Conservation strategy for Washington State inland sand dunes

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Washington inland sand dunes are classified as the Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune ecological system by NatureServe. (This system is also described from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming). A terrestrial ecological system is a group of plant communities (associations) that tend to co-occur within landscapes with similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. Ecological systems are not designated for protection under any federal legislation. However, a number of federal- and state-listed species are provided habitat by the Inter-Mountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune ecological system in Washington. These species are discussed in this document. In Washington, inland dune systems are currently found in 13 counties across the Columbia Plateau in eastern Washington with a total extent of 106,953 acres. The total extent of Washington inland sand dune systems has declined approximately 76% from the early 1970s, primarily due to agricultural conversion, reservoir flooding and dune stabilization. Currently, the major threats to the sand dune ecological system in Washington are stabilization by invasive species, agricultural conversion including effects from adjacent irrigation, off-road vehicle (ORVs) use, intentional sand dune stabilization, conversion to residential lots, mining activities, and livestock grazing. Eight areas in WA are recognized as having significant conservation value. Research priorities are five: 1) invasive species impact and control; 2) restoration of dune systems; 3) rare species demographics, especially distribution; 4) complete floristic sampling of plant communities and their seral and environmental relationships to complete International Vegetation Classification descriptions; and 5) the range of fire effects in sand dune systems, particularly addressing the response of annual exotic plant abundance, sand movement, and stabilization. Insects and rare plants have been identified as high priority for inventory; information on small mammals would also be beneficial. Sand dune systems listed in the Management Areas section of the report are the highest priority for inventory. Sand dunes are considered sensitive indicators of climate change because they reflect overall moisture balance, degree of vegetation cover, and wind patterns. Establishing a monitoring system for sand dune field rate of movement and stabilization/destabilization with climate change will inform management of dune species and whole dune systems. Dune systems are a confined, limited resource and are targeted for recreational use. Monitoring of recreational impacts, use levels, and public demand for recreational dune “resources” is needed.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology