EXPERIMENTAL DUNES OF THE TEXAS COAST

Storms and increased habitation on barrier islands have reduced the height and width of dunes on the Texas Coast, thereby exposing it to the surges and waves produced by tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico. This publication reports on experimental means of creating and stabilizing sand dunes to protect the coast. Four locations were selected; the SW end of Galveston Island, Packery Channel, Newport Pass on North Padre Island and Corpus Christi Pass. Low areas of the barrier islands were planted in various types of vegetative cover in an attempt to establish dunes without the aid of sand fences. Snow fencing was used to accumulate windblown sand and vegetative planting made to stabilize dunes. Junk car bodies were placed in line parallel to beaches and used instead of more conventional means to establish and stabilize dunes by trapping sand. Since snow fences are more effective and much cheaper, junk cars are not recommended for building dunes. (Author)