Here is a link to a recent article — https://www.sfestuary.org/estuary-news-nourishing-encinal-beach/ — and a photo of when the dunes were in bloom. Photo courtesy Carmen Erasmus
WHAT A GREAT EVENT! THANKS TO THE PRESENTERS AND THE ATTENDEES FOR A WONDERFUL DAY.
This was a one-hour tour of the recently completed Encinal Dune Restoration and Beach Nourishment Project at East Bay Regional Park District's Encinal Beach on the Island of Alameda.
The pocket beach suffered from severe beach erosion, bank collapse, and invasive species in the dune system. The restoration project removed a rusted sunken barge that was embedded into the intertidal zone, replacing it with a strengthened bank. The beach had eroded such that it was only usable during low tides; beach nourishment raised its elevation to allow use throughout the tidal cycle. Invasive iceplant was removed from the dunes that were sculpted into hillocks and seeded with native dune species to restore a natural habitat that is exceedingly rare along the San Francisco Bay Margin. Public access amenities were an integral part of the project including an improved segment of the Bay Trail, a kayak launch (a recognized put-in on the Bay Water Trail), benches, and restrooms.
Many thanks to Tour Leaders Russell Prange, Landscape Architect at WRA who led the design and construction oversight, Carmen Erasmus, Landscape Architect at East Bay Regional Park District, and Geoff Smick, Ecologist at WRA.
Hope to see you next time!
