After 2024 storms, Maine volunteers planted 32,000 dune grass stalks
University of New England students and local volunteers have planted 20,000 stalks of dune grass in Biddeford Pool, Maine, to combat erosion. This effort is part of a multi-year study to restore coastal dunes damaged by severe storms in 2024.
Why it matters
Coastal restoration projects are becoming increasingly vital as climate change leads to more frequent and destructive storm events.
A beach in Biddeford Pool, Maine, is being rebuilt with the help of dune grass. In March 2026, University of New England students and local volunteers planted 20,000 stalks across about 20,000 square feet, continuing a restoration effort that began after severe storms damaged the dunes in 2024.The 2024 storms caused an estimated $90 million in damage across the Maine coast, according to the state, Univerisity of New England reported. The storms also washed away dunes at the Biddeford Pool beach, prompting the conservation trust and UNE to discuss ways to restore the damaged area.The 2026 effort was the second year in a row that UNE students worked with the trust. This time, the trust bought 66% more dune grass than the previous year.
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