Invasive plants negatively impact coastal dune ecosystems worldwide, stabilizing dune habitat and reducing early successional stage beach dynamics. Dune restoration may require mechanical contouring with bulldozers to remove vegetation and extensive root systems. We assessed the effectiveness of a coastal dune contouring project at Vandenberg Space Force Base in central California by monitoring the nesting response of western snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), which rely on early successional habitat. Two beach sections were mechanically contoured in 2014 and 2015, opening 30.5 ha of previously marginal nesting habitat. We investigated changes in beach structure, plover nest density, hatch success, and fledge success from 2011 to 2021 at two contoured sites, two adjacent beachfront sites, and a control site 500 m away. After contouring, the majority of nesting habitat at both contoured sites converted to preferred plover habitat. However, the amount of preferred habitat decreased in subsequent years as vegetation grew back. Nest density increased within both contoured sites immediately after contouring, but decreased in subsequent years. Though variable, hatch success improved at only one contoured site, and fledge success marginally increased following contouring. Without periodic recontouring, vegetation will continue to fill contoured sites and plover productivity will return to pre-contouring levels.