Guadalupe Dunes
Map SatelliteThis area includes the mouth of the Santa Maria River and a portion of the dunes south to Mussel Point. These dunes have accumulated under the prevailing onshore northwest wind. They are a highly dynamic habitat in which the flora has undergone evolutionary adaptation peculiar to the area.
The dominant plant community, which occupies some 10% of the dunes, the rest being barren dune, is coastal strand with Abronia maritima, Abronia umbellata, Salvia leucophylla, Artemisia californica, Lupinus albifrons and Eriogonum parvifolium, among others.
There is a marshy area on the north side of the river, with typical freshwater marsh vegetation.
Four rare plants occur within the area, Cirsium loncholepis, Cirsium rhothophilum, Erigeron blochmaniae and Senecio blochmaniae, the first is in the marshy section, the others are in the dunes.
From the modern dunes immediately backshore, there is a progression to older dunes inland, culminating in fully stabilized, late Pleistocene dunes at the eastern boundary of the area.
Integrity: There is a small sand-mining operation which is continually replenished by blowing sand.
Use: Private
September 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
