Coastal: Atlantic Coast
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'Cape' american beachgrass is considered the industry standard and has proven to out-perform all other varieties for conservation applications from Maine to North Carolina
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Did you know that, in many coastal areas, dunes are the first line of defense against storm surges? But in many places, dunes have been destroyed by development.
Dune restoration can help protect coastal communities—and provide valuable wildlife habitat. NRCS helps restore dunes all along the Atlantic coast, from Puerto Rico to Maine.
The agency’s Plant Materials Centers develop cultivars of native dune grasses, put together mixtures of native plant species to capture sand and stabilize dunes, develop and demonstrate methods for planting and maintaining dune grasses, and release information about dune restoration.
Numerous state agencies, organizations, and communities along the Atlantic coast have adapted NRCS guidelines and information into technical specifications, dune guides, and public outreach efforts.
Below is a collection of guides, fact sheets and other publications about replanting shorelines and stabilizing sand dunes after storms. This comprehensive information serves as a resource for coastal communities interested in restoring dunes for wildlife habitat and storm protection.
Plants for Atlantic Coastal Restoration
The Atlantic Coast of the United States comprises the coastal states of Delaware, Florida, Maine, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. The lands adjacent to the Atlantic coastline are made up of sandy beaches, marshlands, bays, and barrier islands. Soils range from mineral sands to heavy organic mucks. The area contains a vast diversity of plant life adapted to freshwater, brackish, and saline marshes and mangrove swamps, as well as terrestrial species that grow on upland sites associated with coastal dunes and barrier islands.
Conservation Plant Releases developed by the Plant Materials Program selected for use in this area have been proven to be adapted over specific zones around the Eastern Atlantic Region. Plant Fact Sheets and Plant Guides will assist you with proper plant selection, establishment, and management.
