Attachment-H_Sample_Plan-reduced.pdf

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

39 Exhibits (001–005, 008, 013–016, 017A, 017B, 017C, 020–031, 040–044, 050–051, 053–054, 057–058, 070–074)

Final Wayside Exhibit Plan a men H Sample Plan p l

36 X 20 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 001

Island on the Move

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The dense development of Ocean City is a striking contrast to the pristine character of Assateague Island. A hurricane in 1933 breached the land mass, forming the Ocean City inlet.

Fast moving tidal flow at the inlet now separates the national

In 1933, a powerful storm breached the island and created an inlet to the bay.

seashore from the bustling resort to the north. Today man-made jetties keep the Ocean City inlet open but disrupt the normal southward flow of sand to the Assateague shore. This accelerates the natural westward migration of Assateague Island.

36 X 20 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 002

Almost Developed

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Big plans were underway in the late 1950s to develop Assateague Island into an Ocean City-like resort. The design called for thousands of building lots. Advertisements promoted the appeal of beachfront living.

Roads stretched behind the dunes and houses began to dot the landscape.

In 1958, the prospect of constructing a bridge across the bay was of prime interest to island property owners.

All that changed with the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962.

Storm damage decimated the budding residential community of Ocean Beach. The devastation dampened enthusiasm for the development project but strengthened interest in preserving the island. It was the catalyst for the establishment of the national seashore.

36 X 20 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | AUGUST 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 003

Going Natural

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Filling mosquito ditches restored proper tidal and groundwater flow. This allowed native saltmarsh grass to reestablish these areas.

Asphalt is vulnerable to storm damage. Using natural materials is an environmentally friendly alternative.

Mosquito ditches dug in the 1930s and 1940s did not reduce the pests. Instead they caused more erosion and disrupted marsh hydrology.

Revegetated cordgrass blends into the landscape. This natural resiliency restored proper tidal, surface, and groundwater flow across the island.

Parking areas are now surfaced with shell rather than asphalt. Parking lots are located in more stable areas away from shorelines to minimize storm damage.

Assateague is one of the largest surviving undeveloped Mid-Atlantic barrier islands. It is now a place where natural processes occur with little or no human intervention. The varied aquatic and terrestrial species here are dependent on a naturally resilient ecosystem.

Man-made enhancements like roads and structures interfere with natural processes. They impact island dynamics and disturb vegetation and habitat. By allowing natural coastal processes to take their course, the island can remain resilient as sea levels rise and the climate changes.

36 X 20 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 004

Doing Our Part

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Sea turtles and other animals are attracted to colorful balloons and plastic bags floating in the water.

There is a fascinating and fragile world in the coastal bays.

Schools of tiny fish shimmer in the sunlight. Crabs scurry by, jellyfish flow with the tides, and verdant eel grasses sway in the current. The shallow coastal bays of Assateague are connected to the local watershed and are sensitive to human impact.

A growing nearby resort population and intensive recreational use has an impact on the bay. Pollution from agriculture and industry is always a concern, though environmentally aware management practices contribute to the clean waters of the coastal bays.

DCCCCC

MD

PA

NJ

DE

VVVAAA

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

Chesap eake

B ay

D elaw are Bay

CHINCOTEAGUE

WATERSHED

The watershed surrounding Assateague is tiny compared to the vast Chesapeake Bay.

Sea nettle Silversides

Loggerhead turtle

Hermit crab

Blue crab

Spot

Schools of baitfish attract larger predators like gulls and dolphins.

Enjoy and respect this treasured resource.

Tiny phytoplankton photosynthesize like plants.

They absorb carbon from the atmosphere and produce oxygen.

Tiny phytoplankton photosynthesize like plants.

They absorb carbon from the atmosphere and produce oxygen.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 005

The Ocean Around Us

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

An amazing array of life thrives beneath the waves that sculpt shorelines around the globe. The ocean is essential for life on earth and is a source of food for humans and animals. Tiny phytoplankton form the base of the food chain. These microscopic organisms are a food source to other animals that may feed some of the largest creatures on earth. These same organisms also produce about 70% of the oxygen on the planet. Whether you are on the beach or standing on a mountain top, you benefit from the ocean.

How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.

