“Established in 1970, Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge consists of 858 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including grasslands, shrub lands, wooded swamps and freshwater ponds.” - Ninigret Website
DAVE WALKER, FIRE MANAGAMENT OFFICER, MONITORS THE BURN. TAKEN ON MARCH 31, 2012 AT NINIGRET NWR. PHOTO CREDIT: JUANCARLOS GIESE, USFWS
Working Agenda, Wednesday Mrch 20, 2019
8:30 Optional group breakfast. Hungry Haven Restaurant (pay as you go) 9:30 Registration, meet & greet, check out exhibits 10:00 Welcome, introductions 10:10 Presentations
Overview of Refuge system
USFWS Forest Inventory program
Regional perspective on science-based fire management for Region 5
Fire history in Rhode Island
State lands management
Overview of pitch pine forest & shrubland management at Ninigret
Site overview - field trip stops
Q&A, discussion
11:45 Bag lunch time (BYO, or optional pizza order) 12:30 Head to field 12:45 Lewis Tract - pitch pine forest
Stop 1: Unmanaged site (no treatment)
Stop 2: WUI/neighbors
Stop 3: Spring 2018 burn - 19 ac (thin & burn)
Stop 4: Managed site (thinning)
2:15 Trip to Salt Pond Unit via Kettle Pond Visitor Center for vehicle pickup 2:30 Salt Pond Unit
Walk to junction of Grassy Point & Cross Refuge Trail
Rare plant site, 0.5 ac burned every 3 yrs.
Shrubland habitat burned to promote regeneration
Invasive controls
3:45 Wrap-up (in-field) 4:00 End, or optional visit to New England cottontail Pen -> 4:45