additional plant contracts or seed-collection permits assist managers and homeowners species that provide wildlife cover, for projects that will require access to with development of restoration goals, nectar, and other kinds of food for seed or cutting materials in advance introduce restoration practitioners insects and wildlife. Tis information of restoration planting. to required permitting processes, is also pertinent to nursery growers, UF/IFAS Seagrant Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle - 3 - Table of Contents Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Factors Afecting Approaches to Dune Restoration and Enhancement in the Florida Panhandle............................................................ 7 Our Coastal Systems ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Dune Formation ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Dune Stability ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Why Dunes Are Important ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Protection from Storms ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Home to Unique Wildlife and Plants .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Beach Mice ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Sea Turtles .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Gopher Tortoises ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Shorebirds ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Other Beach Dwellers .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Endemic Plants .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Treats to Dunes .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Coastal Landscapes and Associated Plant Communities ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Beach and Frontal Zone Plant Community .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Beach ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Beach Dune ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Interior Plant Communities ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Coastal Grassland ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Coastal Interdunal Swale ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Scrub .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................