Habitat and population monitoring for Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre and Limonium californicum on the Coos Bay North Spit

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2015 the estimated number of Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre plants on the Coos Bay North Spit land managed by the Coos Bay District of the Bureau of Land Management is ~1,516,000 (462,000 in the protected area and 1,053,000 in the unprotected area). This is the on par with the highest population estimate since monitoring began in 2011.
In 2015 the population of Limonium californicum is estimated to be ~791,000 with 743,000 and 47,000 in the protected and unprotected area, respectively.
Chloropyron maritimum ssp. palustre remained stable in both the protected and unprotected areas, while the population of Limonium californicum decreased from 2014-2015 (130,000 and 47,000 respectively).
The area occupied with these rare species is found in a long, narrow strip of appropriate habitat in a dynamic system. This narrow strip of land (~700m long with a maximum width of 50m) lies in a precarious location along the shoreline where minor fluctuations in sea level (due to natural or manmade activities), could cause significant loss of habitat. More immediate effects from ORV use are also evident.