Dune Manual
So you or your community group or town are looking to build or restore the dunes along the beaches in your area, and you are looking for information to help you do a great job?
The Dune Manual answers a variety of questions that we have heard from people and groups like you. It will include brief answers to those questions from experts in the area and links to more resources. Among the issues we will address are: permits and permissions, preparing a dune for planting, what to plant when, where and how; what not to plant, amendments to increase the success of your plantings, and sources of native plants for your restoration. We hope that you find this useful as you work to rebuild or build stable, attractive dunes to protect your home or community from future storm damage. Please take time to review this manual. If you have comments or questions please email Dr. Peter Rowe. Keep UpdatedIf you would like to be notified of updates to the Dune Manual and other news from New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, please sign up for our newsletter here. |
Dune Manual: Table of Contents
Introduction and Acknowledgements
Basic Dune Physical Characteristics
Dune Ecology: Beaches and Primary Dunes
Dune Ecology: Secondary Dunes and Beyond
Building and Planting Coastal Sand Dunes: Dune Vegetation
Building and Planting Coastal Sand Dunes: Frontal Dune Species
Building and Planting Coastal Sand Dunes: Back Dune Species
Building and Planting Coastal Sand Dunes: Trees and Shrubs on Back Dunes
Prohibited Species: What NOT to Plant
Planting Amendments and Dune Maintenance
Cape May PMC Plant Suppliers List
*Updated 7/19/2016
The Dune Manual is a collaboration between researchers at:
- New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- USDA NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center
- Georgian Court University
- William Paterson University
Further Resources:
- Research: Facilitating Natural Dune Building
- Research: Assessing the impact of the invasive Asiatic sand sedge, Carex kobomugi, on coastal dune communities in New Jersey
- Research: Evaluation of wind and wave processes critical in sustaining beach backshore environments
- Research: Assessing plant performance of ‘Cape’ American Beachgrass, Ammophila breviligulata, against local Beachgrass ecotypes
- Lesson Plan: Dunes and Dune Grass
- Lesson Plan: Why are Dunes Important?
- “Restoration: Dune It Right” currated by Dr. Lousie Wooton of Georgian Court University
- “Dune It Right” PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Louise Wooton.