Project name: Sand Dune Restoration and shoreline Protection at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge (#5006)
Project status: Complete
Grant Administrator: Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA)
Grantee: McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
Project location: 13 miles east of Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, Texas
Grant period: Feb 1, 2006 to May 31, 2006
Grant amount: $10,000
Land Ownership: Public
Types of Habitat: sand dune
Project leader: Marty Bray, Refuge Manager
McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 609
Sabine Pass, TX 77655
(409) 971 2909 phone
409 971 2401 fax
Dune restoration project site June 3 2005, before Hurricane Rita
Same area as above after Hurricane Rita. The dune was damaged, but
it blocked the tidal surge, protecting wetlands from saltwater intrusion
and reducing shoreline erosion.
Species Benefiting From Restoration:
- Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepideochelys kempi)
- Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea
coriacea)
- Piping plover
- Least tern
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
This project will restore 1.5 miles of sand dune restoration on McFaddin NWR.
Project Summary:
Restore and stabilize 1.5 miles of sand dune habitat
by constructing sand fence and planting native
vegetation.
Capture blowing beach sand with a sand fence and
anchor it with native vegetation and consequently
build elevation that will prevent shoreline erosion
and saltwater intrusion to the freshwater marsh behind
the dune.
Provide future nesting habitat for Kemp’s Ridley sea
turtles.
Sand dune habitat will be restored by transplanting
root stock of Atlantic panicum grass on either side of
the newly constructed sand dune. This grass species
has proven to be well adapted to growing in this zone,
and can quickly stabilize a sand dune as well as
accumulate additional sand.
