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Workshop presentation: Restoring Natural Dune Resilience to Mitigate Projected Sea Level Rise
The Coast Care Bay of Plenty Community Partnership Experience
Greg Jenks Coast Care Programme Environment Bay of Plenty P O Box 364 Whakatane
The Coast Care BOP Programme is managed by Environment Bay of Plenty in partnership with:
- Opotiki District Council
- Department of Conservation
- Environment Bay of Plenty
- Tauranga City
- Whakatane District Council
- Western Bay of Plenty Distric Council
As early as 1880, the area of drifting sands in New Zealand was estimated to be 40,000ha, rising to over 120,000ha in 1909.
The total area of NZ dunelands was estimated to be 129,500ha.
So, 95 years ago about 95% of NZ's dune lands were degraded sufficiently to allow them to be blown about at the whim of the wind.
"In few places has the impact of people on fragile ecosystems been more damaging than on coasts where loose sandy soils lie vulnerable to frequent strong winds." (McKelvey 1999)
Because the introduced plants like marram and lupins were not able to control sand movement as effectively as our native plants, storm erosion in some areas became more problematic
Clearly our human impact has wrought major environmental changes to dunefields in New Zealand, and reversal of the destructive trend of the last 600 years is long overdue. (Hesp 2001)
If humans could cause all these problems unintentionally, then with good intent, it should be possible to reverse the damage.
However, the scale of this work is so immense, that any one group, ministry, or agency cannot tackle it alone.
Success can be achieved through strong and effective partnerships with passionate members of the affected communities.
Text description of image:
There are three photos showing beach dunes at Papamoa East between 1999 and 2003. In 1999 significant erosion was occurring. After planting spinifex and pingao in 2000, by 2003 mobile sand had been trapped, increasing the dune buffer by 10m. It is expected that continuing plant growth will further increase the buffer and the width of the beach.
However, public enlightenment about the scope for restoration is an important first step.
Many people still believe the current condition of our dunes to be natural or normal.
The damaged state of dunes has been part of their lifetime experience, and so many people have no reference point to judge the immensity of the change and loss.
"It all happened so long ago..."
Bryans Beach Coast Care
August 1995
The protective native plants on the original dune were damaged or destroyed, possibly contributing to the erosion of the dune. It was reported that the eroded area had previously been used as a hay paddock!
July 2004
A period of natural sand deposition provided an opportunity for the locals. They started planting here in 1999. The restored dunes ensure safe recreation, and natural protection from for houses and roads from storm damage.
Dune restoration at Coastlands
Casual pedestrian impact at Pacific Parade Access (June 1996)
The original planting is effectively trapping sand. New posts were placed at the base of the steps as old ones became buried. (October 2000)
Continuing sand accumulation is raising front dune height, burying the fence and improving beach width. (August 2004)
Matata Coast Care
Restoration of Domain dune and installation of access for 4WD vehicles
July 1998
The photo shows community members installing timber access for 4WD vehicles. Excavator is creating a bund to direct vehicles onto the access. Planting started after the fence was completed.
April 2004
The photo shows native dune plants are accumulating sand, especially on the seaweed margin (see disappearing access fence). Vehicle access is frequently used.
Papamoa Domain
This popular area provides easy access to great coastal views and beach, and attracts many people year round.
June 1995
Lack of native front-dune plants meant sand was regularly blown onto the carpark, blocking access on occasion.
Agust 2000
Coast Care BOP members designed, installed, and planted leaf shaped plots to create multiple access points blocking access on occasion.
June 2002
The "weather bomb" struck and the spinifex and pingao traped vast quantities of sand. The bollards and ropes had to be raised to renew effectiveness.
31 December 2002
Just six months later, the plants have emerged completely, ready to trap more sand in the next storm event.
9 January 2003
Nine days later it happened again.
6 May 2004
Papamoa East Coast Care
Impact of subdivision development in 1958
Wairakei stream used to exist on the beach, but was blocked by developers at Marjori Lane. the front dune was destroyed by being bulldozed back into the stream to create more building sections. Karewa Parade is being formed by machinery in the white sand area to the left of Marjori Lane. Water from the stream system can now only reach the sea by flowing through the sand under the houses.
August 1996 (low tide photo)
The heavily modified 'dune' front is very unstable The now dominant Kikuyu grass is not able to perform the accretion function of native dune plants. Water from the Wairakei Stream system is visible on the beach in this photo. This water saturates the sand, making it prone to erosion.
May 2004 (high tide photo)
The first year of plantings did not succeed. Subsequent plantings of vigorous hardened-off plants in 1998 and 1999 have produced these results. Photo was taken after the impact of 10m waves from Cyclone Ivy in February. the restored front dune is now functioning reliably. Remnant Kikuyu will be replaced by native mid and back dune species.
Coast care creating healthy dunes
It was once a Kiwi tradition to spend lazy summers in the family bach at the beach. Howevern, the small, often shabby holiday homes of old have now almost gone, giving way to a new breed of glossy, permanent dwellings.
Living a few metres from the sea will always carry a risk - it is, after all, a known hazard zone. But a healthy run of dunes can provide some peace of mind, as Prue Burt knows.
In the late 1980s, Prue and husband Peter built a family home at Papmoa east. At that time, she says, there were a lot of empty sections along the beachfront, "but it's a very different landscape now."
Eight years ago, a series of eastery storms tore at the dunes that helped to buffer their property from the full force of the waves. directly in front of their house, powerful seas had gouged out the dunes so much all that was left was a steep eroded bank. It made the Burts feel vulnerable.
