Protecting Endangered Species
The Humboldt county beaches and dunes are home to two federally listed endangered plant species; the Humboldt Bay wallflower and the beach layia. In addition, the western snowy plover, a small shorebird, is listed as a threatened species. The coastal habitats for these species are subjected to development pressures, recreational uses including off highway vehicles, and encroachment by invasive plant species. The Endangered Species Act provides a mechanism to protect these species and the ecosystem upon which they depend. By conserving the dunes, we protect endangered species.
Humboldt Bay Wallflower (Erysimum menziesii eurekensii)
Humboldt County’s beaches and dunes are home to two federally listed endangered plant species: the Humboldt Bay wallflower and the beach layia. The Humboldt Bay wallflower is a subspecies of the Menzies wallflower and is unique to the Humboldt Bay dune system. The coastal habitats for this species and other native plants are subjected to development pressures, recreational uses including off- highway vehicles, and encroachment by invasive plant species. The Endangered Species Act provides a mechanism to protect these species and the ecosystem upon which they depend. By conserving the dunes, we protect endangered species.
Beach Layia (Layia carnosa)
Both the State of California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list this diminutive annual as endangered. Populations have been monitored since 1988. Since that time, densities have declined. Beach layia prefers open areas with sparse vegetation, and its decline coincides with the gradual and natural succession of vegetation in the dunes over time. When European beachgrass is removed and plant cover is lower, beach layia undergoes a temporary increase in density.
Other rare and endangered plants include:
- Pink sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata spp. brevifolia)
- Humboldt Bay owl’s-clover (Castilleja ambigua spp.humboldtiensis)
- Point Reyes bird’s-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus spp. palustris)
- dark-eyed gilia (Gilia millefoliata)
- American glehnia (Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa)
- western sand spurrey (Spergularia Canadensis spp. occidentalis)
- sea-watch (Angelica lucida)
The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Please visit our Western Snowy Plover page.
