Sea grapes cut back; some folks not happy

The lush awnings of shrubbery that once lined the pathway to the sandy beaches in Delray Beach have been drastically trimmed for environmental purposes but the buzzed landscape isn’t sitting well with some.

The trimming — and in some cases removal — of the salt-tolerant sea grape, an invasive plant species that overgrew into the beloved canopies surrounding the pathways to the ocean, began this week and will last into next week. The shrubbery, a popular photo-op for locals, was trimmed in an effort to protect and restore Delray’s coastal dune ecosystem. The difference is evident. In areas where the sea grapes, marked by broad green leaves with red veins on upright branches, grew to 20 feet high, the plant was trimmed almost to the ground. In a compromise with residents and city officials who opposed the trimming, the city retained just three archways leading to the beaches, although they too were pruned slightly.

“It’s kind of like a haircut,” said John Morgan, who runs the city’s environmental services department. “At first you don’t like it, but it’ll grow back out and look much better.”

The sea grape trimming was controversial. Environmental conservationists recommended trimming the sea grapes down to at least 3 feet to preserve the ecosystem, threatened dramatically by the prolific plant.

But those who opposed the trimming argued the canopies were emblematic of Delray ’s beaches.

“This is an entirely artificial beach,” said Rob Barron, a biologist hired by the city to consult in the trimming. “Everything was placed here by humans, including that sea grape.”

Less than 10 sea grape shrubs were planted along Delray’s coastline in the 1980s to help hold the sand dune in place in an effort to prevent wind and tidal erosion, Barron said.

Within 20 years, the sea grapes grew to heights of 20 to 25 feet, completely blocking the view of the ocean.

And the nonnative sea grapes just as quickly killed off other rare beach species imperative to the biodiversity of the coastal ecosystem, Barron said.

The trimming, which has left open areas along the coastline, will be followed by months of replanting to increase the species diversity and restore the quality of the habitat.

“We’ll be placing dune-friendly plants instead,” Morgan said.

Within six months, the sea grapes that remain will grow at least knee-high, Barron said, although the cit y won’t allow them to return to their former impressive heights.

The trimming isn’t welcome news to all residents, many of whom have t ur ned t o s o c i a l media to share photos of the trimmed landscape and complain of changed views.

The sea grape canopies have in the past been a popular destination for wedding photo shoots and social media snapshots.

Morgan says the feedback he has received is mixed.

“Some people are very positive, some are very negative, but most people are just curious as to why,” he said. “When I tell them about the health of the dune and history of the beach, most people are supportive.”

The replanting will restore some vegetation to the areas that appear barren, he added.

Said Morgan: “It’s all about the health of the dune, that’s why we’re doing this.”