Spartina cordgrasses are non-native, deep-rooted perennial coastal grasses that grow in the marine intertidal zone. These introduced weeds flourish in a broad range of soil conditions and can be found at scattered sites around the shores of the Inland Waters. Their rhizomes and leaf base efficiently trap sediment, causing the loss of intertidal mudflats and eelgrass beds. This habitat loss impacts juvenile salmon, lingcod, English sole, clams, oysters, Dungeness and other crabs, and migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Efforts are underway to locate and eradicate early infestations before they become established.

(Images courtesy of Katie Zaremba, Invasive Spartina Project, www.spartina.org)

For more information on these cordgrasses and the Spartina Watch Program in Washington state: http://www.wwta.org/environ/spartina_watch.htm