Volunteers help rebuild dunes lost to Hurricane Fiona in Shediac, N.B. – New Brunswick | 24CA News

Roughly 30 volunteers spent their Saturday morning tying down Christmas timber on Belliveau Beach in Shediac in an effort to revive the dune system that was worn out throughout Hurricane Fiona.

Jolyne Hébert of the Shediac Bay Watershed Association, which held the occasion, defined the hope is that the timber will lure sand over time with a purpose to create new dunes.

Once Marram grass grows over the dunes, it’s roots will stabilize them over the long run.

“We have actually tied our Christmas trees down with wooden stakes and biodegradable string,” Hébert stated. “We’ve created a line (of trees)  so we have kind of a natural barrier that will help re-accumulate the sand.”

The timber had been donated from the Town of Shediac’s tree assortment program in January.

Volunteer Joanne Tremblay-Légèr stated that whereas her property wasn’t broken through the hurricane, she did see a few of the destruction.

She volunteered on Saturday morning as a result of she is anxious concerning the seaside’s lack of safety from storms and erosion now that the dunes are gone.

“Without the dunes there’s no protection.” she stated. “The waves would just come crashing on houses and surrounding areas and destroy the eco system.”

She was happy to see a powerful turnout for the occasion.

“It was nice to see all the people caring for the beach,” she stated.

Beyond the safety they provide towards coastal erosion and flooding, Hébert stated the dunes are additionally necessary for wildlife.

“We have a lot of different species that rely on these dunes for habitat and food,” she stated.

She stated the unique dunes had been roughly 11 metres extensive and 4 metres excessive, that means changing them will take a very long time.

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