A project led by the Bay Foundation to restore approximately three acres of beach dunes along the North Manhattan Beach coastline is set to launch on Friday - with community volunteers welcome.

The Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project will fortify approximately three acres of the back dunes along the shoreline from 36th to 28th Street, and from 26th to 23rd Street. The restoration will involve removing invasive and non-native plants, and seeding native plants to trap sand and form a protective barrier against sea level rise. 

Ultimately, preservationists aim to increase the resiliency of the shoreline through nature-based protection measures, while serving as a model for the region.

Community volunteers are being sought for the first work day on Friday, January 21, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Click here to register to work and to sign the waiver.

There will be two more volunteer opportunities this month, on January 28, and 29; as well as events coming up shortly for February and beyond, according to Chris Enyart, watershed program manager for the Bay Foundation.

"We anticipate holding at least a few weekday events and one weekend event a month throughout winter," said Enyart. "The events are a great opportunity for participants to learn about dune systems, coastal resiliency, and native plants and wildlife."

Enyart noted that all ages are welcome at the events, but minors should be accompanied by a chaperone.

It will involve the removal of ice plant followed by seeding and planting native vegetation. These native plants include beach evening primrose (the yellow-flowered plant that is Manhattan Beach's official city flower), sand verbena, sea scale, and more.

(At left are sample renderings from the Bay Foundation of what the dunes will look like before and after restoration.)

According to project organizers, the native plants will have the ability to trap and retain wind-driven sand, allowing for the slow growth of small-scale dune systems that can make the beach more resilient to erosion.

The Manhattan Beach sites will be delineated using symbolic post and rope fencing. Enyart said that this will help guide adjacent beach grooming activities and deter excessive trampling by visitors while the native plants get established.

Beaches are an important cultural and economic resource for coastal regions. However, they are highly impacted by threats such as invasive species, erosion, sea level rise, and severe storms.

According to preservationists, ice plant (the familiar succulent-style groundcover plant that is widespread in the beach cities) is an invasive species that can crowd out native plants. In the case of coastal systems, ice plant can often outcompete native plant species that support important wildlife.

By restoring these coastal systems, preservationists aim to improve their ability to combat these threats and increase coastal resiliency of both beaches and infrastructure.

Project leaders will carefully monitor the change in dune topography and plant cover at the Manhattan Beach site.

The preservationists anticipate that the Manhattan Beach project site will serve as a model for the region, showing that heavy recreational use of beaches and meaningful habitat restoration are compatible goals.