Volunteers Needed: European Beachgrass Bash

Volunteers Needed: European Beachgrass Bash At Freshwater Lagoon Saturday, February 22, 2014.

Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) is seeking volunteers interested in meeting in the park to help remove invasive exotic plants. Become a steward of your national and state parks and join us on Saturday, February 22, 2014 for the Beachgrass Bash at Freshwater Lagoon. European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) is an aggressive and invasive exotic pest that displaces native dune plants, fills in areas once used for nesting by snowy plovers, spreads by sending out underground shoots, and is targeted for removal in the parks. Freshwater Lagoon is the only location in RNSP of beach layia (Layia carnosa), a federally listed endangered plant. Removing European beachgrass will help insure its survival.

Volunteers will meet at 9:00 A.M. at the Kuchel Visitor Center, 1 mile south of Orick on Highway 101, where we'll share a snack, get organized and head down to the beach. With the unusually warm winter we've had some of the native beach plants may already be in bloom. After a couple hours of pulling European beachgrass, we'll have lunch followed by a walk along the beach to identify native beach plants. Bring a bag lunch, drinking water, work clothes (with layers for changeable north coast weather conditions), and work gloves if you have them. Gloves and other equipment needed will be provided by the parks. Heavy rain cancels the event.

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