Arthur C. Clarke

36 X 48 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 008_009_010_011_012

Keep Them Wild

Keep Them Safe Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Horses have been present on Assateague since the 1600s. Free ranging bands graze in the marshes, saunter along the beach, and drink at freshwater ponds. They wander on trails and roads.

They are accustomed to human activity but they are not tame.

To keep them wild, keep your distance.

• Horses bite and kick in response to crowding or competition for food. Stay 40 feet away.

• Visitors can be knocked down and stepped on if horses spook or react suddenly.

• Horses are large animals, making it dangerous for anyone, especially children, to get too close.

Dangers of Being Too Close

During your visit to Assateague you will most likely encounter at least a few of the island’s most popular residents.

Both petting and feeding horses causes harmful behavior. They become unafraid of humans. This is not the same as being “tame”! Horses begin approaching cars and visitors, becoming more aggressive over time.

Horses are attracted to roads, increasing the risk of being injured or killed by a vehicle.

For your safety and the safety of the horses, please obey park regulations and do not approach, touch, or feed the Assateague horses.

Food Safety Tips

Secure coolers with nylon straps.

Store unattended food in your vehicle.

Keep beach bags and soft coolers zipped up.

Use built-in food storage cabinet under picnic table.

Use sturdy, hard-sided, latched containers.

Avoid bags that do not close.

A swirling mass of tree swallows fill the sky over the dunes. The coastal shoreline guides birds, animals, and insects during their seasonal migration.

A variety of birds create a blur of activity on the beach. Bills and foraging strategies are unique to each species.

Bottlenose dolphins are mammals that travel in pods. Members of the pod work together to hunt schools of fish.

Loggerhead turtles dig nests in the sand to lay eggs. They are vulnerable to human disturbance and animal predators.

Great blue herons wade along the water’s edge.

They catch fish, amphibians, and other prey with dagger-like bills

Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles.

It takes several generations to complete the journey to their breeding grounds.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 013

On The Move

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Each day is different. The animal population is always on the move. Resident species travel for food, shelter, and reproduction. Migrating species stop over and rest here during spring and fall journeys. Many of the nearly three hundred bird species observed in the national seashore are temporary residents.

Whales and dolphins are sometimes seen hunting just offshore. Loggerhead turtles and horseshoe crabs lay eggs on the beach, then return to the ocean. Take the time to look around. Look up in the sky, along the shore, and out in the ocean. You just might encounter a creature that traveled farther than you to get here.

The prospect of constructing a bridge was headline news in 1957. This aerial view shows the wide area where the bridge and causeway would connect to Assateague Island.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 014

A Bridge to Nowhere

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Can you imagine a bridge here? The developers of Atlantic Ocean Estates and Ocean Beach did in the late 1950s.

This rectangular peninsula was the planned terminus of a bridge spanning the bay. It was an essential element of their marketing plan to create a resort town on the island.

This bridge was never constructed and the vision of developers was thwarted by natural forces. The Verrazano Bridge opened in 1964. The following year Assateague Island National Seashore was established, protecting the barrier island from commercial development.

The repetition of growth, decay, and rebirth is the foundation of the nutrient cycle of the marshes.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 015_055_059

Marshes Fuel the Bay

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Bayside marshes play an important role. They are the engine that fuels the ecosystem. In summer, the vegetation thrives in the nutrient rich mudflats. The grasses provide food and shelter for animals. The saltmarsh filters pollutants from the water. It also provides storm protection for adjacent uplands.

The marshes are working even in winter when the vegetation dies back and decays. The nutrient rich organic material or detritus, is transported by the tides between the marsh, mudflats and bay. This nutrient cycle is the foundation of the food chain of the bay.

Fiddler crab

Male bufflehead

Snow geese

Clam

Great blue heronWillet

Great egret

The ferries could only transport a few vehicles at a time across the bay.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 016

Big Plans, Small Boat

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

How can you transport residents and vehicles for 9,000 homes across the bay? That was the dilemma faced by developers in the 1950s. Initially, a small ferry brought vehicles to the island at this site. However, in the early stages of building Ocean Beach, it became obvious that the ferry wouldn’t meet the needs of the growing development.

Pressure mounted to build a bridge. The state of Maryland constructed a highway bridge spanning the bay, providing a gateway to the island.

The opening of the Verrazano Bridge in 1964 made the ferry obsolete.

It also fostered greater visitation to the park.

