Beaches, Dunes, and Shorelines

Beaches and dunes are not only a first line of defense against storm surges and waves from tropical storms. Along the Gulf of Mexico, beaches and dunes are home to crucial plant life like sea oats, salt-tolerant grasses, and maritime forests. These areas provide nesting spots for many important species including sea turtles, migratory shorebirds, and the endangered Alabama beach mouse.

Along Alabama’s coast, we’re losing some of these habitats due to sea level rise, shoreline armoring like bulkheads and revetments, and excessive wave energy. As sea levels rise, more of our shorelines are becoming submerged, or drowning in place. Armoring of shorelines deflects wave energy, which can worsen erosion and destroy these valuable habitats. Excessive wave energy caused by strong storms and currents cause shoreline sediments to become suspended, eroding shoreline habitats. The work of MBNEP and partners helps mitigate some of these changes through interventions like living shorelines, marsh plantings, and other stabilization techniques.

Although MBNEP and its partners cannot stop the seas from rising, reestablishing shorelines engineered with nature will provide a medium-term solution for protecting these valuable habitats.