Last year approximately 900 people planted more than 150,000 stems of beach grass along four miles of coastline between Delaware Seashore State Park and Kitts Hummock Beach.

According to Jennifer Wheatley, environmental scientist with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC’s) Shoreline and Waterway Management Section and coordinator of the event, volunteers are especially needed this year to help stabilize dunes.

“Delaware’s coastline was ravaged by three northeasters last fall that not only eroded sand from beaches and dunes, but also broke through and destroyed dunes in some areas. We were pleased that our protective dunes prevented wave damage to streets, boardwalks and private property. But, our dunes were hit especially hard, and we need hundreds of volunteers to help us plant beach grass that was lost.”

Sand dunes are essential for protection against damaging coastal storms. When sand dunes are destroyed, storm waves can rush inland, flood properties and put lives at risk. Stabilized dunes absorb wave energy and act as major sand storage areas which replenish sand to eroded beaches during a storm.

Beach grass helps to build and stabilize dunes by trapping windblown sand. As the grass traps the sand, it builds the dunes higher and wider, which makes them more protective of the structures behind them. Since the program was introduced in 1989, more than 5 million stems of beach grass have been planted by dedicated volunteers.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up by Friday, March 12, either online at www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov/Shoreline/Pages/BeachGrassPlanting.aspx,; by email to Marcia.Cagle@state.de.us or by calling 302-739-9921.

DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section coordinates the annual beach grass planting event.

The section also implements beach replenishment and erosion control projects along Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay communities to enhance, preserve and protect private and public beaches.