Dense gorse stands on the low area behind the dunes also extend up the cliff face from the WUI project area, and continue beyond the refuge boundary. Gorse is highly flammable, is extremely abundant throughout the Bandon area, and forms dense, impenetrable thickets. Vigorous stands grow outward, crowding out all other vegetation and forming a center of dry dead vegetation. This, in combination with the oil content of the plant, presents a major fire hazard. A fire burning in gorse could easily carry up the cliff faces to the flat headland area, and threaten homes.

Starting on Monday April 4th, the gorse mowing contractor, All Terrain Brushing of Coquille, arrived on site with a John Deere 120 excavator with a large tiger mower head attachment. The Deere 120 excavator is a light weight machine with high flotation which reduced damage to soils in comparison to other local mowing contractors? rubber wheeled tractors or mowers. The mowing/mulching occurred over three days with approximately one acre of gorse removed per day. The area of the infestation is a known archeological site and work was coordinated with the Coquille Indian Tribe to protect the site and to monitor for unearthing or signs of archeological materials during the project. Comments received from the community during the project were very positive, and Bandon residents are looking forward to seeing the area restored with less flammable native vegetation.

Gorse can quickly spread by seed or by vegetative growth from stumps after mechanical injury caused by brush clearing, and a cut gorse plant will resprout from the crown in greater density if herbicides are not applied. The next phase of the WUI project will involve the monitoring of gorse resprouts and seedlings and the subsequent application of herbicides to control them. The first spraying of new growth will most likely be in two to three months, dependent upon rainfall and if the seed bank is as rich as is suspected. Once the regrowth and seedlings are under control, the area will be revegetated with native plants.

This WUI project is a worthy addition to the process of restoring the Coquille Point Unit since it was established in 1992. The top of the headland was restored in 1995 with gorse removal, importation of topsoil, and revegetation with native plants. In addition, public use facilities, including trails, interpretive panels, stairs to the beach and a parking lot, were developed. In 2005, with the removal of the largest infestation of gorse on the unit and planned restoration efforts, the refuge can continue to control this highly flammable plant for the protection of Oregon's wildlife and residents of the City of Bandon.