A Windy Day, Chocolate Cake, and a Battle with Invasive Species

Trip Report – October 18, 2025, Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA

Last Saturday, the Friends of Fort Worden gathered on the beach in Port Townsend, WA, for a volunteer work party. We had 10 friends turn out for this event!

What a day it was! The wind was blustery, but the rain held off just long enough for everyone to stay dry and to celebrate volunteer coordinator Vicki Legman’s birthday with chocolate cake and hot coffee.

Our main goal for the day was to remove a non-native grass called Ammophila, commonly known as European beachgrass. This species was originally planted along the Pacific Coast to stabilize dunes, but over time, it's proven to be a serious invasive species. Ammophila forms dense mats that trap sand, creating steep, uniform dunes that alter natural wind and wave patterns. These changes reduce habitat diversity, crowd out native dune plants, and make it harder for wildlife to thrive.

With the invasive grasses removed, native plants such as the beautiful Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima) now have a chance to reclaim their place on the dunes. You can identify Sea Rocket by its tiny purple flowers and dainty green stems. Sea Rocket helps maintain the natural shape of the beach while providing food and shelter for pollinators and shorebirds.

We hope to see you at our next volunteer beach clean-up in Port Townsend! View the upcoming volunteer work parties.

And if you like what the Friends of Fort Worden are doing to protect the park’s coastal ecosystem and fight invasive species, please consider making a donation to support our ongoing work.