Dune Doctors

10/14/2026

🌊 WE'RE HIRING! JOIN THE DUNE DOCTORS TEAM! 🌱

Do you want to help our beaches recover from Hurricane Isaias?

Dune Doctors is growing, and we're looking for hardworking, motivated individuals to join our team.

No experience required, only a love for outdoor work and native plants!

Apply for the Dune Technician (Entry Level Position) job in Santa Rosa Beach, FL! Learn more about the job description, salary, and job details to see if you qualify on Indeed today.

10/14/2026

Did anybody lose their boat?!

Here are a few photos of one of our crews cleaning up debris left behind by Hurricane Isaias at Vizcaya Condominiums along Scenic Highway 30A.

Our field teams are hard at work removing storm debris and assessing impacts to the coastal dunes along the Florida panhandle. Meanwhile, our headquarters team is managing a high volume of calls and coordinating the necessary permitting to begin placing sand and native vegetation on properties that experienced major erosion.

Thank you for your continued patience and support, Coastal Stewards! We're working hard to assist everyone impacted by the storm.

⚠️ With that, We Do Have a Beach Safety Reminder ⚠️

If you're heading to the beach, please use extra caution around damaged sand fencing, boardwalks, and other impacted structures. Beach sand can contain hidden storm debris including exposed nails, screws, splintered wood, and other sharp objects.

👣 Avoid walking barefoot along impacted beaches for the next few weeks!!!

10/13/2026

Electricity has been restored to Dune Doctors’ headquarters in Pensacola, but we are experiencing an internet outage.

We are doing our best to respond to emails and incoming phone calls.

Thank you for your patience.

10/13/2026

With sea turtle nesting season ending on November 1st, now is the perfect time to prepare your dunes for winter construction efforts that are not allowed over the summer during Turtle Nesting Season.

Key winter work includes:
• Installing sand fencing to trap and build a new protective berm
• Removing dead vegetation to keep your dune healthy

Winter is the ideal window to get this done without disturbing wildlife, and it sets your shoreline up for a stronger, more resilient spring.

📞 Contact us at 866-386-3737 to join our schedule for winter sand fence installation and keep your dunes protected!

10/11/2026

PSA: while it may seem tempting, please do not stand near or attempt to climb/dig into an exposed dune cliff. The dunes along the panhandle just won a major battle against destructive storm surge and stopped saltwater from flooding many of our coastal communities.

Over the next few weeks, these exhausted and fragile dunes will begin to collapse. For your safety, do not approach these eroded dune cliffs.

Show our coastal dunes your solidarity & respect by keeping a safe distance!

10/07/2026

Dune Doctors is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Isaias and its potential impacts on coastal communities in its path.

As conditions develop, our team is prepared and ready to assist before and after the storm. From assessing storm impact to restoring eroded dunes, our team is here to help support you and can be reached at 866-386-3737.

Please stay informed, stay safe, and follow guidance from your local emergency management officials.

10/06/2026

Boardwalks aren’t just for safe beach access—their primary purpose is to protect dunes from erosion.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) views boardwalks as more than just a pathway. First and foremost their purpose is to limit foot traffic through dunes and protect the vegetation that holds them together.

Why it matters:
Dunes act as natural storm buffers. When people walk through them, they trample and kill vegetation, which accelerates erosion.

Here’s the key insight 👇
Boardwalks should evolve with the shoreline.

Strategically, relocating or rebuilding them further seaward allows the dune to form a more continuous, stable berm beneath the structure, instead of being fragmented by footpaths.

Therefore, if you are rebuilding your boardwalk please consult with our team to optimize your boardwalk's design and obtain all proper permitting.

10/01/2026

Did you know that the Gulf Coast Solitary Bee enjoys the beach just like us? Found on barrier islands and secondary dunes from Florida to Mississippi, this bee is a monolectic species, meaning they depend on the flowers of one native plant the Coastal Plain Honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia). We're excited that the Francis M. Weston Audubon Society is hosting this presentation about the dune bee and hope to see some of you there!

Join us on October 15 to enjoy another talk by Jordan Wingate as she shares more of the amazing non-bird life that our dunes and beaches support.

Our local barrier islands are host to a unique little bee, the Gulf Coast solitary bee (Hesperapis oraria).

This little bee is a ground-dwelling pollinator insect that forages only in the barrier islands of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Its sole source of nectar and pollen is the Honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia) flower. This rare plant blooms in Fall throughout our coastal dunes.

Come learn about the special relationship between this rare flower and its bee pollinator, and the vital role Gulf Islands National Seashore and several state parks play in their survival.

Jordan Wingate is the Escambia County's Environmental Program Manager with the Coastal Programs Division.

There will be snacks and social time after the presentation.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS MEETING DATE IS ON THE 3RD THURSDAY INSTEAD OF OUR USUAL 4TH THURSDAY. Early voting will be using the building on the 4th Thursday. We hope you all remember to vote!

09/29/2026

If you’ve heard that much of Florida is “critically eroded,” here’s the part that some people miss:

When the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) labels a stretch of coastline “critically eroded,” it doesn’t just describe the beach's condition; it triggers a management pathway.

Here’s what that typically means:

• The area becomes eligible for state and federal funding
• It gets prioritized for beach nourishment and restoration projects
• It may see increased permitting scrutiny for coastal construction
• It’s monitored more closely over time

In short:
Critically eroded = actively managed coastline

That’s why you’ll often see wide, healthy-looking beaches that are still on the critically eroded list. The beach has been engineered, maintained, and periodically rebuilt.

And here’s the bigger takeaway:

Florida’s shoreline isn’t a fixed line. It’s a dynamic system continuously reshaped by wind, storms, tides, development, and human intervention. The “critically eroded” designation is how the state keeps track of communities that need help protecting their infrastructure in one of nature's most unpredictable environments.

So next time you’re standing on a beautiful Florida beach, there’s a good chance you’re looking at a place that is strategically managed to stay that way.