Shoreline Habitat Classification

Estuarine, intertidal, sand, partly enclosed, eulittoral

This is the most common shoreline habitat mapped in Puget Sound. These sandy beaches have gentle to moderate slopes, and are often bordered on their uppermost portions by a gravelly area. In areas with less wave action, marsh vegetation (e.g. pickleweed) may be present high on the shore. Dune grass may be present high on the shore in more exposed sites.

Class ID
74
Class name
Estuarine, intertidal, sand, partly enclosed, eulittoral
Length
565.00
Primary substrate
Sand
Secondary substrate
Gravel
Substrate stability
Mobile
Substrate key details
No stable surface features
Wave exposure
Semi-protected, Protected
Blue book classes
Estuarine intertidal sand: Open
Map/survey site examples
Much of inside of Puget Sound (sites without gravel): Dash Point, Seahurst, Seola Beach, …
Fish sampling sites
Beach Seine: Birch Bay, West Point, Alki Point, Dumas Bay, Dupont Dock, De Wolf Bight, Thompson Cove, Sandy Bay/Point
Diagnostic species
Zostera marina
Gracilaria pacifica
Macoma secta
Neotrypaea californiensis
Angulus modestus
Leptocottus armatus
Lepidopsetta bilineata
Embiotoca lateralis
Cymatogaster aggregata
Clinocottus acuticeps
Podothecus accipenserinus
Syngnathus leptorhynchus
VEC common associates
Clinocardium nuttallii
Tresus
Habitat classification system