August 2024
This summer, the community of South Padre Island, TX was impacted by two storms in quick succession.
In late June, Tropical Storm Alberto caused significant to severe erosion along the beaches of South Padre Island. Three weeks later, Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast, again causing tidal run-up to the dune line. Run-up refers to the water that is pushed onto the shore above the normal sea level.
Since barrier islands like Padre bear the initial impact of tropical storms and hurricanes, they are critical first lines of defense that protect more heavily populated inland areas. Beyond the damage caused by the immediate impact, storm surge can destabilize coastal dunes, making them more prone to erosion over time compared to their pre-storm condition. As a result, capturing data soon after storms is critical for understanding what dunes did well and what dunes need restoring.
In South Padre, RCOAST is assisting the recovery efforts by collecting and analyzing data on the state of the coastline in the immediate aftermath of the storms. From data captured by drone, we can determine how much dune volume was lost and identify where to focus recovery efforts.
RCOAST co-founder Dr. Christy Swann observed: "In most places within the township of South Padre Island, the sacrificial frontal dune was eroded, and the leeward, intermittent secondary dune did a great job. Young vegetation was killed due to increased water levels, erosion, and salt water infiltration, while the older vegetation had impressive survivability rates. Eroded sand was stored offshore and has already started to weld onto the beach again, making that sand available to build dunes by wind."
Swann explains: "We need this type of data to both directly measure the efficacy of mitigation so we don’t waste efforts on what doesn’t work, and to be more efficient with our money and time as we respond to erosion, adapt with nature, and learn how we can collectively build resilient coastlines."
"We need this type of data to both directly measure the efficacy of mitigation so we don’t waste efforts on what doesn’t work, and to be more efficient with our money and time as we respond to erosion, adapt with nature, and learn how we can collectively build resilient coastlines."
This project is part of an ongoing partnership between RCOAST and Coastal Transplants, a full service nursery that specializes in coastal revegetation. Coastal Transplants cultivates and installs native species of plants, including sea oats and sea grass, and boasts an industry leading 90%+ survival rate. Re-planting native vegetation can be highly effective in strengthening damaged dunes. Coastal Transplants will use drone-based maps created by RCOAST to determine which areas they will focus on for recovery plantings.
Across multiple regions, RCOAST is collaborating with Coastal Transplants on optimized planting strategies, including placement and time of year, as well as ongoing monitoring to calculate and improve the survivability rate of new plants.
Have your dunes been damaged by a recent storm? Would you like to improve the health of your coastal vegetation? If your dunes need restoration, RCOAST and Coastal Transplants can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Comments