THE SAND DUNES OF COOS BAY, OREGON 



H. D. HOUSE 



State Museum of New York, Albany, N. Y. 



"Wherever large areas of sand dunes are found, it is no uncom- 

 mon sight to see the gradual advance of the dunes over herbaceous 

 or even woody vegetation. In few places, however, is the de- 

 struction of forests by sand more impressive than among the 

 dunes of Coos Bay, in southwestern Oregon. 



My first view of the Coos Bay dunes was from the deck of the 

 Breakwater, a small boat plying between Portland and Marsh- 

 field. The iDoat is locally and more popularly known as the 

 ''Corkscrew," possibly because of its habitual motion, and while 

 on later voyages, I had abundant opportunity to pronounce its 

 opprobrious appellation a descriptive one on this my first trip, 

 the sea was mercifully calm, and approaching the entrance to Coos 

 Bay the prominent physiographic features of the region impressed 

 themselves upon my mind. To the south a series of bold head- 

 lands covered by forests of fir and spruce, to the north, miles of 

 rolling sand dunes, stretching inland like a desert, with patches 

 of willow and beach plants here and there, and in the distance 

 clumps of trees and even large areas of forests making a last stand 

 against the encroaching dunes. 



My resolution to visit this sandy waste was accomplished a few 

 days later, which was the first of several visits to this desolate 

 but interesting tract. 



Not alone has the wind and sand produced here an interesting 

 geological phenomenon, but the shifting dunes have induced some 

 unique ecological conditions, such as enclosed meadows formed 

 where the wind has scooped out hollows, down to or below sea 

 level, and which are always moist, even in the driest weather; 

 enclosed lakes or ponds, apparently formed in the same way, or 

 in some instances by the sand cutting off arms of the ba3\ The 



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