YEAR 2010 - CRP Project #9005 (Gulf of Mexico)
Project #9005
Dune Restoration – Gulf Islands National Seashore
Pensacola, Florida

Species usage and habitat designations for GINS Perdido Key
Project name: |
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Dune Restoration – Gulf Islands National Seashore |
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Project
number: |
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9005 |
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Project
status: |
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In Progress |
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Grant
Administrator: |
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Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA) |
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Grantee: |
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Florida Department of
Environmental Protection |
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Project location: |
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Pensacola, Escambia County,
Florida |
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Grant period: |
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Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2020 |
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Grant amount: |
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$50,000 |
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Land
Ownership: |
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National Park Service,
Federal - Public |
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Lat/Long: |
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-87.376; 30.309 |
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Types of
Habitat: |
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Dunes (Fore and Back Dunal
Systems) |
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Project
leader: |
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Amy Baldwin, Ecosystem
Restoration Program Manager
Florida DEP
160 Governmental Center
Pensacola, FL 32502
www.dep.state.fl.us |
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Species Benefiting From Restoration:
• Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
• Atlantic green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
• Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
• Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi)
• Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
• Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii)
• Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum)
• Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme)
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
It is anticipated that 5 acres of dune habitat will be
restored.
Project Summary:
Gulf Islands National Seashore (GINS) contains some of the
last remaining undeveloped barrier island beach dune systems
in the Florida panhandle. Deleterious forces, both natural
and anthropogenic over the years have significantly altered
this system’s ability to recover from natural disturbances
such as tropical storm events. Numerous threatened and
endangered species, both pelagic and terrestrial, depend upon
coastal beach/dune systems for survival, and their successful
recovery relies on the conservation, restoration, and
management of these critical habitats. In conjunction with
NOAA’s mission and goals, this project seeks to enhance the
coastal dune systems in an effort to support NOAA living
resources and species of concern by restoring 5 acres of
degraded dune habitat using native vegetation propagated from
local stock found within the GINS perimeter. Our research has
worked to develop plant production and beach planting
protocols for a diversity of plants including woody
vegetation. Monitoring will further determine the most
efficient and self-sustaining techniques for dune restoration
efforts as several methods will be incorporated into this
project. Not only will the project protect the natural
resource, but restoration of these dune systems will protect
Florida’s economy in terms of the input of tourism and
recreation dollars to the State’s economy and through the
reduction in storm related damage effects and costs. This
project is a portion of an overall goal of 145 acres of dune
restoration within Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
District.
Project Objectives:
Overall objective is to provide shoreline erosion control for an existing Deer
Island project. In addition, the project aims to: - Provide suitable substrate for an intertidal oyster reef/create an oyster reef habitat.
- Inform the public on the importance of the Deer Island
Restoration Site (oyster reef habitat and wetland habitat)
through presentations at local schools.
- Get the public involved in protecting their natural
resources.
On-the-Ground Activities:
- 30,000 herbaceous and 5,000 woody species of dune
vegetation will be installed over 5 acres of dune
blowout/over-wash areas, minimally elevated areas on the
Gulf and Sound/Lagoon sides of the island, and
diversification within existing fore-, secondary and
backdunes of Perdido Key Island-Johnson’s Beach (PKI).
- Federally listed TER-S species including Godfrey’s golden
aster (Chrypsosis godfreyi), Cruise’s golden aster (Chrysopsis
gossypini ssp. cruiseana) and large-leaved jointweed (Polygonella
macrophylla) will be propagated and planted in appropriate
zones throughout the proposed restoration areas.
- Vegetative stock material will be rooted and propagated
within greenhouse facilities at four locations in Escambia
and Santa Rosa Counties.
- Several schools will incorporate the project into student curricula and students
will be involved in some plant propagation to provide a
hands-on experience with ecosystem restoration and
management.
- Plantings at the restoration sites will
occur year-round by both FDEP employees and students.
Community Involvement:
Education and outreach objectives include:
- Participation through school curricula of local students in
plant propagation and restoration at associated greenhouses
- Website development documenting the progress of the project,
educational, and volunteer opportunities
- Development of a traveling display about the project for
festivals and community events
- Development of curriculum material for students including
plant propagation methods for school greenhouses and barrier
island ecosystem materials
- Development of educational signage to be placed
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PROJECT PHOTOS
Click on photo to enlarge

Site in relation to seagrass beds at Perdido Key

Close-up of Perdido Key Island proposed planting areas

Proposed current and future restoration sites (marked in red) at 3 Gulf Islands National Seashore locations

General planting schematic

2008 turtle nests on Perdido Key
Photos by Florida DEP
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PROJECT PARTNERS
NOAA Restoration Center
Gulf of
Mexico Foundation

Florida Department of Environmental
Protection
National Park Service/GINS UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant
Extension |
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