Sand Lake Area – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Relatively small (19 sq mi) area on the Oregon coast just north of Pacific City.

COA ID: 015

Recommended Conservation Actions

Identify and control invasive species
Plan development to maintain key ecological functions and habitats
Restore and maintain tidal marshes and freshwater wetlands

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Oregon Habitat Joint Venture

Potential Partners

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Oregon State Parks
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Special Features

General

Adjacent to and includes some Siuslaw National Forest land
Estuary designated of national importance
Extensive dunes and high quality tidal marshes
Provides important connection between Netarts Bay (COA to the north) and Nestucca Bay (COA to the south)

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID CR-10 (Netarts Bay)
2006 COA ID CR-11 (Sand Lake area)
2006 COA ID CR-12 (Nestucca Bay)

Protected Areas

Bradley Bog
Cape Kiwanda Marine Gardens
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
Clay Myers State Natural Area
Oregon Islands Wilderness
Reneke Creek Research Natural Area
Sand Lake ATV Site
Sand Lake Research Natural Area
Siuslaw National Forest

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon’s Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

Strategy Habitats

Coastal Dunes

Occurring along the Oregon coastline, coastal dunes provide habitat for species that prefer open, sandy habitats with a high degree of disturbance from winds and tides.

Estuaries

Estuaries occur where freshwater rivers meet the oceanic salty waters, are influenced by tidal flooding, and experience frequent periodic changes in salinity, water levels, sunlight, and oxygen.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.