Restoring the Health of Coastal Environments and Community Connection to Them
Human introduced invasive, non-native plants disrupt the balance of dune ecosystems by stabilizing moving sand and crowding out native plants. By removing invasive plants, we enable native plants to reclaim the sand and set the stage for a healthy dune ecosystem.
Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT)
Help restore the dunes by volunteering for the dune ecosystem restoration team. Volunteers help remove non-native invasive plants in order to promote native plant and animal life in the dunes. No experience necessary. Training, tools, refreshments, camaraderie and beautiful scenery are provided. Returning volunteers are eligible for free t-shirts and hats. All ages welcome!
Human Hands are the Tools of Restoration
Add glove, shovels, and brush axes to human hands, and you have the strongest dune restoration tool around. Within months of initially removing invasive plants, volunteers witness native plants re-sprouting on their own. Our methods of removal have minimal impacts to the dunes, and thus native plants are able to repopulate the dunes on their own.
Before
After
The Dune Ecosystem Restoration Team (DERT) is active the first four Saturdays of each month with more special events in-between. DERT is currently helping restoration efforts at four sites; the Eureka Dunes Protected Area (EDPA), the Lanphere Dunes, the Manila Dunes, and the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center.
RESTORATION SITES
Eureka Dunes Protected Area (EDPA)
This 80 acre protected area is owned by the city of Eureka and is managed by the Center of Natural Lands Management. EDPA is most known for one of the largest populations of the endangered Humboldt Bay Wallflower. Composed of dune mat and swales; here you will see footsteps of spring, buttercups, beach morning glory, and beach layia blanketing the low-lying dunes in the spring.
Humboldt Coastal Nature Center (HCNC)
This 38 acre dune property was purchased by Friends of the Dunes in the summer of 2007. Restoration activities will begin in January of 2008. Restoration will also occur on adjacent property owned by the Stamps property on which Friends of the Dunes has an easement. Activities will focus on removal of European beachgrass, ice plant and yellow bush lupines.
Manila Dunes
The 150 acre Manila Dunes were purchased in 1992 by the Manila Community Services District. Nearly half of the restoration efforts at this site have been completed by volunteers. Restoration efforts focus on ice plant and European beachgrass removal on the nearshore dunes and back dunes. Many large restoration events occur at this site including the adopt-a-dune program, HSU’s Day of Caring, Alternative Spring BreakAway, and Earth Day Peninsula Clean-up.
Lanphere Dunes
The Lanphere Dunes were acquired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1998 and had previously been owned by The Nature Conservancy since 1974. The Lanphere Dunes are known as the most pristine remaining dune system in the Pacific Northwest, this is the site of one of the most successful dune restoration projects on the west coast, accomplished through the ongoing removal of invasive, non-native vegetation. This site is adjacent to the Ma-le’l Dunes North, also owned and managed by the USFWS. The Lanphere Dunes are composed of nearshore dunes, dunes, swales, large open sand sheets, and dune forest. Restoration activities focus on removing English ivy from the forest, annual grasses, and small populations of ice plant.
INVASIVE PLANTS
European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria)
Native to Europe, this grass was planted along the north spit in 1901 to stabilize the sand along the railroad. The Latin name Ammophila means "sand-loving" as the grass thrives on being buried. This grass spreads by deep, tough, buried stems (rhizomes) and forms dense, continuous stands.
Dune Impacts – European beachgrass traps blowing sand and does not allow it to continue through the dunes system, causing dune stabilization. Sand movement is a critical part of the dynamic dune system and over stabilization creates an unnatural condition on the dunes. The this stands that it forms crowds out native plants.
Control – European beachgrass is removed with hands and shovels. Although this is labor intensive, it is the most effective method locally. Because this grass is constantly being buried with sand its root systems grow deep in the sand. This makes it virtually impossible to remove the entire root. Portions of root remaining after initial removal efforts will re-sprout and will require 4-8 follow-up treatments before being starved of nutrients and dieing. Beachgrass is piled up and left to dry before being burned.
Ice plant (Carpobrotus chilensis and Carpobrotus edulis)
Iceplant is native to South Africa. It is believed that it was introduced to local dunes as early as the 1500’s in sand used as ship’s ballasts. The origin of Carpobrotus chilensis is not clearly understood, and some biologists believe it is native to California. This species is far less invasive than C. edulis. However, when C. chilensis hybridizes with C. edulis, it takes on more aggressive traits and should be controlled.
Dune Impacts - Iceplant is a succulent which stores water in swollen leave or stems enabling it to survive after being uprooted. It grows low to the ground and blankets the dunes, crowding out native plants, and stabilizing sand.
Control - Ice plant is easily controlled with manual removal. Large clones can be rolled up like a carpet with the roots being cut with shovels underneath as it is rolled. Small patches are piled up and left to dry. After a few months piles are revisited and any pieces of the plant that are touching the ground and growing are removed and placed on the top of the pile until all of the pile is dead and dry.
Yellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus)
Yellow bush lupine is native to California, but his species is not native to Humboldt County. There are two other species of lupine that are considered to be native here, but are smaller and less commonly seen on the dunes. Yellow bush lupine was introduced to the North Spit in the early 1900’s when the railroad was being used to transport rock to construct the north jetty. Five women were hired by the Army Corps of Engineers to plant the lupine seeds along the railroad to prevent unwanted sand burial. The seeds were obtained by the Presidio in San Francisco.
Dune Impacts – Yellow bush lupine is a large shrub that creates a new microclimate by providing shade and moisture to surround plants. The roots have nodules which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that increase nutrients and organic matter in the sand, creating a condition where other weedy plants can become established.
Control – Small yellow bush lupines are removed by physically pulling them up the entire plant, including its deep tap root. Larger bushes are removed using an axe to chop the plant off at the base. Shrubs are then piled, dried and burned. Lupines have long lasting seed banks, so removal efforts must be continuous as new plants will emerge from seeds that have previously been dispersed.
Alternative Spring BreakAway
Many college students across the nation are choosing to spend their spring breaks volunteering for good causes. Students perform short-term projects for community agencies and learn about issues such as literacy, poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness and the environment. Alternative Spring BreakAway seeks to use alternative breaks as a springboard into lifelong active citizenship...where the community becomes a priority in an individual's life decisions.
During their stay student stay at the Manila Community Center. They work to restore the dunes at different sites each day while learning about the variety of dune habitats found in Humboldt County. There are planned tours throughout the week to visit the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) at Humboldt State University, the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, and the redwoods. Students also have plenty of time to explore the area on their own and of course take part in beach bonfires at the end of the day.
Each week this year brought a different group of students, each with their own uniqueness. Every student had a different educational background, some studying Philosophy, Photo Journalism, Art History, or Earth Sciences to name a few. Many businesses donated recreational passes and food to welcome them to our community and lower trip expenses. The students are very impressed by the friendly community of the Humboldt Bay area.
If you are interested in scheduling a group you can contact Emily at emily@friendsofthedunes.org or call our office at 707-444-1397.
To get more information about the Alternative Spring Breakaway program their website is www.alternativebreaks.org.