This will maintain altered shrubland habitat and (compared with Alternative 1)
preserve a greater number of distinct habitats. Shrubland areas presently not
pruned will transform into maritime forest with the result being shore-perpendicular
bands of pruned shrubs paralleling unpruned forest (see Fig 1.3).
growth is forced laterally via the pruning process.
damaging waves compared with unpruned vegetation (the impact will be relatively
small for most storms and only become significant during rare storms such as a
100 year event, as described in Section 5.2).
adjacent unpruned swaths develop higher vegetative cover.
understory edge. This may reduce convenient hiding places and inhibit escape
from paths, thus increasing public safety. Low vegetation along broad paths will
allow users better visibility to see potential dangers and be seen by others, thus
leading to a greater sense of security along access paths.
presence of dense, understory vegetation along pruned swaths. (See Section 6.2
for discussion of fire threats and management options.)
dense understory vegetative cover
positive impact on property values and the local tax base. However, as adjacent
unpruned swaths develop higher vegetation, the artificial character of pruned strips
between development and the ocean will become more apparent, possibly
adversely impacting property values compared with other barrier-island oceanfront
properties.
expected to increase as sections of grassland habitat become shrubland habitat.
Some property owners who have not engaged in pruning, because their vegetative
cover is presently lower density, may consider pruning in the future as their ocean
views diminish.
cost.