After more than a decade of planning, in February 2011, the Seashore began its largest dune restoration project to date to remove up to 120 acres of non-native invasive European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) and iceplant (Carpobrotus spp.) from a 255-acre area just south of Abbott's Lagoon (Map 359 KB PDF). Using both mechanical and hand removal techniques, the Abbott's Lagoon Coastal Dune Restoration Project will restore natural dune processes and function to a system that is home to at least 11 threatened and endangered, but whose ecological value has been severely imperiled by the rapid spread of species once planted to stabilize dunes for adjacent development. In fact, the rapid spread of beachgrass, which now dominates almost two-thirds of the Seashore's 1,700 acres of dunes, may have brought two federally listed species to the brink of extinction within the park (See background information below).
Construction began in February 2011 and extended into August 2011. The Seashore hired Hanford ARC (Sonoma, Calif.) as the construction contractors responsible for both initial mechanical and hand removal. Follow-up treatments to remove re-sprouts will be conducted under a separate contract. The park engaged Winzler & Kelly Engineers (San Francisco, Calif.) to manage construction. The Seashore will provide extensive environmental monitoring during the project to ensure that impacts to valuable natural resources such as snowy plover, California red-legged frog, Myrtle's silverspot butterfly, Tidestrom's lupine, beach layia, and many other native dune plant and animal species are minimized to the extent possible.
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Part of project planning involved disseminating information to the public so that park visitors and residents know what to expect during construction. Once the construction schedule was finalized, the Seashore posted information to the public about the construction schedule; any anticipated increases in traffic or traffic delays from mobilization and demobilization of construction equipment; and schedule for temporary closures of beach areas directly adjacent to construction activities. This information was disseminated through a variety of means such as flyers, press releases, and postings on informational signs and at the Visitor Centers.
During this period, we wish to thank the park visitors and local residents for being patient, understanding, and supportive of our construction process. While construction does cause some impacts to visitors and residents, we are hoping that you will find the results of our efforts worth it, particularly after we finish construction in summer 2011. Construction of the Abbott's Lagoon Coastal Dune Restoration Project will include the following components:
- 78 acres mechanical removal of beachgrass
- 1.3 acres hand removal of beachgrass in sensitive resource areas
- 1.1 acres hand removal of iceplant in sensitive resource areas
- Construction of natural dune "blowout" features connecting beach to backdune
- General grading to soften unnaturally high or low dune features
- Construction of temporary fencing to manage adjacent grazing during restoration
- Native species salvage, seed collection, and revegetation activities to help restore native plant communities and stabilize selected dune areas
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Download map showing location of restoration project (359 KB PDF)
Download map showing beachgrass and iceplant removal areas (468 KB PDF)
