The Southern Pine Beetle’s Destruction of Napeague Stretch.

Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks are located in Suffolk County on the southern fork of Long Island, NY. The parks are home to approximately 671 acres of Maritime Pitch Pine Dune Woodland natural community, which are designated as critically imperiled (S1) and globally imperiled or vulnerable (G2/G3). Additionally, the now State and Federally endangered Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB; S1/G2/G3) is present in both parks.

Background

The dense stands of pitch pine at Napeague & Hither Hills began being impacted by the expanding range of Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) in 2021. The outbreak drastically expanded the following year. This pest outbreak, coupled with drought conditions, led to widespread pitch pine mortality across the region. Attempts at suppression of the beetle proved unsuccessful both during the winter of 2021-22 and summer of 2022. Further, an attempt at thinning the last remaining intact stand during the winter of 2022-23 also proved to be ineffective at slowing down the beetle outbreak. Approximately 13,801 infested and buffer trees (~19.43 acres) were cut and left on site during suppression efforts.

The results of three years of Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks have been catastrophic to the pitch pine ecological community within and beyond these parks. In Napeague and Hither Hills alone, tens of thousands of standing dead trees, as well as the pockets of infested trees felled during SPB suppression efforts, are found throughout the Maritime Pitch Pine Dune Woodland community. This increase of dead woody material, in a fire prone ecosystem, would mean increased fuel and decreased access for first responders in the event of a wildfire. Many agencies have been managing similar scenarios on Long Island and NYS OPRHP has developed a response based on resources made available by partners.

Project Overview

NYS OPRHP has developed a multi-phased approach designed to address the immediate concerns around fuels management while working within an approved tree cutting window. This plan involves clean-up of the already downed and dead trees which were felled during SPB suppression activities, the construction of fuel and fire breaks along boundaries where the impacted pine forests are adjacent to private property and homes, and dead tree felling and fuel mitigation within the interior of the parks.

All tree cutting will occur during the December 1 – Feb 28 cutting window or a window approved by NYS DEC and USFWS.

Goals

Goal 1: Boundaries between pitch pine forests and private homes are not conducive to the rapid spread of wildfire and are easily accessible and defensible by emergency responders through the installation of fuel and fire breaks.

Goal 2: Fuel levels are reduced within the interior forests and create passable corridors for vehicles or on foot to allow access, as needed, for wildfire suppression or other forest management actions.

Proposed Actions

Action #1: Fuel mitigation in past SPB suppression sites

Timeline: October 1, 2023 until completion

Action Description: Trees that have already been felled in SPB suppression locations (~13,801 trees over 19.43 acres) will either be piled on site, chipped on site, or removed from the site. Fuels being piled on site will be limbed and cut to 1-8ft sections then piled according to fuel size. Fine Fuels (under 3” DBH) and Medium Fuels (3-6” DBH) will be put in pyramidal piles up to 8 ft in diameter and between 4-8 ft high. Fuels over 6” DBH will be piled horizontally, with piles being no more than 4 ft in height to allow clearer access for wildfire and emergency responders in the case of a fire. Piles will not contain large amounts of dirt or debris. Effort will be made to minimize soil disturbance when moving fuels. Fine fuel piles will be burned in the winter months or when the wildfire risk is low. Medium fuels will be burned or left on site, depending on conditions and the amount of fuel. Fuel mitigation efforts would start on 3.65 acres near the electrical grid powerhouse and 3.96 acres near the 4x4 trail.

NYS OPRHP will complete this action with staff and partners.

Action #2: Dead tree felling in proposed fuel and fire break lines

Timeline: December 1, 2023 – February 28, 2024

Action Description: Standing dead trees within the proposed fuel and fire break locations will be felled, limbed, and bucked into 1-8 ft sections. If time allows, fuels will be piled according to specs outlined in Action #1, chipped, or removed from the site. If this cannot be completed as trees are being felled to ensure cutting stays within the cut window, fuel piling, chipping, and/or hauling will start in March 2024.

NYS OPRHP is seeking to hire a contractor to implement the action listed above.

Action #3: Installation of fuel & fire breaks

Timeline: Spring 2024

Action Description: Approximately 11,475 ft of fuel breaks and 8,210 ft of fire breaks will be strategically installed where impacted pine forest meets private property. Fuel breaks will be 20 ft wide. Where possible, fuels will be moved 50 feet away from the innermost fuel break edge and be piled according to the specs outlined in Action 1. A forestry mulcher or brush hog will then be used to mulch the remaining material in place creating a fuel break. Fire breaks will also be 20 ft wide. Where possible, fuels will be moved 50 ft away from the innermost fire break edge and be piled according to the spec outlined in Action 1. A tractor with disc will then be used to expose the mineral soil to establish the fire break. Fuel and fire breaks will be maintained through mowing every 1-2 years.

All trees needing to be felled for the creation of the fuel and fire breaks will be accomplished in Action #2.

NYS OPRHP is seeking to hire a contractor to implement the action listed above.
Action #4: Dead tree felling & fuel mitigation through Maritime Pitch Pine Dune Woodland

Timeline: Ongoing through 2024 and 2025 – Any required tree felling will only occur inside the December 1-February 28 tree cutting window or a window approved by NYS DEC and USFWS.

Action Description: Approximately 20,000-40,000 dead trees are currently located throughout the 671 acres of Maritime Pitch Pine Woodland. The approximate acreage impacted is currently being evaluated. These dead trees will slowly be cut down, limbed, bucked, piled, and burned or chipped / hauled off site. Fuels that are piled will follow the specs outlined in Action 1.

Mitigating Impacts to Rare Species

Both Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks are home to rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) plant and animal species, including the NLEB. Through SEQR analysis and in consultation with the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP), NYS OPRHP’s wildlife Biologist, Regional Stewardship staff, DEC and USFWS, NYS OPRHP will aim to mitigate impacts, wherever possible, to the RTE species present in both parks. Fuel and fire breaks installation and brush piling will avoid RTE plant populations. All tree cutting will only occur during the December 1 – February 28 tree cut window to avoid impacts to the NLEB.

Restoration of Impacted Sites

NYS OPRHP recognizes that the intense impact of SPB and the subsequent fuel mitigation efforts will require a variety of restoration and habitat management strategies. The agency is currently consulting with the NYNHP, DEC Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, and other partners to identify restoration goals and actions to help create a healthy, resilient ecosystem. Once a draft plan is created, it will be shared with DEC, USFWS, and other partners for further review before its implementation.