By Don Rideout, Native Plant Gardener and CNPS Volunteer
Beacons Beach in Encinitas is located on a fairly steep sandstone bluff. Due to decades of human disturbance and natural erosion, the slope lost most of its native vegetation, and non-native weeds took over. Recently the city council decided to undertake revegetation of the slope with native species in order to stabilize the bluff, increase coastal bluff habitat, and beautify the trail leading down to the beach. Although the slope was dominated by non-native species, a few natives managed to maintain a foothold. As part of the project, existing native plants are being protected, including coast sunflower (Encelia californica), chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei), bladderpod (Peritoma arborea) and California boxthorn (Lycium californicum). Jayme Timberlake, the city’s coastal zone administrator, designed the project and is overseeing its implementation. The project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and designed in consultation with California State Parks, Dudek, Habitat Restoration Sciences, Inc., and Nature Collective.
Installation, which took place in November 2021, included 700 one-gallon plants (one shown above) and hydroseed. At the end of the first year of growth, the site will be reevaluated and additional planting or hydroseed will be used where necessary. For more information contact: jtimberlake@encinitasca.gov .
The project fact sheet can be viewed here: https://encinitasca.gov/Portals/0/City%20Documents/Documents/Projects/ACTIVE/Beacons%20Restoration%20Fact%20Sheet_11.2.221.pdf?ver=2021-11-03-111738-547