Frustrated residents want citations enforced for walking on dunes

Beach residents say 'keep off dunes' signs being ignored, causing damage

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Residents of Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach have gotten upset recently over people ignoring the law and damaging the dunes after the Army Corps of Engineers worked to rebuild them after Hurricane Matthew.

The dunes were crucial during the hurricane, holding the surging ocean back from homes and roads along the beach.

Most residents understand the importance of staying off the dunes, but many are worried that if the dunes aren’t able to get back to how they were, there will be no protection during the next storm.

“Keep off the dunes” signs have been posted many places at the beach, but residents say many people are ignoring the signs and walking through roped off areas, destroying the baby sea oats recently planted by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The sea oats help keep the dunes from crumbling and improve its ability to work as a wall of protection during heavy rains and storms.

Cote Boulier, who teaches a surf camp for children in north Jacksonville Beach, said he’s frustrated to see so many people damaging the dunes.

“It does take 18 months for these things to grow back and takes 20 years for the dunes to really be in full effect again and when people step on it, they basically destroy the dunes,” Boulier said. “It destroys everything they are used for.”

Walking on the dunes can earn a $500 citation, but beach residents said they don’t see that fine being enforced. 

Many have been taking their complaints to Facebook, posting photos of people walking over the dunes.

There will be one more week of planting sea oats at the end of the month, and residents are hoping people will start respecting the dunes.

Police said residents should call them if they see anyone disturbing the sea oats and dunes, and they will come out and write a citation.