JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A restoration project is underway in Jacksonville Beach to repair dunes decimated by Hurricane Matthew.
A private contractor from Tampa will plant about $625,000 worth of sea oats along the dunes, with the exception of a small section from 17th Avenue South to 25th Avenue South, which will be completed by the city of Jacksonville. That project is scheduled to begin in mid-July and expected to take five days to complete.
Sea oats are critical to the dunes. The plants take root in the sand and help prevent erosion. It's the reason local officials prohibit beachgoers from disturbing them.
Jacksonville Beach City Manager George Forbes said the sea oats restoration project is already underway and expects it to wrap up by mid-August.
Dune restoration projects have already been completed for Neptune and Atlantic beaches.