DNREC: Dunes defend Lewes against storms

State and city officials are taking steps to protect the dune along Lewes Beach.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Lewes staff are set to clear illegally stored boats, kayaks, chairs and other beach items from the dune.

DNREC spokesman Michael Globetti said they will start with an educational campaign, including a letter to all property owners east of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.

If items remain in the dunes this fall, Lewes City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said, she expects the city or state will confiscate them.

That will make way for new dune fencing along the beach. Globetti said it has not yet been determined where dune fencing will be added.

According to the DNREC Shoreline & Waterway Management Section, storing items on the dune smothers beach grass, which traps sand in the dune. Without grass, sand can be blown by wind, creating weakness in the dune that can be breached by flood waters during coastal storms, Globetti said.

Dunes are important, he said, because they are the first line of defense during coastal storms. They are also a natural habitat for native wildlife, he said.

Dune fencing was one of the recommendations made by the city’s beach parking committee, which met last year. The committee also urged the city to beef up patrols on the beach after residents complained about people using the dune as a bathroom and others walking and playing in the dune.

“The city recognizes the importance of the dunes as a front line of protection,” said Lewes Mayor Ted Becker “The disturbance to the dunes … can lead to their becoming unstable and therefore less effective in the event of a major storm. We look forward to working with DNREC and the community to ensure the dunes remain an effective defense.”