Ma-le’l project, the cost of restoration over the entire affected area is reduced by
almost two-thirds.
Using manual methods to remove Ammophila and other invasives is initially
expensive, but carries many benefits that result in longer-term efficiency. Heavy
equipment has been used successfully in northern California and elsewhere to
eradicate Ammophila, but only where it achieves dominance over large areas. In an
early-stage invasion into intact vegetation the impacts from heavy equipment on
vegetation (including endangered species) would be too great, and this alternative
would most likely not be permissible in the area under existing coastal laws and
regulations. In addition, there is cause for concern at some sites that use of heavy
equipment can reactivate dunes, slowing or preventing recovery of native vegetation. In contrast, manual methods can be targeted precisely, allowing the
retention of interspersed native species. These surviving plants become a source of
natural recolonization, reducing or even eliminating the need for revegetation. An
effective herbicide treatment for Ammophila was not developed until the mid1990s (Aptekar 2000), but more importantly, there was a strong community ethic
opposing the use of herbicides. The restoration philosophy underpinning this effort
embraced the support of the community, and this was perhaps one of the earliest
community-based restoration projects (Jordan 1991; Pickart and Sawyer 1998).
Over the past two decades, community support has crystallized in the form of an
impressive volunteer labor force overseen by the NGO Friends of the Dunes,
which supports restoration on lands throughout the Humboldt Bay region.
Volunteer labor is ideal for maintaining restoration over the long term. Ammophila
and other invasive species are able to reinvade at low rates from surrounding,
unrestored areas. Given the extent of the regional Ammophila invasion as well as
the constraints of private ownership, true eradication of Ammophila from the area
is not currently feasible. However, continued management requires minimal
resources if applied on a regular basis (in this case annually). The level of labor
required to prevent reinvasion is suitable for volunteers who remain committed to
this effort through a sense of investment. The support of the community adds to the
likelihood of continued management even during periods of fiscal constraint for
managing entities.
10.6 Conclusions
The manual methods employed in these two projects have resulted in the return of
natural processes regulating the formation of foredunes, blowouts, and parabolic
dunes, and the recovery of diverse native vegetation. Both projects were carried
out over a 5- to 6-year period. The projects could have been accelerated given
additional funding and resources, but the longer duration was ideal to allow a
gradual transition from overstabilized dunes characterized by an almost monospecific stand of exotic vegetation to a more natural morphology without causing a
level of instability precluding native species recovery.
10 Dune Restoration Over Two Decades at the Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes
169
almost two-thirds.
Using manual methods to remove Ammophila and other invasives is initially
expensive, but carries many benefits that result in longer-term efficiency. Heavy
equipment has been used successfully in northern California and elsewhere to
eradicate Ammophila, but only where it achieves dominance over large areas. In an
early-stage invasion into intact vegetation the impacts from heavy equipment on
vegetation (including endangered species) would be too great, and this alternative
would most likely not be permissible in the area under existing coastal laws and
regulations. In addition, there is cause for concern at some sites that use of heavy
equipment can reactivate dunes, slowing or preventing recovery of native vegetation. In contrast, manual methods can be targeted precisely, allowing the
retention of interspersed native species. These surviving plants become a source of
natural recolonization, reducing or even eliminating the need for revegetation. An
effective herbicide treatment for Ammophila was not developed until the mid1990s (Aptekar 2000), but more importantly, there was a strong community ethic
opposing the use of herbicides. The restoration philosophy underpinning this effort
embraced the support of the community, and this was perhaps one of the earliest
community-based restoration projects (Jordan 1991; Pickart and Sawyer 1998).
Over the past two decades, community support has crystallized in the form of an
impressive volunteer labor force overseen by the NGO Friends of the Dunes,
which supports restoration on lands throughout the Humboldt Bay region.
Volunteer labor is ideal for maintaining restoration over the long term. Ammophila
and other invasive species are able to reinvade at low rates from surrounding,
unrestored areas. Given the extent of the regional Ammophila invasion as well as
the constraints of private ownership, true eradication of Ammophila from the area
is not currently feasible. However, continued management requires minimal
resources if applied on a regular basis (in this case annually). The level of labor
required to prevent reinvasion is suitable for volunteers who remain committed to
this effort through a sense of investment. The support of the community adds to the
likelihood of continued management even during periods of fiscal constraint for
managing entities.
10.6 Conclusions
The manual methods employed in these two projects have resulted in the return of
natural processes regulating the formation of foredunes, blowouts, and parabolic
dunes, and the recovery of diverse native vegetation. Both projects were carried
out over a 5- to 6-year period. The projects could have been accelerated given
additional funding and resources, but the longer duration was ideal to allow a
gradual transition from overstabilized dunes characterized by an almost monospecific stand of exotic vegetation to a more natural morphology without causing a
level of instability precluding native species recovery.
10 Dune Restoration Over Two Decades at the Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes
169