Lanphere - Christensen Dunes Reserve

Some of the highest undisturbed coastal sand dunes in the State are found in this area. They present one of the better examples of dune succession found along the coast, from the first build-up of sand, through the pioneer vegetation, to the climax beach pine forest. There is an excellent beach pine (closed-cone pine), Pinus contorta, forest here. Additionally there are good growths of strand vegetation and a small coastal salt marsh.

The drift line area is dominated by rye grass, Leymus mollis, and sea rocket, Cakile spp. The strand vegetation of this area includes common associates of the sea fig, Carpobrotus chilensis, such as Ambrosia chamissonis, seaside daisy, Erigeron glaucus, Artemisia pycnocephala, beach morning glory, Convolvulus soldanella, Poa douglasii, Camissonia cheiranthifolia, Solidago spathulata, and Polygonum paronychia. The wet depressions, slacks, are covered by Salix hookeriana, Carex obnupta, Juncus lesueurii, beach strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis, and bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.

Behind the unstabilized dunes there is a closed-cone pine forest, dominated by beach pine, Pinus contortavar. contorta but including Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis, and grand fir, Abies grandis. The understory includes wax myrtle, Myrica californica, California huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum, salal, Gaultheria shallon, and Garrya elliptica. In the salt marsh there is Salicornia virginica, arrow grass, Triglochin spp., the non-native brass buttons, Cotula coronopifolia, as well as stands of saltgrass, Distichlis spicata and Spartina foliosa.

On the inland side, tidal mudflats and a semi-submerged marsh provide feeding and resting areas for numerous species of shorebirds. Snowy owls, Nyctea scandiaca, are seen here irregularly.

There is an Indian shell mound on the Reserve.

Integrity: The entire area is in private ownership and is being kept in a natural condition. There is a house on the property.

Use: Research, educational. The dunes have been well studied for more than a decade.

Ref: Johnson, John, 1963. An Ecological Study of the Dune Flora of the North Spit of Humboldt Bay. Master's Thesis, Department of Biology, Humboldt State University.

January 1975