PREFACE 



This report contains results of a study to monitor effectiveness of 

 experimental foredunes to provide coastal protection from a major hurricane, 

 in this case. Hurricane Allen which impacted Padre Island in August 1980. 

 Dunes evaluated resulted from grass plantings made from 1969 to 1973; these 

 were compared to an unplanted beach segment. Parameters measured included 

 rates and regions of sand deposition, beach erosion, and vegetation dynamics. 

 Rate of plant succession occurring on an inner island active dune field was 

 also evaluated. Results of this and earlier publications (Dahl, et al., 

 1975; Dahl and Goen, 1977) should provide coastal zone managers with proce- 

 dures for constructing barriers that can effectively protect coastal popula- 

 tions against storm surges as well as improve environmental quality. 

 Especially valuable to natural resource managers, environmentalists, and 

 naturalists would be the minimum disruption to the ecosystem entailed by these 

 methods. The original research was carried out under the U.S. Army Coastal 

 Engineering Research Center's (CERC) Foredune Ecology work unit. Environmental 

 Impact Program, Environmental Quality Area of Civil Works Research and Devel- 

 opment, and the evaluation was conducted under contract with the National Park 

 Service. 



This report was prepared by Bill E. Dahl, Paul F. Cotter, David B. Wester, 

 and Doug D. Drbal, professor and research assistants, respectively. Department 

 of Range and Wildlife, Texas Tech University (TTU) , Lubbock. Dr. K. Yarborough 

 National Park Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the contracting officer's 

 representative. 



The authors appreciate the help, advice, facilities, and encouragement of 

 personnel of the Padre Island National Seashore and Welder Wildlife Foundation, 

 Sinton, Texas. P. Knutson provided advice and assistance during the course 

 of this and earlier projects. Special thanks are due J. Cone, S. Jarrett, 

 T. Mills, J.S. Pitts, G. Scott, R. Steed, G. Tanner, and S. Wesley for help 

 in fieldwork, data analysis, and preparation of the final manuscript. Dr. C. 

 Britton was especially helpful with the contract photography needs. 



P.L. Knutson was contract monitor for the report, under the general super- 

 vision of E.J. Pullen, Chief, Coastal Ecology Branch, and Mr. R.P. Savage, 

 Chief, Research Division, CERC. 



Technical Director of CERC was Dr. Robert W. Whalin, P.E. 



Comments on this publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 166, 79th Congress, 

 approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 172, 88th Congress, 

 approved 7 November 1963. 



TED E. BISHOP 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 



Commander and Director 



