ACADIA NATIONAL PARK REVEGETATION PROGRAM 2000 ANNUAL REPORT ANPNATURALRESOURCEREPORT GENEVA E. CHASE LINDA L. GREGORY ACADIA NATIONAL PARK PO BOX 177 BAR HARBOR, ME 04609 Acadia National Park Natural Resources Report 2001-07 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents / ii Executive Summary / iii Introduction / 1 2000 Program Goals and Accomplishments / 1 Revegetation Program Staff / 2 NRCS Activities / 2 V olunteer Groups / 3 Junior Ranger Days / 3 Native Plant Nursery / 3 Sites Receiving Additional Plantings /5 2000 Revegetation Projects / 11 Tables Table 1. Volunteer Group Hours / 3 Table 2. Previously Revegetated Sites receiving Additional Plantings / 5 Table 3.2000 Revegetation Projects / 11 . Appendices Appendix A. List of Revegetation Projects / 26 Appendix B. Quantitative Monitoring Form / 27-28 Appendix C. NRCS Distribution and Delivery Records / 29 Appendix D. NRCS 2000 Annual Report / 30 Appendix E. Native Plants Journal Articles / 31 Appendix F. Nursery Inventory / 32 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During 2000, the Acadia National Park Revegetation Program staff worked on 43 park sites, totaling an area of just over two acres. This included sixteen new sites that were revegetated with genetically native plants and seed, and additional plantings made at nine sites where revegetation projects were undertaken in previous years. Maintenance work such as weeding, pruning and erecting barriers was conducted at 18 sites that were revegetated in previous years. Revegetation Program goals included restoring native vegetation following construction and trail maintenance, mitigating safety concerns and visitor use degradation, and establishing screening. A total of 157 trees, 255 woody shrubs, 1310 herbaceous plants, 177 pounds of grass seed, and 1.6 pounds of wildflower seed were planted. Plant materials were obtained via two cooperative agreements with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The park received 79.5 pounds of grass and wildflower seed, 982 container plants, and 3060 plugs, all propagated from seed or cuttings from park lands. Plant materials were stored at the park's native plant nursery, which was actively maintained between May and October. Plants received and not used were over-wintered at the nursery. Volunteer groups, the Acadia Youth Conservation Corps, Acadia Resource Management staff, and a Student Conservation Association volunteer (SCA) assisted with revegetation projects. All sites were watered and cared for throughout the summer. Digital photos were taken to document the current conditions of each site. A pilot quantitative monitoring program to assess revegetation success was initiated. To date, a total of 84 sites have been revegetated in Acadia since the inception of the revegetation program in 1994. 111 INTRODUCTION This report documents the work accomplished during the 2000 season at each project site. It lists each site by name and number, and includes a summary of any previous work performed at the site, a list of vegetation planted, revegetation methods, and notes on any remaining work to be completed. 2000 PROGRAM GOALS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Sixteen new sites, numbered 69 through 84, were revegetated using genetically native plants and seed. Additional plant material was added to nine previously revegetated sites, and maintenance work continued at 18 previously revegetated sites. Revegetation was conducted in an area of just over 2 acres (this area does not include the 18 maintained sites where no additional plantings were made). Revegetation program goals for 2000 focused on using native plant materials to revegetate high priority projects. Natural Resources staff developed a list of possible revegetation projects with input from other divisions (see Appendix A). Several projects related to new construction including trailhead restrooms and sewer line replacements. Projects not completed this year will be considered for 2001. We experimented with jute erosion mat at two sites, one at the Sand Beach Erosion Area (Site 70) and another at the Otter Point Overlook (Site 78). At both sites, native Red Fescue seed was hand spread directly on the ground, then raked into the soil and watered. At the Sand Beach Erosion Area, a Goldenrod and Annual Rye seed mixture was spread. The jute mats were spread over the seeded areas and held down with metal staples and rocks. Revegetation success was monitored at all sites completed between 1994 and 1999 (numbered 1 through 68). Visual observations were made to determine overall revegetation success. Quantitative notes concerning the overall success of each site are recorded on a Revegetation Monitoring Form (Appendix B). Resource Management staff continues to work on revising the monitoring forms which were used for the first time during the 2000 season. Due to time constraints, global positioning system (GPS) points for 2000 revegetation sites were not made. This data will be collected in 2001 and added to the existing revegetation data layer. 