GOAT HARBOR BURN AREA IRONWOOD GROVES
Out of a total of 161 known ironwood groves on the island, 20 were located
within the burn perimeter. Of these, fifteen were burned, at varying degrees
of intensity. The groves began resprouting from the base following the burn,
but when revisited six months later, were browsed down to the ground by deer.
Management Objective:
To maintain or increase the current number of ironwood groves in the Goat Harbor
burn area, with a minimum 80% survival rate within each grove.
Monitoring Methods:
Each of the fifteen burned groves have been revisited two times per year in order
to record their condition: once prior to the spring season and once following
the spring season. At those times, the total number of live (sprouting) trees
were recorded, along with the number of trees with basal sprouts shorter than
1 foot, and the maximum/minimum heights of the basal sprouts.
Collection Frequency:
Two times per year, in February and July.
Actions Taken/Planned:
Nine ironwood groves have been fenced to date due to severe browsing pressure
by deer which threatened their recovery. These groves are now sprouting excellently
(sprouts over twelve feet high). Monitoring has been reduced to one time per
year for these groves. Unfenced groves are struggling, and one more grove will
be fenced this year.
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