Environmental + Sustainability
Dauphin Island East End Beach and Dune Restoration
Goodwyn Mills Cawood Project Location: Dauphin Island, Alabama
Project Start Date: 13 December 2023 Project Completion: 30 October 2024 Project Team: Civil Engineer - Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Contractor - Weeks Marine, Inc, Coastal Engineer - South Coast Engineers, Consultant - Moffat & Nichol Project Background: Dauphin Island is a cherished part of Alabama’s coastline, the 14-mile-long barrier island south of Mobile is home to beautiful beaches and a wide variety of species that inhabit the sky, sea and sand. Erosion, hurricanes, and the passage of time have threatened these critical environments. The current restoration project began with Phase I in 2016, significantly mitigating erosion and habitat damage. Phase II aimed to continue this success, marked as a top priority in the US Army Corp of Engineers’ Final Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment Report. With $22 million in funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environment Benefit Fund and the National Coastal Resilience Fund, this phase replenishes approximately 1.5 miles of shoreline and 88 acres of beach and dune habitats, crucial for seabirds, shorebirds, migratory birds and sea turtles. This unique project ensures Dauphin Island’s East End Beach is a flourishing refuge for wildlife and a peaceful escape for visitors. Impact: The project’s impact on Dauphin Island is significant and lasting. The project accomplished the following: 400 feet wider beaches, 1,200,000 cubic yards of sand placement, 60 acres of beach habitat created, 20 acres of dune habitat created, 12,400 linear feet of sand fence and 691,000 native dune plants of multiple varieties planted. Environmental care was crucial throughout the project especially considering the delicate coastal ecosystem. The creation of habitats and dunes will allow the wildlife in the area to enjoy more of the beach and thrive sustainably for years to come. This project has not only renovated and expanded the beach but it also serves to protect the beach from erosion and damage from the passage of time, weather and hurricanes. The extended shoreline creates an additional layer of protection should extreme weather or other disturbances come to the region. This protects all residents of the town, humans and animals.
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8 csengineermag.com YEA 2024
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