1 REVEGETATION PROGRAM STAFF The 2000 Revegetation Program staff consisted of Park Botanist, Linda Gregory, who oversaw the program and two Biological Technicians, Geneva Chase and Jesse Wheeler, who conducted all revegetation projects and associated activities. The Maintenance division and trail crew assisted with revegetation projects when needed. In July, trail crew provided revegetation staff with a second water barrel for the revegetation truck, raising the water carrying capacity to 100 gallons. Prior to the start of Acadia Youth Conservation Corps (A YCC) summer season, Resource Management staff met with Trails Foreman, Gary Stellpflug, and Chief of Maintenance, Jim Vekasi, to discuss which revegetation projects would require AYCC assistance. Four members of the AYCC and their crew leaders assisted with various revegetation projects throughout the summer. In addition, Justin Baker, a Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern from Minuteman National Monument, and Lynne Stephenson, a former A YCC member, volunteered a week each to assist with revegetation and other projects. Acadia National Park employees Brady Dixon, from the Entrance Station, and lifeguards Chris James and John McElrath, volunteered a few hours to assist with projects, as well. NRCS ACTIVITIES In May park staff met with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) staff from Big Flats Plant Materials Center and NRCS Coordinators for the NPS from the Denver Service Center. The goals for the meeting were to review existing inter-agency cooperative agreements; review upcoming projects within the next 3-5 years that will require a revegetation component; discuss ways to meet those revegetation needs, especially for the large campground rehabilitation projects; and plan for new cooperative agreements. The NRCS provided the park with native "plugs" and container plants propagated from seed or cuttings collected in the park. The NRCS propagation program is funded via two existing cooperative agreements between the NPS and NRCS. A total of3060 plugs, 982 container plants, and 79.5 lbs. of red fescue seed were received for revegetation projects. A complete list of amounts of plant and seed species received is found in NRCS Distribution and Delivery Records (Appendix C). A copy of the NRCS annual report can be found in Appendix D. Lastly, two articles highlighting NRCS work in Acadia appeared in the newly published Native Plants Journal: "Vegetated Erosion Control Mats for Site Stabilization" (van der Grinten and Gregory 2000) and "Harvesting Native Seeds with a Gas Hedge Trimmer" (van der Grinten 2000) (See Appendix E). 2 VOLUNTEER GROUPS Volunteer groups worked 216 hours assisting with revegetation projects. Each group was provided instruction on revegetation methods and techniques and the importance of using native plant materials. The project goals were explained. The names of each group, the number of participants, hours worked and location of project sites are listed in Table 1. Table 1. Volunteer Group Hours Volunteer Group Hours & Participants Location St. Louis Priory School 12 people/3 hours=36hrs Otter Point (Site 56) Trailmark 13 people/3 hours=39hrs South Bubble Summit (Site 75) Landmark 14 people/6 hours=84hrs Native Plant Nursery and Schooner Head Overlook (Site 5A) Becket Chimney Comers 15 people/3 hours=45 hrs Pullout by One Way (Site 76) Greenbrier Outdoor 6 people/2 hours = 12hrs Seawall Housing Unit (Site 32) Adventures Total Hours & 60 people for 216 hrs. Participants: JUNIOR RANGER DAYS Junior Ranger Days are coordinated by the Interpretation Division and consist of a day of activities for elementary school children from the local communities held at either Seawall or Thompson Island Picnic Areas. Children clean beaches, plant trees, and learn how to become "Junior Rangers." This year revegetation staff assisted with three Junior Ranger Days by providing plants and assisting Junior Rangers with planting them within the Seawall Campground Area (Sites 49 and 51) and at Thompson Island Restroom (Site 55). Revegetation staff determined which sites would be planted and provided tools, fertilizer, and peat moss. NATIVE PLANT NURSERY The native plant nursery behind Sand Beach was actively maintained between May and October. In May, all plants under the lathe house were organized according to species and pot size. The plant material was weeded and those that did not survive the winter were disposed of. The field surrounding the nursery was cleaned of debris. Branches and leaves were picked up, garbage was collected, and the grass was