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Effects of off-road vehicles on coastal foredunes at Fire Island, New York, USA

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Abstract

The effects of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on the dune system of Fire Island National Seashore, New York, USA, were examined through a detailed, two-year field study. The experimental approach was adopted in order to evaluate the environmental effects of ORVs in this zone. Adjacent control and impact sites were established in two locations. Vehicle impacts were applied at the equivalent rate of one vehicle pass per week. Monitoring of foredune vegetation through sequential quadrat surveys and construction of sea-ward limit maps showed a significant loss of vegetation resulting from ORV impacting. Loss of vegetation resulted in an alteration of the natural foredune profile, which could increase dune erosion during storm wave attack.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Engineering Research Center, US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, 39180, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

    Fred J. Anders

  2. Department of Geography, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Stephen P. Leatherman

Authors
  1. Fred J. Anders
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  2. Stephen P. Leatherman
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Anders, F.J., Leatherman, S.P. Effects of off-road vehicles on coastal foredunes at Fire Island, New York, USA. Environmental Management 11, 45–52 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867178

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