 European beachgrass, an invasive species, was planted here in the early 20th century to stabilize the dunes, which can grow to high.The dunes kept the river in its new channel but displaced native vegetation such as sand verbena and otherwise altered the habitats used by birds and other life forms.The New River is the southernmost area of record for rufous hummingbirds and the most northern for Allen's hummingbirds to have been observed breeding.