Responsible Harvesting

Male, “Jimmy” Blue claws & narrow apron

Immature Female, “Sally” Red tip claws & V shaped apron

Mature Female, “Sook” Red tip claws & wide apron

Female with Eggs “Sponge Crab”

Red tip claws & wide apron

36 X 36 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 017A

Crabs, Clams, and Mussels Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Blue crabs are crustaceans that molt their hard shell as they grow. They spawn in high salinity water and may live in lower salinity brackish waters. Submerged aquatic vegetation provides cover as they hunt and scavenge for food.

Clams and mussels are bivalves. They have two shells that completely protect the animal inside They feed by filtering food particles from the water. Look for clams in sand and mud flats. Mussels prefer the edge of saltmarshes.

• Take only what you will consume.

• Crabs, clams, and mussels will not survive in a bucket of water.

• Store and transport crabs, clams, and mussels in a cool, dry container.

• Never eat or cook dead crabs, clams, or mussels.

• Prepare for changing tides, weather, and insect conditions.

• Respect physically posted commercial leased sites in the bay.

Blue Crabs

Atlantic Ribbed Mussels Northern Quahog Clams

• No license is required for recreational crabbing.

• Hand lines and collapsible traps are permitted.

• Crabbing equipment must be attended at all times.

• All lines and collapsible traps must be removed after crabbing.

• Regulations change frequently. Check at visitor centers.

• No license is required for recreational mussel gathering.

• Mussels should be removed one at a time by hand.

• Mussels should be collected at high tide when submerged.

• Regulations change frequently.

Check at visitor centers.

• No license is required for recreational clamming.

• Clam rakes are permitted.

• Stay out of underwater grass beds.

• Regulations change frequently.

Check at visitor centers.

Mussels attach to the marsh bank with strong filaments. They filter water to feed and close up when the tide recedes.

The mudflats at low tide are the best places to find clams.

Crabbing is a fun family activity. Watch out for the pinching claws!

Know Your Crab

36 X 12 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 017B

Regulations for Harvesting

Males: 5 inches Mature females: no size limits Mature females with eggs: prohibited Season open from April 1 - December 31 Limit: one bushel per person per day

Minimum size limit: none, but use the “rule of thumb” Season: year round Limit: none

Atlantic Ribbed MusselsBlue Crabs Minimum size limits—Maryland Coastal Bays: Minimum size limit:

at least 1” wide at the hinge Season: year round Limit: 250 per person per day

Northern Quahog Clams at least 1” at the hingeat least five inches from point to point of top shell at least as long as your thumb

5”5”

36 X 48 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 017C

Assateague Island Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Activities

Pets

Kayaking

Ranger Programs

Waterfowl hunting

Bird watching

Fishing

Crabbing

Swimming

Canoeing

Picnicking

Camping

Boating

Biking

The national seashore offers a wealth of opportunities for nature-based recreation, education, and solitude. It is a place where natural processes occur with little or no human intervention. The beaches, bays, dunes, and marshes provide a wide range of environments for year round enjoyment.

Bateman Center/ Refuge Visitor Center U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Toms Cove Visitor Center National Park Service

Assateague Island Visitor Center

National Park Service

BUS

POCOMOKE RIVER

STATE PARK

A ss at ea gu e

Is la nd N at io na l

Se as ho re

B ou nd ar y

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

Green Run Bay

TOMS

COVE

Snow Goose Pool

Swan Cove Pool

N E W P O R T

B A Y

Wildcat Marsh

SI

N

EP

U

X

EN

T B

A Y

Po co m ok e Ri ve r

Pope Bay

C H

I N C

O

T E

A G

U E

B A

Y

CHIN

CO

TEAGUE

IN

LE

T

Bayside Dr

Verrazano Bridge

Bayberry Dr

Maddox Blvd

(C lo se d to ve hi cle s)

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

The 50-mile distance between the north and south ends of Assateague Island takes about 1¼ hours to drive. We recommend the highlighted route shown on this map.

