Oregon introduced beachgrass to hold shifting sand in place; it later changed the entire dune system
In 1910, Oregon introduced European beachgrass to stabilise shifting dunes near Coos Bay. The plant succeeded but spread widely, covering much of the dune system and changing sand movement. As open, shifting habitats declined, native plants and animals adapted to moving dunes, including the endangered Western Snowy Plover, also lost important habitat.
