Amelia Island Surf and Racquet Club completes dune restoration

June 22, 2014 2:00 p.m.

Condo owners and renters of the Amelia Island Surf and Racquet Club (ASRC) were hard at work on Saturday morning to restore dunes on a strip of land used as a service trail for vehicles carrying items to and from the Ritz-Carlton. According to a press release issued by the ASRC, "Work began in April of this year to stop traffic in the area and to restore it as a seamless part of the surrounding dune system."

Service trail prior to restoration.

Mike Krueger, president of the ASRC's association, said 600 new plants were placed by volunteers. Among the plant total are 300 sea oats, 200 east coast dune sunflowers, and 100 indian blanket flowers.  The cost to the restore the dunes is approximately $10,000.  Included in the cost is a sprinkler system required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for dune restoration projects.

Indian blanket flowers, just one variety of the indigenous flowers placed in the dunes.

The press release further states,  ". . . the dune system on ASRC's property is cut in half by an old trail where vehicle traffic has pounded the dunes out of existence and left a gaping hold in the natural landscape. Residents and guests have already reported gopher tortoise sighting where trucks and ATV's once roared across the sand."

Volunteers hard at work including former City Commissioner John Crow.

The finished project.
Photo courtesy of Josh Martin