R ec o m m en d ed tr av el ro ut e

Re co m m en de d tr av el ro ut e

(permit required;

closed March 15–August 31)

(vehicles permitted 3 pm to dusk)

(permit required)

State Park Campground and Registration Office

State Park Entrance Station

OCEAN

CITYBERLIN

SNOW

HILL

CHINCOTEAGUE

North Ocean Beach Oceanside

Old Ferry Landing

Bayside

South Ocean Beach

National Seashore Entrance Station and Campground Office

Nature Center

WALLOPS

ISLAND

NATIONAL

WILDLIFE

REFUGE

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT

FACILITY / WALLOPS ISLAND

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

NASA

WALLOPS

FLIGHT

FACILITY

Fishing Point

Stockton

Horntown

Public Landing

Girdletree

TOMS

HOOK

COVE

Former U.S. Coast Guard Station

Assateague Lighthouse

Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) zone

Wildlife Loop

Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) zone

South Point

Shad Landing

Milburn Landing

Pony swim

NASA

Visitor Center

A S

S A

T E

A G

U E

I S

L A

N D

Wild beach (10mi/16km) can be reached on foot only.

To Salisbury, Bay Bridge, Baltimore, and Washington

To Bay Bridge, Baltimore, and Washington

State Line

Pope Bay

Green Run

Pine Tree

Tingles

Little Levels

Woodland Trail

Recommended travel route

Walking / biking trail (paved)

Walking trail

Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) zone

National Wildlife Refuge

National Park Service

State Park

Refuge area closed to public March 15 through August 31

Public campground

Campsite:

backpack or paddle in

Boat launch

Unpaved road

North

0 4 Miles

0 4 Kilometers

You Are Here

Assateague Island National Seashore

• Monitor weather forecast.

• Stay on established trails.

• Leave plants and natural objects where found.

• Leave No Trace.

• Watch for poison ivy.

• Check for ticks.

Safety Tips

Ticks—Inspect yourself periodically to avoid tick bites, which may cause diseases.

Poison ivy—All parts of the three-leafed plant can cause an itchy rash.

Wash skin with warm soapy water and apply cool cloths.

National Seashore— Pets are permitted on the beach and frontcountry campgrounds. Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash and in control at all times! Please pick up after your pet. National Wildlife Refuge— Pets are prohibited in the Virginia portion of Assateague Island.

For Assateague State Park pet regulations call 410-629-2120.

This boathouse is the only surviving structure on Assateague Island associated with the Life-Saving Service. It was moved here from its original location at nearby Pope’s Island. This photo shows the USLS crew in 1910.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | AUGUST 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 020

Saving Lives

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The surfmen of the US Life-Saving Service were real heroes. Come hurricane or nor’easter, they scanned the horizon for ships in distress. They bravely risked their lives to rescue shipwrecked mariners and passengers, conducting both beach and sea rescues.

The endless days of repetitive drills and maintenance paid off. During 40 years of service, from 1875 to 1915, four life-Saving Stations operated on Assateague Island. They responded to more than 250 incidents. Only two resulted in the loss of life.

Sinepuxent Bay

To Bayberry Drive

To Bayside Campground Entrance

Boardwalk trail

Parking

Overlook

North

0 200 Feet

0 50 Meters

You Are Here

Bayside D rive

36 X 48 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | GETT | Wayside Exhibit 021

Life of the Marsh Trail Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Discover the beauty and diversity of this seldom explored area.

An elevated boardwalk trail winds above wetlands and mudflats.

It provides views of the saltmarsh and bay. Horses sometimes graze on the grasses nearby.

Watch for birds in the air and wading along the shore. Look closely in the shallow water for crabs and small fish. Learn why this ecosystem is vital to marine life. It is a valuable indicator of a healthy watershed.

• Pets are not allowed on trails.

• Stay on established trails.

• Leave plants and natural objects where found.

• Leave No Trace.

• Watch for poison ivy.

• Check for ticks.

Trail Tips Pets are not allowed on trails.

Ticks—Inspect yourself periodically to avoid tick bites, which may cause diseases.

Poison ivy—All parts of the three-leafed plant can cause an itchy rash.

Wash skin with warm soapy water and apply cool cloths.

Snowy egrets and great egrets are among the many birds seen along water’s edge and shallow pools.

They hunt fishes and other small animals.

Diamondback terrapins live in brackish to high salinity salt marshes and coastal bays. Female terrapins need sandy bayside beaches to lay their eggs.

The great blue heron is a stealthy hunter. It uses its dagger-like bill to catch small fish, amphibians, and other prey.

A tricolor heron is a wading bird that preys on small fish. They watchfully stalk and actively chase after fish with flapping wings.

