The Nebraska Sand Hills is the largest sand dune region in North America. Native prairie grasses stabilize the sand dunes and support Nebraska's cattle industry. Current stocking rates and management practices minimize disturbance of vegetation and soil, but occasionally, in areas where vegetation has been lost and wind erosion causes sand movement, blowouts may form. This study examines the role of vegetation and soil microbes in stabilizing the Nebraska Sand Hills. Three blowouts located at the University of Nebraska's Barta Brothers' Ranch in Rose, Nebraska, were selected during the fall of 2004. Twelve plots (2m x 2m) were established in each blowout across a vegetation gradient ranging from bare sand to complete vegetation coverage. In October 2004, composite soil samples were collected at two depths, 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm. Root biomass cores were taken to a depth of 30 cm, and above ground vegetation was clipped, dried and weighed. Soil samples were analyzed for total soil C and N, microbial biomass, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) community profiles. FAME microbial community profiles will be used to identify the dominant community members present across the vegetation gradient. Monitoring above and belowground biomass and microbial communities across vegetation gradients may provide insight into factors essential to soil stabilization in the Sand Hills.