01/30/2009
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Accreted Land Management Plan
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2253 [30 JANUARY 2009]
Town of Sullivan’s Island, SC
Fires on barrier islands are ignited naturally by lightning strike; however, humans have been
setting fire to the natural community for more than 5,000 years (Bellis 1995). Much maritime
vegetation has adapted to fire and may play only a small role in the vegetation community
dynamics on barrier islands (McPherson 1988). Typically, closed-canopy maritime forests
have a dense canopy with a moderately dense shrub layer and a sparse herbaceous layer.
These conditions tend to retain ground moisture. With high moisture levels, forest fires tend
to be low, cool, and smoldering. Crown fires are rare (Bellis 1995). Conversely, pine-domi-
nated forests tend to be drier and contain better quality fuels, resulting in intense, fast-moving
fires which often crown.
The overstory within the AL study area at Sullivan’s Island is dominated by hardwood species,
not pine. Therefore, under normal conditions, forest fires would be low, slow, and should pose
minimal threat to public safety. Prescribed fire would be an effective management tool for the
AL area and could be safely applied. Periodic prescribed burns of the maritime forest would
reduce understory vegetation, improving views into the forest. On the north end, where shrub
vegetation dominates, fire would also reduce shrub growth, improving views of the ocean for
front-row residents. Periodic burns would reduce hazardous fuel loads.
However, fire is often feared and misunderstood by the general public. During a prescribed
burn within the Sullivan’s Island AL area, flames and smoke would be easily seen from resi-
dences, and smoke would be present for several days following the burn. For several months
following the burn, the area would appear black and charred, which may be unappealing for
residents. Given these drawbacks, the use of fire at Sullivan’s Island should be considered
carefully and may necessitate the full support of island residents before undertaking. Con-
trolled burns are one management alternative that should be considered by the community
before finalizing the Accreted Land Management Plan.
Pest Control
The principal pests in the AL at present are mosquitos and rats. Mosquitos generally require
standing stagnant water to propagate. Therefore, elimination of isolated puddles, standing
water in oil drums, and so forth, will reduce infestations. Existing swales between dunes (mari-
time interdunal wetland and maritime hardwood depressions) create more sites suitable for
mosquito breeding. If these isolated depressions can be linked to open-water ponds, they will
tend to drain and become less attractive to mosquitos. Open-water ponds are not suitable for
mosquito breeding because there is too much water motion. Alternative 4 would have the
greatest impact on mosquito reduction. Alternatives 2 and 3 provide a measure of relief by
creating more open-grass areas. Mosquito populations are generally very high in maritime