Fields

Fields are important components of the park’s natural and cultural landscape. Fields and natural open areas are distinct in character and use from those of the surrounding forest. Over the last 230 years, more than 90 percent of grasslands in the Mid-South have disappeared, largely due to: conversion to agriculture (crops & pasture); other land use changes; fire suppression and succession to closed canopy forest; infestation of invasive species, and loss of large grazers (bison) & browsers (elk). The parks efforts to create and maintain grassy fields and grass-dominated woodlands are part of a region-wide effort to preserve grasslands.

 

Why does the park cut fields and why are some of them cut in strips?

Fields composed of herbaceous species and grasses are considered early successional plant communities. Left undisturbed by fire, grazing or other disturbance, they would become more and more dominated by woody species, eventually maturing into late successional/climax forest communities. To preserve the early successional stage of Big South Fork fields, the park emulates natural disturbance by mowing to halt the succession to forest.

 

Example of a field cut in strips

 

Mowing is typically done before leaf fall in order to cut woody species that are actively growing, preventing them from sending excess sugars to their roots to store energy for the next season of growth. Mowing at this time is most beneficial for eliminating woody competition. However, mowing everything at once can eliminate critical wildlife habitat. In addition, removing all plants at once can reduce pollinator populations by killing plants with egg masses, or by removing host plants and plants that provide nectar later into the fall.

The park has chosen to cut large fields into strips to leave some wildlife cover and at least half of the plants required for pollinator survival. There are several mowing patterns the park can cut fields, but strip mowing is efficient and easy to maintain (e.g. strips mowed in even years are left during odd years, and vice versa). For small fields or areas with numerous small fields, individual fields may be completely cut in alternating years. Resource management is currently researching methods for field mowing that will benefit biodiversity as well as catering to other park values.

 

What are the park’s main objectives for keeping fields open?

Because Big South Fork NRRA is a multi-use park, we have multiple objectives for maintaining fields in open conditions including the following.

1. To provide weed-free hay & mulch for park use
2. To improve wildlife habitat which also improves hunting opportunities
3. Preserve and interpret culturally and historically significant landscapes
4. Enhance visitor use and enjoyment by providing open areas for wildlife observation, camping and park events
5. To support pollinator conservation & recovery (by increasing the number of flowers blooming throughout seasons critical to lifecycle needs of various pollinators)
6. To promote and preserve biodiversity and foster species conservation (open habitat favors plant species that are adapted to sunny open habitat; additional plant species and varied plant structure in turn support more pollinators and provide habitat to more mammal and bird species)

 

How many field units does Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area have?

Big South Fork has 58 units, comprising 511 acres that are actively managed to foster native plant communities. These communities include native warm season grass fields, meadows, grassy woodlands/pine savannas and cultural landscapes.