Biologists Help Restore Dunes, Save Wildlife
Submitted by Denise Rowell, public relations specialist, Alabama Field Office

Under the misty, overcast sky, Alabama Field Office supervisor Rob Tawes grabbed a cart of plants from the back of a truck, and hauled them to the beach nearby. The plants came in by the thousands….sea oats, morning glory, beach elder, and sea purslane just to name a few. This vegetation was about to get a new home, and help endangered species on the beaches of Fort Morgan.

Fort Morgan is a small community west of Gulf Shores. Named after a Civil War fort, people who live there believe in keeping the natural beauty of the beach. But living in paradise has come with a price. Hurricanes such as Ivan, Katrina, and Gustav have practically wiped out parts of the beach. Homes have been destroyed, and scattered sand has made the roads of Fort Morgan nearly impassable. While residents are trying to keep their vulnerable beachfront homes in tact, many local species no longer have homes. The sand dunes, which house unique wildlife such as the Alabama beach mouse, were eradicated by the storms.

That's why biologists with the Alabama Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are helping nearly 200 landowners to restore the sand dunes, and take back their beaches. They teamed up with the Baldwin County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to host a "Dune Restoration Workshop."

"Most of our wildlife habitat in Alabama is found on private land, and the Fort Morgan Peninsula is no exception," explained Tawes. "After witnessing the devastating impacts of the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, we developed a program where we could work cooperatively with private landowners to benefit migratory birds and endangered species."

With the help of the "Dune Doctors," organizers helped provide more than ten-thousand plants for the dunes. The landowners were able to get the plants through a federal program aimed at helping them restore damaged habitat. More than 60 landowners arrived at the workshop, eager to learn about the plants and how to take care of them.

With her hair pulled back, Susan Bell was ready to get to work. She's lived on Fort Morgan for more than ten years.

"I'm just so happy somebody cares about the sand dunes," said Bell. "In Fort Morgan, we don't have anybody to help us. We've been taking care of our sand dunes since (Hurricane) Opal."

With an eager crowd watching, Tawes spread out each species of plant across the sandy beach. Then, organizers grabbed a shovel, and showed onlookers how to bring the dunes to life. Soon, onlookers became participants, planting the rest of the vegetation into the sand.

"Landowners play an important role in the success of this program," explained Josh Rowell, biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Dune restoration in Fort Morgan gives the dual benefit of restoring habitat for endangered species and migratory birds, as well as providing property owners some protection against storm surges."

After the demonstration, landowners hopped into their cars, opened their trunks, and lined up to get plants of their own. Now, it was their turn to put their knowledge to the test, and restore the dunes that made Fort Morgan home. In addition to the plants, homeowners also received a parting gift from biologists….a sea-turtle friendly yellow bug light.

The workshop lasted a couple of hours. But the restoration is just beginning. The Alabama Field Office is still getting calls from Fort Morgan residents who want even more plants for their dunes. Now, it will be up to them to keep the dunes vibrant, and give endangered species a fighting chance.

"Through this program we are doing more than restoring wildlife habitat," said Tawes. "We are also building relationships with the community and providing environmental outreach that will benefit Alabama's coastal wildlife resources in the future."