<p>Wrack (debris comprised of vegetative, seagrass, or algal matter) is commonly deposited onshore at or above the high-water line during coastal storm and high-water events. Its arrival to the beach-dune system fulfills many biotic and abiotic roles serving as a nutrient source, seedbank, microclimate modifier, and surface roughness element. Many of these roles have been discretely explored in various sub-disciplines; however, the synthesis of these various roles and the respective impact within the context of the beach-dune system has been largely overlooked. Additionally, in many managed coastal environments wrack is viewed as a nuisance and thereby promptly removed following deposition. This article aims to synthesize previous research on wrack from deposition to decomposition and conceptually build upon the science to provide linkages between beach wrack and coastal dunes. This synthesis makes the case for wrack as an environmental resource and highlights its role as a geomorphic engineer in the beach-dune system.</p>