Addressing a “Sea-rious” Situation: Julia Wingate’s Take on Why Beach Restoration Matters.
Making Waves for Change
Julia Wingate, a rising high school senior studying natural resources, has a very particular issue that she’s passionate about: beach restoration in Delaware. As a Work-Based Learning Intern from the Appoquinimink School District, Julia has worked with the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science to develop a Gallery Interpretation kit focusing on Delaware Beach Ecosystems, stressing the importance of maintaining these beaches’ qualities and explaining how their condition affects the lives of the organisms who reside in those environments.
Designed to help guests better understand the organisms that live, nest, and grow on Delaware’s beaches, Julia’s beach ecology kit addresses many things: the necessity of beach restoration for animal protection and environmental conservation, what exactly beach restoration is, how to understand animal habitats on Delaware beaches, and how to contribute to beach restoration yourself.
“Beach restoration has been happening for many years now,” Julia says, describing the local history behind the practice. “Lots of money has been spent on it, and yet not much progress has been made.”
This lack of visible change has further motivated Julia to support this cause and increase its visibility among the general public. Julia makes a point to emphasize that restoring Delaware’s beaches isn’t solely for human enjoyment, but rather for the purpose of sustaining the organisms that reside there. A multitude of creatures, such as the marine horseshoe crabs and the migratory red knots, depend on Delaware’s shores for nesting and nourishment.
Without considerable restorative efforts, Delaware’s beaches will become unfit to provide for these species and many others, which would in turn lead to greater environmental collapse. Therefore, the only “shore” solution is exactly what Julia so strongly advocates for; restoring Delaware’s beaches.
What is Beach Restoration?
According to Julia Wingate, beach restoration can be described in many ways. Straightforwardly, it’s an earnest attempt to preserve beaches for the benefit of both humans and animals. It can also be restoring beaches to their natural condition prior to human intervention. But ultimately, Julia describes it as a process that creates a clean and safe space for all, regardless of species.
A plethora of efforts take place throughout the process of beach restoration, some of which look very different from one another. For instance, one particular task may be planting vegetation like grass and shrubs to prevent flooding and erosion. Other efforts may be seen through tracking and monitoring migrating shorebirds, which keeps local government and other relevant organizations informed about migration patterns and the current population numbers of different species. And, of course, the most natural thing that comes to mind is pumping new sand on to Delaware’s beaches, an effort that visibly replenishes depleted beach systems by transferring new sand on to eroded coastal areas.
Ultimately, beach restoration is a multifaceted process that touches upon the many components that make up an ecosystem, affecting abiotic and biotic resources alike.
The Ins and Outs of Julia’s Gallery Interpretation Kit
In the new Gallery Interpretation Kit that Julia has developed, a diverse range of materials have been incorporated in order to improve the public’s understanding of beach ecology. This ranges from examples of the different organisms that reside there, to the different plants that help to reinforce the longevity of Delaware’s sand dunes. Here are just a few of the several components she’s included in her educational project:
Horseshoe Crab
Using a horseshoe crab model, Julia aims to improve the public’s familiarity with the aquatic organism. These creatures are abundant in Delaware, serving as a food source for seabirds and also holding an important role in the biomedical industry due to the beneficial properties of their blood.
As a result of erosion and other environmental factors accelerated by human activity, many horseshoe crab nesting grounds are destroyed. This significantly interferes with the horseshoe crabs’ life cycle, and also often leaves them trapped on beaches. Other issues like littering also pose a risk to these creatures, as trash may be mistakenly ingested, which incorporates microplastics into the food chain.
Rufa Red Knot Migration Pattern
The rufa red knot carries out an incredibly long migration, wintering at the tip of South America before continuing its journey upward to Northern Canada to breed. Along this lengthy journey is a brief respite in the Delaware Bay, where red knots rest and replenish themselves before migrating further north. Here in the bay, red knots depend on horseshoe crab eggs as a primary food source.
However, because erosion disrupts horseshoe crab nesting areas, red knots are threatened by a potential loss of food resources. Additionally, the issue of microplastic contamination in horseshoe crab eggs also poses a threat to red knots, making them inedible and harmful to consume. Therefore, it’s important that beach restoration becomes a priority in order to preserve these interconnected species.
Beach Grass
Beach grass, along with other plants such as northern bayberry, serves as an integral defense against issues like coastal erosion and storm-related flooding. Because of its deep and fibrous root structure, beach grass is able to act as a sand stabilizer, allowing dunes to accumulate and grow in size.
However, these plants can be easily disrupted, especially in their early stages of development. Julia notes, “It is important that [beachgoers] can recognize these plants and are made aware not to pick up, walk on, or disturb them when on the beach.”
Why Does This Matter?
Just by looking at these three examples alone, it is easy to see how each of these different organisms make up an integral part of Delaware’s beach ecosystems. These organisms possess deeply interconnected relationships, whether you observe their relationships through the lens of the food web, or through their relationship with coastal erosion. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that each of these components are equally integral to sustaining beach ecosystems, and beach restoration is an essential part of guaranteeing the longevity of these organisms and their environment.
What Can You Do to Help?
As a part of her Gallery Interpretation kit, Julia provides the names of several groups with whom you can volunteer and make a difference, consisting of both government and independent organizations. If you feel moved by Julia’s cause, consider supporting or volunteering with the groups below:
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) offers a multitude of volunteering opportunities related to beach restoration, consisting of research opportunities, stewardship opportunities, and even educational opportunities to improve aquatic and ecological knowledge.
They also advertise annual events such as beach grass planting and coastal cleanups, which have been incredibly successful in past years. Consider volunteering with DNREC if you’re looking to make an environmental difference!
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays provides plenty of opportunities to get involved, offering volunteer opportunities that range from science and restoration to education and outreach.
Take part in shoreline maintenance, horseshoe crab monitoring, and more with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays!
Volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation’s Delaware Chapter today! The Surfrider Foundation champions many coastal issues, spanning from plastic pollution to ocean protection. One of their most recent accomplishments includes posting signage at Delaware beaches in order to prevent the erosion of planted sand dunes.
To take part in achievements like this, join the Surfrider Foundation and make a difference!
Check It Out!
If you’re interested in learning more about beach ecology from Julia Wingate’s Gallery Interpretation kit, head on over to the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science to see it for yourself.
