Fire
Island is a barrier island that stretches east to west off the
southern coast of Long Island, New York. Approximately 32 miles
(55 km) long and averaging less than a mile (about 0.5 km) in
width, the island is bordered by the inlets of Fire Island to
the west and Moriches to the east and is separated from Long
Island by the Great South and Moriches bays. To its south is
the vast Atlantic Ocean. Under Public Law 88-587, Fire Island
National Seashore (FIIS) was established on September 11, 1964,
"for the purpose of conserving and preserving for the use
of future generations relatively unspoiled and undeveloped beaches,
dunes and other natural features…"
Fire Island National Seashore consists of 26 miles (42 km) of
Fire Island itself (See Park Map).
The Seashore is 7,832 hectares, not including Smith Point County
Park located at the eastern end within the boundaries of the
National Seashore. Approximately 4,300 hectares of the Park
are submerged in the Great South Bay or Atlantic Ocean.
The physiognomy of Fire Island is typical of Atlantic barrier
islands that grade from a primary dune along the ocean to salt
marsh along the bay. The dominant vegetation includes pitch
pine (Pinus rigida), beach grass (Ammophilia breviligulata),
wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), bayberry (M. pensylvanica),
shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis), and common greenbrier
(Smilax rotundifolia). This particular composition of
vegetation is typical of the island except within the various
communities where residents have planted non-indigenous vegetation.
The percentages of terrestrial habitats found at FIIS include:
10% forested and 40% wetlands, 25% open (beach, swale and
fields), 25% developed either by NPS or the 17 local communities
on the island. Of the submerged portion, 80% is in Great South
Bay and 20% is the Atlantic Ocean. All existing habitats within
FIIS are listed as threatened. Unique Resources include the
Sunken Forest that is a maritime Holly Forest; a Federal Wilderness
Area (520 hectares); and eel grass beds. The Sunken Forest
on Fire Island is a 16 hectare maritime oak-holly forest occurring
behind the secondary dune, one of only a few mature maritime
forests in the New York area and the northernmost holly-dominated
maritime forest on the Atlantic barrier island chain. The
Nature Conservancy lists this community type as globally imperiled
(G2). Both Federal and NYS Endangered species either breed
or germinate in the park, as well as eleven species of concern.
The William Floyd Estate (FIIS-WFE), located across Great
South Bay on Long Island mainland, is quite different from
FIIS's barrier island habitat. The William Floyd Estate is
65% forested, 25% wetlands including salt marsh, 5% open space
and 5% developed around the estate house area. Species found
at FIIS-WFE include great blue herons, great and snowy egrets,
willets, and diamond-backed terrapins.
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