Using dune restoration on an urban beach as a coastal resilience approach

Coastal dunes are globally recognized as natural features that can be important adaptation approaches for climate change along urban and shores. We evaluated the recovery of coastal on an intensively groomed beach in southern California over a six-year period after grooming was discontinued. Restoration actions were minimal included installation three sides perimeter sand fencing, cessation mechanical driving, addition seeds native dune plants. To track recovery, we conducted physical biological surveys restoration site adjacent control (groomed beach) using metrics including accretion, elevation, foredune hummock formation, vegetation wildlife use. Sediment geomorphic complexity increased time site, largely association with fencing vegetation. A ridge (maximum elevation increase 0.9 m) vegetated hummocks developed, general across (0.3 m). After six years, estimated total volume approximately 1,730 m 3 had accreted 540 ridge. Over same period, more than meter sediment (vertical change) accumulated fencing. Groomed areas remained flat uniform. The cover to maximum 7% by sixth year. No observed site. Native plant species formed distinct zones beginning second year increasing time, forming aggregating closest ocean incipient Ecological functions area presence invertebrates, shorebird roosting, use breeding federally threatened shorebird, western snowy plover ( Charadrius nivosus ). Our findings ecological responses pilot heavily provide new insights opportunities expectations restoring nature-based solutions shorelines.