Shoreline Habitat Classification

Marine, intertidal, sand, exposed, eulittoral

Pure marine sands without significant silt or organic content are found only in high and moderately-high energy areas such as on the outer coast and in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. They tend to be erosional beaches, are well-drained, and moderately sloped. Due to their unstable nature, they have no permanent vegetation and are low-diversity habitats, although a few species may be abundant. These areas are used extensively by loons, scoters, and grebes at high tide, and by gulls, sanderling and other sandpipers, and herons at low tide.

Class ID
25
Class name
Marine, intertidal, sand, exposed, eulittoral
Length
190.00
Primary substrate
Sand
Substrate stability
Mobile
Substrate key details
Sand, no stable features
Wave exposure
Exposed, Semi-exposed
Blue book classes
Marine intertidal sand: Exposed and Partially exposed
Map/survey site examples
(mapped on Olympic Coast only)
Diagnostic species
Eohaustorius
Archaeomysis grebnitzkii
Abarenicola claparedi
Nephtys
Dendraster excentricus
VEC common associates
Crangon
Habitat classification system