Beach Grass Planting Project
Beach Grass Planting
The beach grass plantings on Spectacle Island are not quite the same as plantings on a natural dune. In a natural dune, the grasses depend upon the adjacent beach for a constant input of sand to stimulate stem and rhizome growth. In contrast, Spectacle Island is a capped landfill, and two sites planted are separated from their beaches by a riprap slope or stone wall. Scientists will be watching over time to see how the resulting lack of sand deposits will affect beach grass growth. Stay tuned. So far, the beach grass is doing well... take a look!
Did You Know?
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is one of the very few places in the world where sea drumlins, glacially-formed mounds, may be found. They were formed by retreating glaciers about 15,000 years ago. More...