For
the past several years, the Surfrider Foundation has spearheaded a
cheap and resourceful way to help rebuild our area dunes: recycled
Christmas trees. On Saturday, January 28, The Surfrider Foundation, a
nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and
enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, is coordinating
with the town of Carolina Beach and a slew of volunteers to partake
in the fourth annual dune rebuilding program using the discarded
trees.
Built
either by wind or water flow, our beaches’ sculptured sand dunes
are the epitome of coastal beauty. But they have a purpose that goes
beyond the aesthetic. They provide much needed protection to ocean
front property from waves churned up in storms. Our dunes are also
natural habitats for sea turtles, nesting birds, and native
vegetation.
After
this year’s Hurricane Matthew, some of our beaches experienced
moderate erosion. The hammering waves of the storm pulled sand away
from the beaches and destroyed dunes. By forming a sand-like fence
with the used Christmas trees, the sand will fill back in over the
trees, rebuilding the diminished dunes. And hopefully by Spring, the
natural ecosystem will be restored, just in time for the summer
season.
The
Surfrider Foundation encourages the community to volunteer alongside
them on the 28th to place the trees on the dunes. This
family-friendly event begins at 10:00 am. Volunteers are asked to
meet at the Periwinkle public beach access. Look for the Surfrider
tent and check in there. Public parking is available at Seaoats Lane
just 2 blocks North of the access. Volunteers are asked to bring a
shovel, hammer, tape measure, and scissors.
The
town of Carolina Beach will provide free Christmas tree removal every
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Jan. 9 through Jan. 30. If you’d
like your tree to help grow the dunes, have it out by the curb on
Jan. 27 and remove all decorations and lighting. For more
information, visit the Cape Fear Surfrider Facebook page here.
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