Sand Dunes Are Natural Formations—They Aren't Built (or Priced)

No Construction Cost—They Form Naturally

Sand dunes are not built by humans; they are natural landforms created by wind (aeolian processes) or water moving and depositing sand over time.

How Dunes Form

• Wind: Sand grains saltate (bounce), accumulate behind obstacles (plants, debris)
• Vegetation: Roots stabilize sand; dunes grow vertically
• Time: Decades to millennia for large systems

Human Interaction: Restoration, Not Construction

We don't "build" dunes—we restore or stabilize them:

• Sand fencing (traps windblown sand) — $5–15/linear foot
• Marram grass planting — $0.50–$2/stem
• Beach nourishment (pumping offshore sand) — $1–5M/mile
• Dune walkovers (boardwalks) — prevent trampling

Why It Matters

Dunes protect inland areas from storm surge, erosion, flooding. "Building" them artificially is really coastal engineering—expensive, temporary, and ecologically inferior to natural dunes.