The storm in February 1978 deposited sand on all three salt-marsh areas. 

 All but 25 quadrats in site 1 fan were buried by washover sand. These 25 

 quadrats were subsequently buried by 6 to 21 centimeters of sand due to 

 reworking of the wabhover fan surface by tidal and wind activity. Site 2 

 was covered by 20 to 50 centimeters of washover sand, but overwash continued 

 through late June during spring tides. In areas where overwash continued into 

 the growing season, salt-marsh vegetation did not recover. All of the salt 

 marsh in site 3 was buried by greater than 34 centimeters of washover sand. 

 Salt-marsh vegetation on Nauset Spit-Eastham did not recover from more than 

 33 centimeters of sand burial in 1978. 



In 1977, seven salt marsh species were found at site 1 fan (Table 27); 

 Spartina. patens and Spavtina altevniflom accounted for 81.6 percent of the 

 I.V. In 1978 these species were the only salt-marsh plants found at the site. 

 Saliaorni-z virginica had grown through as rcuch as 10 centimeters of washover 

 sand in other areas, but did not recover from burial in site 1. Both Spavtina 

 patens and Spartina aVter r ni.flor y a were able to recover from low level overwash 

 burial. In 1977, 16 percent of the fan burled by less than 34 centimeters of 

 washover sand was revegetated; in 1978, 40 percent was unvegetated. Salt- 

 marsh areas buried by greater than 34 centimeters of washo'.er sand did not 

 recover and were colonized as new substrate by drift-line vegetation. The 

 I.V. of Spaftina alter^iifiora increased by 95 percent, while Cpavtina pritens 

 increased by only 3 percent. Overwash increased the elevation in site 1 fan. 

 Much of the area, however, remained intertldal and able to support a salt- 

 marsh community. 



Table 27. Importance values of species in ar<jas of site 1 fan 

 that received less than 34 centimeters of washover 

 deposition. 



Species Quadrats with plants I.V. Change I.V. 

 that recovered 1977 1978 



(pet) (pet) 



Distichlis spicata 



Limonii-im naehii 



Puaainellia sp. 



Salicornia vivginica 



Spar-tina alterniflora 91 



Spartina patens 72 



Suaeda marntima 



0.7 





0.0 



9.2 





0.0 



16.5 





0.0 



24.5 





0.0 



52.4 



+95 



102.1 



92.3 



+3 



197.9 



4.4 





0.0 



(3) Other Specie s. The species comprising the majority of plant com- 

 munities on a northeast barrier beach that are affected by overwash activity 

 were represented in the 2,567 quadrats surveyed on Nauset Spit-Eastham. Other 

 species, less frequently affected by overwash or rarely found on Nauset Spit- 

 Eastham, were observed on North Beach during the field season (1978) following 

 major overwash activity (Table 28). Ten additional species were found that 

 are able to recover from more than 10 centimeters of overwash sand deposition. 

 Principal among these species were the shrubs, Rosa vugosa (65 centimeters) 

 and Mym-oa pensylvaniaa (45 centimeters), which are frequently found on dunes 



119 



