Rare Coastal Sand Ecosystems of the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area The sand in Beach Grove supports unique ecosystems not commonly found in BC. The Respect that the are fragile and vulnerable plants and animals found here are well adapted to to damage from human disturbances. their environment of ever-shifting sand and water. Coastal sand ecosystems support many endangered species and ecological communities. This area supports the rare large-headed sedge ecological community. There are numerous benefits that sand ecosystems provide such as buffering inland areas from storms.

Large-headed sedge Beach pea (Carex macrocephala) ()

Beach Grove Area Gumweed grass (Grindelia stricta) ( mollis ssp. mollis) Rare Coastal Sand Ecosystems of Indian Point, Savary Island

The sand of Savary Island support unique ecosystems not Contorted-pod commonly found in BC. There are relatively few areas on BC’s South Northern wormwood evening-primrose (Artemisia campestris ssp. pacifica) (Camissonia contorta) Coast that contain sand ecosystems and Savary Island contains When grouped with the red Federally-listed fescue and grey rock-, endangered . some of the best examples in Western Canada. this forms a provincially- listed endangered ecological The sparsely-vegetated areas found along the shores of Savary Island community. contain plants and animals that struggle for survival in a dynamic Grey beach peavine environment of wind, sand, waves and weather. Many endangered Gumweed (Lathyrus littoralis) (Grindelia stricta) Provincially-listed threatened species and ecological communities live here in the shifting sand. Savary The daisy-like flowers are plant also known as encircled by bracts covered in silky beach pea. Island is also home to an ancient forested dune ecosystem that a sticky substance, giving it covers one third of the island. its name “gumweed”. The world-renowned beaches, dunes and sand cliffs are made up of glacial sand deposits. Savary Island is essentially a migrating sandbar. Large-headed sedge (Carex macrocephala) The sand cliffs are eroding at an average annual rate of .025 meters in Seashore lupine Related to grasses, this the north to .41 meters on the south side. Due to human-made threats, ( littoralis) sedge plant has dense, A perennial herb often found dark spiky heads that are coastal sand habitats in BC are estimated to have declined between 35 in mats with flowers that recognizable during the range from blue to purple summer and fall. and 95% since 1930. This makes the remaining areas, like those found with some white. on Savary Island, special and important to protect. Island Tiger Moth Dune wildrye (Grammia complicata) ( ssp. mollis) Threatened moth whose A tall grass that is dominant Enjoy Indian Point. Please be aware that coastal sand ecosystems world-wide distribution is in sand ecosystems. Also are susceptible to human disturbances. almost exclusively on BC’s known as dunegrass. coast. Has been found on Savary Island. Please minimize your impact: • Tread carefully. Stay on existing trails. • Avoid playing on, digging or carving into, and sliding down dunes or sand cliffs.

Beach pea • Keep wheeled vehicles off the dunes and beaches. Beach bindweed (Lathryrus japonicus) • Help stop the spread of invasive plants such as Scotch broom. (Calystegia soldanella) This sprawling plant with A threatened plant with colourful, showy pink flowers • Keep dogs on-leash. Pick up after your pet. kidney-shaped leaves and is the most frequently attractive pink-purple flowers found peavine on south that are insect-pollinated. Also coast beaches. known as beach morning-glory. American searocket (Cakile edentula) This is one of the first colonizers of the windswept sand near Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) Photo credits: Tamsin Baker, Dawn the ocean’s edge. It is considered an introduction from eastern This is a prolific invader that Hanna, Jennifer Heron, Claudia Canada, and often occurs with the similar European searocket. forms dense stands that stabilize the sand and increase Schaefer, Elizabeth Watkinson, Liz soil fertility, changing the nature of the ecosystem. Webster, Kym Welstead Rare Coastal Sand Ecosystems of Savary Island Contorted-pod Silver burweed evening-primrose The sand dunes of Savary Island support unique ecosystems not commonly found in BC. There (Ambrosia chamissonis) (Camissonia contorta) are relatively few areas on BC’s South Coast that contain sand ecosystems and Has clinging seeds that will Federally-listed attach to clothes, making endangered plant. Savary Island contains some of the best examples in Western Canada. the name “burweed” quite appropriate. Can grow to form large clumps. The sparsely-vegetated areas found along the shores of Savary Island contain plants and animals that struggle for survival in a dynamic environment of wind, sand, waves and weather. Many endangered species and ecological communities live here in the shifting sand. Savary Island is also home to an ancient forested dune ecosystem that covers one third of the island. The world-renowned beaches, dunes and sand cliffs are made up of glacial sand deposits. Savary Island is essentially a migrating sandbar. The sand cliffs are eroding at an average annual rate of Large-headed sedge .025 meters in the north to .41 meters on the south side. Due to human-made threats, coastal sand (Carex macrocephala) Seashore lupine Related to grasses, this habitats in BC are estimated to have declined between 35 and 95% since 1930. This makes the (Lupinus littoralis) sedge plant has dense, A perennial herb often found dark spiky heads that are remaining areas, like those found on Savary Island, special and important to protect. in mats with flowers that recognizable during the range from blue to purple summer and fall. with some white. Enjoy Savary Island. Please be aware that coastal sand ecosystems are susceptible to human disturbances.