So, when Pture heard about a dune-planting initiative caled Coast Care, she was one of the first to sign up for it. Set up by Environment Bay of Plenty and the local coastal councils, Coast Care BOP works with volunteers to plant the region's dunes with native plants in a bid to restore them. The promgrammes now has 25 groups, including the one at Papamoa East.
Since joining Coast Care, Prue and her neighbours have planeted hundreds of native dune plants along a kilometre-long stretch of coastline. each resident was designated an area to fertilise just before it rained to ensure good growth. In front of Prue's home, an initial three-metres-wide swathe was planted and fenced.
That has now spread to 10 metres, binding more and more sand. Because of this, the dunes are now a wide, gentle slope.
Native plants (unlike exotic ice plants and Kikuyu grass) trap sand, so the Burts no longer have to wheel away barrow loads of the stuff from their lawn after strong winds. Earlier this year, a cyclone threw logs up high on the beach, but the dunes stayed strong. As did the plants - smothered by sand, they simply popped up again.
It's working so far, and Prue's happy. as dunecare converts, people in the neighbourhood
tend to keep a watchful eye on their dunes. "Yes, we get a bit tetchy when people walk or picnic on them," Prue says.Solving problems by restoring dunes
Motiti Road, Papamoa East
June 1997
Dune front erosion had been problematic for decades. In 1978 the BOP Catchment Commission advised residents there were no simple or cheap answers to address their erosion concerns at Papamoa East.
March 2004
Inexpensive plantings of native dune species has re-created an accreting front dune, by Papamoa Coast Care helping to solve the erosion problems. This photo was taken after the impact of 10m waves from Cyclone Ivy [no appreciable damage can be observed].
Yale St Dune Repair Project, Mt Maunganui
Text description of image:
The image contains three photos. The first shows the planting of native plants in September 1997 by pupils of Maungatapu School. The second photo shows the beach in February 2002. Sand about 1 metre deep has been accumulated over the entire planted area, forcing the sea out by over 10 metres. The third photo shows that new fenceposts have had to be added over the height of the originals.
Dune restoration at Coastlands East
June 1996
Photo shows the beach before planting commenced.
October 2000
Four months after planting, the fence is disappearing.
August 2004
Sand accumulation by the native dune plants continues, improving the width, height, and function of the dune buffer.
Coast Care Bay of Plenty
In the Bay of Plenty, the means of remedy is the Coast Care BOP Programme, established in 1994.
Text description of image:
Coast Care Bay of Plenty is involved in dune planting, weeding, creating pedestrian and vehicle access through the dunes, plant protection, education, and community action. Coast Care Bay of Plenty is supported by Tauranga District Council, Western Cay of Plenty District Council, Department of Conservation, Environment Bay of Plenty, Whakatane District Council, and Opotiki District Council.
Funding of the programme is a cooperative venture with all partners contributing from annual budgets.
One of the strengths of the Coast Care BOP programme is its operation by and through local community members taking an active role in managing their own beaches, i.e. local solutions for local problems.
Groups decide the way in which they wish to operate, including whether or not to have formal structures like committees.
Group members make decisions about the plants and materials required for projects, which are made available through Coast Care acquisition and supply.
Providing materials in this manner avoids excessive bureaucracy and the auditing that might be necessary if funds were supplied.
The list of achievements to date is a testament to the vision of those who initiated the programme.
Foredunes on some beaches have been fully restored, which is providing confidence for the more difficult sites yet to be tackled.
There are currently 28 continually active Coast Care groups operating throughout the region over our nearly 350km regional coastline.
Our database of Coast Care volunteers contains nearly 1,000 members who receive regular information about Coast Care projects and events.
The Coast Care BOP programme partners are again funding nearly 40,000 native dune plants this year.
The grand total is now over 240,000 plants (equivalent to about 30km of front-dunes), all planted by community volunteers.
Innovative Coast Care signs are liberally displayed at restoration sites.
This helps to ensure people realise that enhanced dune stability is a result of this volunteer programme, and that everyone can help.
Production and distribution of 900 copies of the "Life's a Beach" education kit to all high schools in New Zealand.
A series of ten informative brochures and many posters have been produced to aid public understanding of the important role of natural dune systems.
Frequent positive media stories provide good public information about Coast Care activities and objectives, and highlight community empowerment and participation.
Informative newsletters mailed twice annually to our network of community volunteers.
Working together with a common goal, management agencies and caring community members have taken many local beach systems from disaster to restoration.
At Mt Maunganui, beach accessways are located every 100-200m, with markers at both the road side and beach end of each access. the numbers on the markers relate to the distance in km from Mauao, the Mount.
Relatively low population pressures in New Zealand have resulted in opportunities to successfully reverse most of our past excesses on the coast. Othe more populous nations may have moved beyond that point.
Papmoa Beach
The link: dune restoration and projected sea level rise
The BOP dune restoration programme has transformed dune erosion into dune accretion.
Restored dunes clearly demonstrate superior abilities to absorb storm impact, and to rapidly self-repair post storm.
Dunes display relatively rapid accretion in the first 3-6 years after successful restoration. The rate of accretion slows after the initial rapid phase, but it does continue. This accretion of restored dunes occurred during existing sea level conditions.
The BOP experience suggests that restoration of dunes with appropriate native species is providing the most practical, most sustainable, and least expensive mitigation option available for coastal communities nd infrastructures.
Dune restoration techniques should be promptly instigated across New Zealand, and possibly beyond
Last updated: 20 March 2008
