THE ABOITEAU PARC DUNE CONSERVATION PROJECT

THE ABOITEAU PARC DUNE
CONSERVATION PROJECT
A project by :
In partnership with :
Context setting
The Aboiteau Park dunes have, in
recent years, undergone
considerable modifications.
Primarily, they have been
subjected to erosion caused by
the storms . The amplitude of the
problem is such that a vast
breach has been formed in the
dune. This breach weakens the
dune system which can therefore
endanger the salt marshes
located behind the dune.
The Aboiteau conservation project
has three main segments:
In order to reverse this trend, the
Cap-Pele Watershed Group has
undergone various conservation
activities on the Aboiteau dunes.
Replanting
Protection
Regeneration
Awareness
Following is a glimpse of the various
activities accomplished up to this
point.
Section of the Aboiteau dune affected by storm erosion
REPLANTING
In total, over 800 Marram grass
seedlings were planted on the
dunes during the month of June
2006.
By producing important root
systems, marram grasses
considerably increase de dune’s
stability and thus accelerate its
regeneration.
They also offer the dunes a form
of protection against erosion
caused by wind and rain.
Marram grass(Ammophila breviligulata)
Marram grass plantation
PROTECTION
Considering marram grass’s
relatively high sensitivity to
trampling, it is very important to
minimize traffic on the dunes.
In fact, we only need to walk10
times on a marram grass to
destroy it.
The Cap-Pele Watershed Group
has therefore decided to install
various structures aimed to reduce
visitors’ access to the Aboiteau
Park dunes.
Signs
Signs forbidding walking on the
dunes have been installed in several
spots of the beach.
Snow fence
Over 1500 feet of snow fence has
been raised in front of the dunes.
The snow fence has shown to be
the most effective means to reduce
traffic on the dunes. The fence is
installed in spring and is removed in
autumn. This assures it will not be
damaged during our big winter
storms.
Snow fence
REGENERATION
It is possible to encourage the natural
regeneration of a dune by placing
vegetation barriers at its base. The use
of Christmas trees for example, can
promote dune nourishment by trapping
windblown sand.
For these reasons, the Cap-Pele
Watershed Group has installed rows of
fir trees next to the section of the dune
which suffered the breach.
A simple but effective method
There are three important factors to consider when installing a vegetative barrier.
1) Picking a tree: conifers (firs, spruces), with their high density of branches and
needles, are surely the best types of trees to catch and retain sand.
2) The barrier’s axis: to maximize dune regeneration, it is preferable to install the
barrier in parallel with the dune.
3) The barrier’s strength: in order for the barrier to resist to high tides, it is important
that it is well attached to the ground. It is thus necessary to firmly attach the trees
end to end and to posts driven in the ground.
The barriers 2 months after they were installed
The barriers three months after they were installed
• While the trees do trap sand
between their branches, they
also have the tendency to
generate an important
accumulation of sand behind
the row of trees.
• Also, during high tides, the
trees have the capability to let
water pass through while at
the same time retaining sand.
• Finally, it’s in the fall that we
find the wind conditions that
best favor sand accumulation.
Sand trapped in
the barriers
Sand accumulated
behind the barriers
Awareness signs
Since enhancing visitors’ awareness towards the Aboiteau Park Dune
Conservation Project is an important element of this project, the Cap-Pele
Watershed Group has created awareness signs that will be installed next to
access points and catwalks. Finally, an information leaflet on the project has
been produced with over 1500 copies distributed to visitors.
Awareness sign of the Aboiteau Park dunes
Interesting web sites :
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0203/p02s01-usgn.html
http://www.time.com/time/reports/environment/heroes/tfk/0,2967,tfk_sea
shores,00.html
http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/online/heritagemanagement/erosion/appendix_1.3.shtml
http://www.landandwater.com/features/vol49no3/vol49no3_1.html
www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecw-cp/news/pa_newsletter/v8i3.pdf
http://www.lpyc.org.uk/dunes.htm