In 2001, 2002, and 2003, a series of tropical storms and hurricanes removed all
of the sand and vegetation that covered the geotube (Feagin 2005). The storms also
destroyed the walkovers and bridges that stretched across the geotube, reducing
public access to the beach. In some locations, the geotube had ripped open.
Residents of Pirates’ Beach felt that the reconstructed dune had protected their
homes from the waves and surges of these storms, and they were quite happy with
its performance. However, public citizens were angry that the geotube was now
uncovered, unnatural, and ugly. Several public interest groups challenged the
subsequent use of geotubes at other locations, arguing that they blocked access to
the public resource and violated the Texas Open Beaches Act. Over the following
years, sand and vegetation were never replaced on the geotubes at Pirates’ Beach,
and the geotubes were not well-maintained. On 13 September 2008, Hurricane Ike
completely destroyed what remained of the geotube at Pirates’ Beach. The surge
during this storm was approximately 4 m at this location with waves several
meters high (Williams et al. 2009), and the entire community was flooded the day
before Ike actually made landfall. The remnant portions of the geotube were
removed by 2010. Still, the example of the dune reconstruction at Pirates’ Beach
elucidates the strong incentive for private landowners to build dunes, and maintain
the vegetation line, for the purpose of delineating private versus public land.
6.3 Aesthetics and Natural Habitats: Galveston Island
State Park Project
The image of sea oats (Uniola paniculata), with tall stems and majestic seedheads, is a classic icon that graces Texas coastal literature, photos, and paintings.
Coastal management literature often features images of U. paniculata. Sea oats
seem to be synonymous with the beach and dune ecosystem in Texas.
However, there are no U. paniculata plants of the native Caminada variety left
on Galveston Island, except in paintings and pictures on the walls of hotel rooms.
This genetic variety is apparently limited to the Western Gulf (Subudhi et al. 2005)
and its seeds are essentially unviable (NRCS 2005). Restoration has been done
previously using this variety (NRCS 2008) and specific recommendations have
been made regarding its planting, although not on Galveston Island. This variety of
the species spreads primarily through rhizomatous runners and forms large clumps
on the tops of the dune. These traits are not favorable on an island where a high
hurricane frequency, a history of overgrazing, and modern development have
wiped out any local source from which the species could spread (Feagin et al.
2005). The few Caminada variety plants that were propagated on Galveston were
grown in the nursery, did poorly, and were never transplanted to natural dunes.
During one project, a primary objective of restoration was to re-introduce sea
oats, U. paniculata, to Galveston Island (see Feagin et al. 2008 for full project
description). Several sites were chosen for the re-introduction of the species to
Galveston Island. Sites were chosen because they were located on public property
96
R. Feagin
of the sand and vegetation that covered the geotube (Feagin 2005). The storms also
destroyed the walkovers and bridges that stretched across the geotube, reducing
public access to the beach. In some locations, the geotube had ripped open.
Residents of Pirates’ Beach felt that the reconstructed dune had protected their
homes from the waves and surges of these storms, and they were quite happy with
its performance. However, public citizens were angry that the geotube was now
uncovered, unnatural, and ugly. Several public interest groups challenged the
subsequent use of geotubes at other locations, arguing that they blocked access to
the public resource and violated the Texas Open Beaches Act. Over the following
years, sand and vegetation were never replaced on the geotubes at Pirates’ Beach,
and the geotubes were not well-maintained. On 13 September 2008, Hurricane Ike
completely destroyed what remained of the geotube at Pirates’ Beach. The surge
during this storm was approximately 4 m at this location with waves several
meters high (Williams et al. 2009), and the entire community was flooded the day
before Ike actually made landfall. The remnant portions of the geotube were
removed by 2010. Still, the example of the dune reconstruction at Pirates’ Beach
elucidates the strong incentive for private landowners to build dunes, and maintain
the vegetation line, for the purpose of delineating private versus public land.
6.3 Aesthetics and Natural Habitats: Galveston Island
State Park Project
The image of sea oats (Uniola paniculata), with tall stems and majestic seedheads, is a classic icon that graces Texas coastal literature, photos, and paintings.
Coastal management literature often features images of U. paniculata. Sea oats
seem to be synonymous with the beach and dune ecosystem in Texas.
However, there are no U. paniculata plants of the native Caminada variety left
on Galveston Island, except in paintings and pictures on the walls of hotel rooms.
This genetic variety is apparently limited to the Western Gulf (Subudhi et al. 2005)
and its seeds are essentially unviable (NRCS 2005). Restoration has been done
previously using this variety (NRCS 2008) and specific recommendations have
been made regarding its planting, although not on Galveston Island. This variety of
the species spreads primarily through rhizomatous runners and forms large clumps
on the tops of the dune. These traits are not favorable on an island where a high
hurricane frequency, a history of overgrazing, and modern development have
wiped out any local source from which the species could spread (Feagin et al.
2005). The few Caminada variety plants that were propagated on Galveston were
grown in the nursery, did poorly, and were never transplanted to natural dunes.
During one project, a primary objective of restoration was to re-introduce sea
oats, U. paniculata, to Galveston Island (see Feagin et al. 2008 for full project
description). Several sites were chosen for the re-introduction of the species to
Galveston Island. Sites were chosen because they were located on public property
96
R. Feagin