𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Volunteers Install Native Plants at Santa Monica Beach

SANTA MONICA — Saturday, January 18, 2026 — Volunteers with The Bay Foundation took part in a morning planting effort at Santa Monica Beach as the organization continued expanding its coastal dune restoration work along the shoreline. The volunteer event focused on installing native plants and seeds as part of the foundation’s ongoing Coastal Adaptation Program, which uses nature-based solutions to reduce erosion, improve biodiversity, and increase resilience to sea-level rise and coastal flooding. Participants planted California sunflower and California poppy seedlings while also dispersing a native seed mix containing approximately 20 different species expected to emerge over time as conditions allow. Heather Burdick, Director of Programs for The Bay Foundation, said the effort relies on plant growth to naturally build dunes. As native vegetation establishes itself, wind-driven sand accumulates around the plants, allowing dunes to gradually rise and strengthen without mechanical intervention. Volunteers assisted with planting and site preparation throughout the morning. The dune restoration approach replaces traditional beach-flattening maintenance practices that remove vegetation and destabilize sand. By allowing dunes to form naturally, the project aims to raise beach elevation, absorb wave energy during storms, and create habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. Previous restoration efforts at Santa Monica Beach have been credited with supporting the return of species such as the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover. The Bay Foundation emphasized the role of community participation in maintaining and expanding the restored areas, noting that volunteers contribute not only labor but long-term stewardship and public awareness. The organization continues to encourage public involvement in future planting and restoration events. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document environmental restoration efforts and public space projects shaping the Westside coastline.