Escambia County is continuing its recovery efforts from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The county is spending more than half a million dollars to save its sand dunes.
Officials began planting Sea Oats and Panic Grass on the 8 mile stretch of beach in early October. Kendra Parson from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said that costal sand dunes act as a first line of defense against storm surge.
“The project will help the dunes rebuild themselves, and then the dunes protect from erosion. Dunes provide habitat to wildlife, and increase future storm protection, to both habitat and human resources,” said Parson.
Parson says the dunes were damaged by the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill, and also by machinery brought in to clean up the beach. During the restoration the beaches will remain open. The restoration is expected to be completed by the end of the month.