LONGPORT – One Facebook post over the 4th of July weekend noted that there were many people standing on the dunes to watch the fireworks going off in Margate. Locals know not to do that, but visitors may not be aware of how important the dunes are for their safety.
Before the end of summer, the borough will erect signs along the beach informing beachgoers of their responsibility to protect the dunes.
According to Zoning Officer Bruce Funk, the signs will serve to educate the public about the fragile nature of the marine environment and the benefits of the sand dunes that protect Longport’s valuable real estate and infrastructure.
Funk said the dunes are “more than just a pile of sand,” which will be reflected on one of the signs. The beaches on Absecon Island are ever-changing, as daily tides, ocean currents and storms move sand around the island like that of a living organism. Expensive beach replenishment projects conducted by the state ensure the beaches are wide enough to accommodate the throngs of vacationers who visit the Jersey shore each year, and ensure the local economy thrives.
After Hurricane Sandy, then-Gov. Chris Christie ordered that one contiguous sand dune be built from Sandy Hook to the tip of Cape May to protect life and property from future storm events. The dunes are planted with native grasses that protect the dune from erosion and protect wildlife. When winter winds blow, more sand is deposited along the dune line, offering additional protection for beachfront properties and infrastructure.
Funk said the signs, which will be installed near the beach crossovers, will create awareness about the dunes and the wildlife that nest there, including endangered bird species, foxes and other native wildlife.
“People don’t understand how important the dunes are,” Funk said. “The diversity of wildlife there is amazing.”
A QR Code will be included on the sign that will take interested individuals to a website, titled “Our Dunes.”
Educating the public about the beneficial functions of the dunes is outlined in the borough’s official Beach Management Plan, which was approved by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Coastal Management.
The borough will use a $5,000 donation to the CAFRA Trust Fund, which was derived from a local development request, to fund creation and installation of the signs, which will be installed later this summer. Previous donations to the trust fund, which are required to receive developmental approvals along the coastline, were used to purchase wheelchairs with balloon tires that can easily roll over the sand.
Funk said it will cost about $700 per sign. The borough will commission seven signs containing one of four different designs.
“Ideally, we should have one on each dune crossover,” Funk said.
To ensure regular beachgoers get to see each version, the signs will be rotated from beach to beach each year, he said.
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