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Sand Dunes and Sand Sheets

Ecoregion in Rocky Mountains, CO

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Great Sand Dunes National Park and the outlying sand sheets are included in the Sand Dunes and Sand Sheets ecoregion. The sand sheets consist of low parabolic and longitudinal dunes that are largely stabilized by scrubby vegetation. The Great Sand Dunes rise up to 750 feet above the basin and are the tallest dunes in North America. The sand was derived mainly from volcanic rock sediments of the San Juan Mountains that were transported by the Rio Grande, and deposited on the alluvial fan on the west side of the valley. The sand was then blown by the prevailing southwesterly winds, piling up at the base of the mountains. The dunes are mostly bare, with patches of Indian ricegrass, blowout grass, or lemon scurfpea. Sand sheet plants include rabbitbrush, sand dropseed, spiny hopsage, sand verbena, and prairie sunflower. Land use in the region is mostly recreation and wildlife habitat, with some limited rangeland.

— EPA

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