Vegetation monitoring at capped artesian wells, Fire Island National Seashore

Principal Investigator: Keith Killingbeck, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island

Project summary:

Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS) is a 50 km long barrier island located along the southern shore of Long Island, New York. In the 1940’s to 1960’s several artesian wells were constructed along the island for domestic water supply and as hydrogeologic test wells. As these wells were abandoned, but continued to flow, freshwater wetland communities developed in the vicinity of the wells. Recently, to preserve the integrity of the underlying aquifer, the National Park Service (NPS) was asked by NY State to cap the abandoned wells. As a result of eliminating this freshwater source (i.e. well capping) the vegetation in these areas is expected to change. In association with regulatory permit requirements, NY State has required that a vegetation monitoring program be implemented.

In late August 2001, prior to the 2002 capping of six wells, four permanent vegetation plots (1 m2) were established and sampled at each well site by the NPS. Using the point intercept method, data on species composition and relative abundance were collected. Vegetation plots were established in a random manner and located at varying distances from each well-head

The purpose of this project is to re-sample the permanent vegetation plots in Summer 2003 using identical methods to the 2001 sampling. These data will then be compared to the 2001 sample and a report on vegetation changes occurring since the well capping will be produced.

Student Involvement