Please minimize your impact: • Tread carefully. Stay on existing trails. • Avoid playing on, digging or carving into, and sliding down dunes or sand cliffs. • Keep wheeled vehicles off the dunes and beaches. • Help stop the spread of invasive plants such as Scotch broom. Beach pea Scotch broom (Lathryrus japonicus) • Keep dogs on-leash. Pick up after your pet. (Cytisus scoparius) This sprawling plant with This is a prolific invader that colourful, showy pink flowers forms dense stands that is the most frequently stabilize the sand and increase found peavine on south soil fertility, changing the coast beaches. nature of the ecosystem.

Grey beach peavine Beach bindweed Dune wildrye Gumweed Northern wormwood (Lathyrus littoralis) (Calystegia soldanella) (Leymus mollis ssp. mollis) (Grindelia stricta) (Artemisia campestris ssp. Provincially-listed threatened A threatened plant with A tall grass that is dominant The daisy-like flowers are pacifica) plant also known kidney-shaped leaves and in sand ecosystems. Also encircled by bracts covered in When grouped with the red American searocket as silky beach pea. attractive pink-purple flowers known as dunegrass. a sticky substance, giving it fescue and grey rock-moss, Island Tiger Moth (Cakile edentula) that are insect-pollinated. Also its name “gumweed”. this forms a provincially- (Grammia complicata) This is one of the first known as beach morning-glory. listed endangered ecological Threatened moth whose colonizers of the windswept community. world-wide distribution is sand near the ocean’s edge. It almost exclusively on BC’s is considered an introduction coast. Has been found from eastern Canada, and on Savary Island. often occurs with the similar European searocket. Photo credits: Tamsin Baker, Dawn Hanna, Jennifer Heron, Claudia Schaefer, Elizabeth Watkinson, Liz Webster, Kym Welstead Coastal Sand Ecosystems: a disappearing ecological community of the Salish Sea

The South Coast Conservation Program focuses on protecting and conserving endangered species and spaces of southwest BC from Desolation Sound, inland to Pemberton and south to the Washington State border. Coastal Sand Ecosystems (“CSEs”) are a unique ecological community encompassing the terrestrial portion of beaches, spits, and dunes in which sand is the dominant substrate. Sparsely-vegetated and dominated by herbaceous species, this ecological community can be bounded by forest, wetlands or sand bluffs. Shaped by tide, wind and erosional forces, development, climate change and invasive species continue to put pressure on the future of this unique community. Savary Island

Adouin’s Night-stalking Tiger Beetle

Thormanby Island

Common Nighthawk South Coast CSE

Contorted-pod Evening- Primrose

This special ecosystem supportsN. Page et al 2011 Boundary Bay a number of species of conservation concern, adapted Further information for Coastal Sand Images: Tamsin Baker SCCP, Andy Teucher, Andy Reago & www.sccp.ca, [email protected] to the harsh environmental Ecosystems on the South Coast check out the CSE profile under Species Profiles >> Chrissy McClarren, Nick conditions found there. Ecological Communities at www.sccp.ca Page, Claudia Schaeffer