Invasive Beach Grass

Much of the Oregon coast was made up of great shifting sand dunes prior to 1900. Deposits from the coastal mountain range over millions of years were responsible. The piles of ever moving sand provided a wind break from the 100+ mph winds that can blow in winter storms, and habitat for animals like the snowy plover. Beach grasses were not native to this coast.

But shifting sands were not popular with white communities that built along the coast. By the turn of the last century they had started planting European Beach Grass and later American Beach Grass to stabilize the dunes. By the 1930s these invasive grasses had taken over more than 80 percent of the dunes along the Oregon coast. They changed the ecology, habitat, and topology of the area. “Foredunes” came into existence where none had ever been before. The foredune is the first dune you come to as you walk inland from the beach. It is a permanent dune above the waterline made possible by beach grass. Forests started encroaching on the beach because of beach grass stabilization. The snowy plover almost became extinct, along with many other dry sand loving creatures.

In the last couple of decades restoration efforts have been made in some areas with some success. Snowy plovers are making a slow comeback. Beach grass eradication is an active policy now, that includes mechanical removal, proscribed burns, and chemical treatment. Experts expect the removal to take years. And, just to keep it interesting, European and American Beach Grass have apparently recently hybridized. This new EuroAmerican strain is even more invasive and resistant to eradication. So the restorers have their work cut out for them. But, through their efforts, someday, we may get back to the great shifting dunes of yore. 

Happy Trails…