region). Beach sagewort {Artemisia pyenoophala) is a pioneer species as 

 far south as Monterey Bay. It can be readily transplanted, or seeded in 

 less exposed areas. Divisions with roots and cuttings may be set in the 

 moist sand (Cowan, 1975) . Red sand verbena and beach-bur and, to a lesser 

 extent, yellow sand verbena are common throughout the northern part of the 

 region and are capable of invading bare sands near the beach. Yellow sand 

 verbena is replaced entirely by red sand verbena south of Pt. Conception 

 where the latter becomes the major foredune builder from there into Mexico 

 (Ann L. Johnson, personal communication, 1977). Due to their growth habit, 

 the sand verbenas never develop much capacity to trap sand but they do 

 build dunes. These plants have tap roots; suitable field planting tech- 

 niques for them have not yet been developed (Barbour, 1976). All of these 

 species respond to moderate fertilization, particularly where fresh sand 

 supply is meager or erratic. 



Perennial veldt grass {Ehrharta aaly oina) was seeded at Vandenburg 

 Air Force Base on a large disturbed area immediately behind the dunes. 

 A variety of temporary stabilization techniques was used. Straw mulch 

 was anchored by discing, the surface was sprayed with bituminous materials, 

 or the sand was irrigated by a sprinkler. The veldt grass was successful 

 and the gradual reinvasion of native plants has occurred (Clark L. Moore, 

 personal communication, 1976). This grass appears to be very useful for 

 initial sand stabilization. 



(d) Native Plant Restoration . There is considerable interest 

 in this region in the restoration of native sand dune plant communities as 

 opposed to planting exotics to build and stabilize dunes. This approach 

 has more promise in this region than in several others. Barrier dunes are 

 not often required for storm surge protection as they are on low- lying 

 coasts but rather are needed for the interception and storage of sand that 

 would otherwise blow inland. The development of large continuous barrier 

 dunes is not critical here. Dune areas get very high recreational usage 

 on this coast and native plants provide an aesthetically pleasing land- 

 scape. Protection from foot and vehicular traffic is required or restora- 

 tion attempts are useless. 



Cowan (1975) described a procedure used to reestablish native species 

 on active dunes at Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove, California. This 

 method and its modifications are feasible where water for temporary irri- 

 gation is available and affordable. Briefly, the procedure involved tem- 

 porarily stabilizing the dunes by hydromulching with a light seeding of 

 annual and perennial ryegrasses, plus fertilizer. This was followed by 

 periodic sprinkler irrigation to hold the sand and germinate the ryegrass, 

 enabling it to grow into protective cover. Seeds of native plants could 

 have been included in the hydromulch to accelerate the process but were 

 not. Irrigation was terminated after 1 year and the ryegrass gradually 

 died but protected the area for a second year. During the decline of the 

 ryegrass, sea fig and beach sagewort were transplanted into the dying sod, 

 and seeds of sand verbena, sand-bur, beach sagewort, seaside paintedcup 

 (Castilleja latifolid) , beach pea, sea rocket (Cakile maratima] , and mock 

 heather {Haplopccppus eriaoides) were broadcast over it. This approach 



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