DUNEDEN – Marks the area where ocean oat plants grow along the dune restoration area at Honeymoon Island State Park on Monday. Last year, Hurricane Helen caused major damage to several dunes, retreating over 10 feet. The other dunes have been completely destroyed.
Jason Dorrier, assistant park manager at Honeymoon Island State Park, said the Dunes Restoration Project was quickly expanded after the Stormcaused Seecury Erosion.
Shortly after Helen, Florida Park Services signed a Gator Drug Gate based in Clearwater, removing and redistributed 168,000 cubic yards of sand from nearby Hurricane Pass.
The sand was used to restore beaches and dunes on the northern beaches and oasis beaches in the park. To stabilize the rebuilt dunes, Dorrier said 30,000 sea oats had been planted by March, marking the completion of the project.