Pismo State Beach Foredune
Restoration and Improvement Project
Project Partners:
California State Parks and Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (CSLRCD)
Funded by:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Grant Program
1. Project Overview
2. Project Location
3. Project Goals
4. Purpose
5. Project Description
6. Drone Video and Photos
7. Questions
Agenda
Project Overview
Restore and enhance coastal dune ecosystems to
improve climate resilience and community
engagement.
● Reestablish native dune habitats
● Buffer against sea-level rise and storm surge
● Improve biodiversity and ecological function
● Provide public education opportunities
● Promote long-term sustainability
Project Location
Located in San Luis Obispo County
& City of Pismo Beach
Project Goals
1. Reduce invasive plant cover.
1. Restore native dune plant communities
through targeted propagation and outplanting.
2. Enhance habitat quality and ecological
resilience to support sensitive plant and
wildlife species.
3. Reinforce the protective function of
foredunes to mitigate sea-level rise, storm
impacts, and erosion.
Purpose
This project supports a rare and sensitive dune
ecosystem, now heavily impacted by invasive
species and altered natural processes.
This restoration will help recover native
biodiversity, improve dune function, and
support long-term coastal resilience.
Project Description
Invasive Plant Removal
Clearing the Way for Coastal Resilience
Ice Plant: 60% of the site has greater than 5% cover
European Beachgrass: 40% of the site has greater than 5% cover
Acacia: 15% of the site has greater than 5% acacia
Native Plant Restoration
Locally Sourced Plants, Regionally Proven Methods
Restoration Approach:
Reestablish native coastal dune habitats using locally collected seeds to ensure genetic integrity and ecosystem compatibility.
Plant and Seed Palette
Forbs & Groundcovers
● Abronia latifolia (Yellow Sand Verbena)
● Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia (Beach Evening
Primrose)
● Phacelia ramosissima (Branching Phacelia)
● Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
● Senecio blochmaniae (Dune Ragwort)
Shrubs & Perennials
● Ambrosia chamissonis (Beach Bur)
● Castilleja affinis (Coast Paintbrush)
● Corethrogyne filaginifolia (California Aster)
● Malacothrix incana (Dunedelion)
Project Description
Dune Restoration: Long-Term Success Example
(2014–2022)
Site restored with native dune scrub palette Fully vegetated, natural resilience, and stability Drone Footage
Area 1
Area 2
Questions