VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Thanks to a grant, millions of dollars will be spent restoring Volusia County’s dune vegetation. The planting will provide habitats for endangered species and protect coastal structures.
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The work coincides with a separate sand placement project. That includes sand being dumped on the beaches and dredged from the ocean.
County Environmental Management Director Ginger Adair explains natural vegetation helps hold the sand together, better protect structures, and restore coastal habitats.
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That’s why $2.5 million will be spent on planting after new sand is placed on parts of our beaches. Similar work has already been done in Flagler County.
“So, the sand will be placed, there will be a settling time and then the planting projects will come. So, there will be a separate contractor whose job is to facilitate the plantings, engage the volunteers, and get the plants in the ground,” said Adair.
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During the 2022 hurricane season, county officials said our beaches lost about 6.6 million cubic meters of sand.
While they work to replace it, Adair said they want to be more environmentally focused. They’ll start by planting 13 miles, but her hope is for the program to grow.
“And understand nature-based solutions as a solution for what we’re going to be facing in the future, right? Which are potential other storms,” said Adair.
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