Long-Term Monitoring of Dune Re-Establishment and Sand Quarry Restoration Utilizing Beach Wildrye, Leymus Mollis, On the Former Adak Naval Air Station, Adak Island, Alaska.

The Alaska Plant Materials Center (PMC) started active restoration of disturbances on the Adak Naval Air Station in 1988. All the restoration/revegetation efforts relied on native species, but most especially Beach Wildrye, Leymus mollis. The two most significant projects were; the restoration of Pringle Hill Sand Quarry, and the re-establishment study of the NAVFAC Dune Complex.  Both of these projects relied on Beach Wildrye.

 Beach Wildrye is a perennial grass often found on coastal areas of Alaska and other northern regions of North America. It often forms a narrow vegetation band, that is nearly a monoculture, immediately above the high-tide line

 Pringle Hill Sand Quarry restoration began in 1994. Through Beach Wildrye transplanting and seeding with native species the site was restored to a condition resembling surrounding undisturbed areas. Final evaluation occurred in 2009 documenting 15 years of restoration progress.

 The NAVFAC dune complex was destroyed by a storm in 1987. In 1989 a program of dune re-establishment and accretion monitoring was started. Active monitoring continued through 1994. Final documentation occurred in 2009 giving a record of dune growth and recovery for 22 years. Both projects demonstrated successful uses of beach wildrye and other native species and documented the versatility and importance of Beach Wildrye in Alaska coastal vegetation ecosystem restoration.

 These projects among others, along with support from the U.S. Navy allowed the PMC and this author to develop the use of Beach Wildrye into an effective tool for coastal erosion control and restoration. The importance of the Adak research effort cannot be overstated.