SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Sand dunes are South Padre Island’s first line of defense against Mother Nature.
On Wednesday, the beach benefitted from volunteers planting 6,000 native species plants, Sea Oats and Bitter Panicum, to establish a foundation for a healthy dune system.
“With the help of over 70 volunteers which included 40 students and families with young children, our Spring Break Dune Planting was a huge success,” said Mary K. Hancock, SPI special events manager. “This program was developed to educate our visitors while giving them opportunity to give back to the beach they love.”
The planting group was largely made up of 40 students from Beach Reach South Padre, city staff, and a large number of visiting families with young children.
“The students were very thrilled to do that,” said Buddy Young, Beach Reach organizer. “What they saw was the fact that it’s not about just coming down for Spring Break, but for caring for God’s creation.”
The planting was located at Beach Access 9, Blue Water Circle in front of the Suntide III condominiums.
The planting captured the attention of families and individuals, many of which asked about the types of plants that were being used, why it was necessary and what the plants actually did for the dunes.
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