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southern two-thirds of the island. This portion of the 

 island now makes up the most extensive permanently protected 

 dune system north of Cape Cod. Because of the island's 

 strategic location on the Atlantic flyway, the protected 

 southern portion serves as an important sanctuary for 

 migratory waterfowl as well as for resident nesting birds 

 (Griscom, 1955; Carson, 1947a, b) . In addition, it also 

 provides many recreational opportunities including swimming, 

 sunbathing, birdwatching , and other nature activities. 



The greatest impacts on this portion of the island 

 since its inclusion in the Parker River National Wildlife 

 Refuge have been the extension of the road to the southern 

 tip of the island, opening up this once secluded area to the 

 general public, and the construction of the dike forming 

 North and South Pools. The construction of the dike 

 eliminated a number of acres of salt marsh to create fresh 

 water habitat in an effort to provide additional waterfowl 

 nesting areas. Freshwater aquatic plants, not commonly 

 found elsewhere on the island, have become established in 

 the impoundments. Unfortunately a pest plant, Lythrum 

 salicar ia , has become the dominant vegetation type in some 

 areas of the impoundments, effectively eliminating more 

 desirable species. Efforts by the Refuge staff to eliminate 

 this plant have not been successful. 



During 1954 a control burn in the North impoundment 

 jumped the road and burned a considerable number of acres of 

 dune before it was brought under control (Stubbs, personal 

 communication, PRNWR records). To prevent erosion, the area 

 was quickly planted with black pines ( Pinus nigra ) . The 

 area is now covered by a pine forest which provides an 

 excellent habitat for many migratory birds. 



As houses within the refuge boundaries become abandoned 

 they are taken down by the refuge staff, giving the area an 

 even more natural appearance. In the 1950 's a fence was 

 erected south of parking lot 1, which prevented people from 

 using the southern end of the island (Gavutis, personal 

 communication) . It was taken down sometime in the early 

 1960 's, but while it was up it successfully limited impact 

 on that end of the island (Gavutis, personal communication). 

 In the late 1960 's, in a very important management decision, 

 all vehicles were eliminated from driving on the dunes 

 (Stubbs, personal communication). Vehicles have a very 

 detrimental effect on the vegetation and had a considerable 

 impact on the dunes. 



Today the major impact on this dune system is human 

 trampling. Over 400,000 people visited the Refuge during 

 1977 alone (PRNWR records) . Although human trampling does 

 not have an immediate gross impact on an area, it does 

 effect the development and maintenance of the dune system. 

 The dune system, though well adapted to absorbing the impact 

 of coastal storms, is fragile and can be severely, and 

 sometimes permanently, damaged by human trampling. 



