THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Featured Project: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dune Scrub Restoration

Overview/History

The Guadalupe-Nipomo dunes are a federally designated National Natural Landmark and are home to over 1,400 plants and animals, including many endemic, threatened and endangered species, and feature some of the tallest dunes on the west coast of North America.

Much of the Dune complex is in conservation ownership or protected by conservation agreements with private landowners. Among the protected sections of the Dunes is the Guadalupe - Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge and The Land Conservancy's Black Lake Ecological Area. Other public lands include the Oceano Dunes State Park, which includes protected areas and areas accessible to off-highway vehicles.

While protecting land through conservation is instrumental in preventing habitat losses or conversion associated with land use changes, it does not remove all threats to this fragile ecosystem. One of the most significant threats facing the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is the degradation of habitat from invasion by non-native plant species such as European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) and veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina). Viewed as a high priority target for restoration funding, non-profits and agencies have been working together in the Dunes to protect this unique ecosystem. Employing the principles of ecosystem based management, restoration activities are currently underway in priority areas across the Dunes complex with a focus on invasive species control and the recovery of native species.

Property Description & General Location

The 18,000 acre Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes complex spans 18 miles from Pismo Pier in the north to Point Sal to the south, and forms one of the largest coastal dune ecosystems on the planet.

Goal

The goal of this project is to protect and maintain ecosystem function and services within this fragile coastal dune system.

Challenge/ Special Considerations

Deciding where restoration efforts should be focused when dealing with 18,000 acres is a daunting task. However, by breaking the dunes into discreet, naturally defined Landscape Management Units (LMU) we are able to prioritize the vast dunes complex. Prioritization was given to units possessing a high rate of occurrence for rare or threatened floral species and a high risk of infiltration by invasive species.

Agency Cooperation

The Guadalupe-Nipomo Coastal Dune Scrub Restoration program is an outgrowth of funding provided through a settlement between a California trustee agency and Unocal Corporation over a 1997 petroleum spill.

This work is primarily funded by the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Endowment from a Settlement Decree entered in 1999 between Unocal and State resources agencies.

In 2000, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Stewardship Collaborative was formed to help advise state and federal trustees on restoration priorities and recreational use enhancements. The Dunes Collaborative is a partnership between federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations committed to restoration of coastal dune habitats, recovery of threatened and endangered species, and providing quality visitor experiences of this unique and fragile ecosystem.

Results

Monitoring reveals that The Land Conservancy's efforts have removed the majority of European beach grass and veldt grass from over 300 high priority acres within the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes complex. Monitoring further indicates the need to step-up active restoration efforts (seeding, sand stabilization, outplanting). By employing adaptive management we are able to quickly respond to monitoring recommendations. Consequently, The Land Conservancy will be revisiting restoration strategies and priority areas starting in 2010.

Project Partners

The Guadalupe-Nipomo Coastal Dune Scrub Restoration program is an outgrowth of funding provided through a settlement between a California trustee agency and Unocal Corporation over a 1997 petroleum spill.

This work is primarily funded by the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Endowment from a Settlement Decree entered in 1999 between Unocal and State resources agencies.

In 2000, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Stewardship Collaborative was formed to help advise state and federal trustees on restoration priorities and recreational use enhancements. The Dunes Collaborative is a partnership between federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations committed to restoration of coastal dune habitats, recovery of threatened and endangered species, and providing quality visitor experiences of this unique and fragile ecosystem.