Assateague's wild horses graze on marsh grass.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 022_059

Wonderland Not Wasteland

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Take time to observe the complexity and inner workings of the salt marsh. The pungent smell of decay is the sign of a healthy ecosystem. Marsh grasses are among the most important of all wild plants. They provide food and shelter for a wide range of insects, birds, and other animals.

As old growth decays, important nutrients support new growth. Tidal fluctuations refresh the bay and wetlands, distributing nutrients and removing waste. Crabs glide and small fish streak through the shallow waters.

Mosquito larvae are a food source for fish and birds.

Mud snails on dead crab

Shore shrimp are a major food source for larger predators.

Striped bass (juvenile)

Greenhead flies are biting pests to humans and other animals, but are an important food source for many birds.

Clapper rail

Mummichogs

Ribbed mussels cling to the intertidal marsh edge with strong byssal threads.

Marshes are now appreciated as ecologically important areas. They are wonderlands, not wastelands.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 023_052

Misunderstood Marsh

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The shallow bays between Assateague and the mainland host an amazing array of life. The brackish mix of fresh and salt waters creates a spawning ground for countless species. Juvenile fish abound in the warm, sheltered environment. Those that avoid predation from birds and bigger fish grow and migrate to the open sea.

Underwater eel grass provides habitat for small animals and juveniles of many species, including seahorses, crabs, and shrimp. Abundant algae and microscopic plankton are the foundation of the food chain. Aquatic plants stabilize the bottom, capture sediments, and produce oxygen. Beneath these waters is a complex ecosystem that sustains life.

Lined seahorse

Sandbar shark

Forster’s tern

Summer flounder

Bluefish

Northern pipefish

Silversides

Horseshoe crab

Mullet

Southern stingray

Blue crab

Moon jellyfish

American eel

Inching Up

24 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 024

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

If you could slice a cross-section of the marsh, it would look like a long stretched-out staircase. The area of land between the bay and the forest is actually a series of zones. Each step of elevation has overlapping but slightly different characteristics.

Areas closer to the bay are subject to tidal fluctuations and have higher levels of salinity. Areas closer to the forest have richer soil.

Although the height varies only a small bit, it has a dramatic impact on what grows here. Small changes in elevation determine which plants grow.

Loblolly pine This fast-growing evergreen is found on higher ground along the edges of tidal rivers and wetlands. They can reach 100-feet in height.

Groundsel

This deciduous shrub tolerates salt spray and can grow to 12 feet in height.

Groundsel provides cover and nesting habitat for birds and nectar for bees, butterflies, and moths.

Black needlerush Less tolerance of salt, it grows in the higher marsh. Its height increases as salinity decreases. Needlerush provides cover for birds and small animals.

Saltmarsh cordgrass This important producer grows in the lowest areas of the marsh. It adds a high volume of organic material as it stabilizes and expands shorelines.

Saltmeadow hay The distinctive “cowlick” appearance of this grass indicates higher elevations.

Many marsh species find food and shelter here.

Look, Listen, Smell

24 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 025

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Can you smell the marsh mud, mussels, and seaweed?

Can you smell the salt in the air; can you taste it?

Can you hear the birds calling and waves crashing?

Boardwalk trail

Overlook

Parking

Bayberry Drive

North

0 200 Feet

0 50 Meters

You Are Here

36 X 48 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | GETT | Wayside Exhibit 026

Life of the Forest Trail Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Discover the special places that harbor life in the maritime forest.

It is a shaded sanctuary, spared from the blazing sun. It is a place of refuge for animals during storms. Essential sources of fresh water can be found here.

The path winds through the forest and around wetlands bordering the bay. Its thick understory and tall trees reveal a different character of Assateague. This woodland habitat is a marked contrast to the sun-scorched beach and dunes. A unique community of plants and animals thrive here.

Eastern towhees scratch the ground for seeds and insects. Look for their long tails and triangular beaks.

The great horned owl is sometimes found in the loblolly pine forest. They feed at night on small birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Wild turkeys were first sighted at Assateague in the 1990s. They forage in the understory and are sometimes seen in marshy areas.

The black ratsnake is a common non-venomous snake frequently found in edge habitats. This powerful constrictor is an excellent climber.

Ticks—Inspect yourself periodically to avoid tick bites, which may cause diseases.

Poison ivy—All parts of the three-leafed plant can cause an itchy rash.

Wash skin with warm soapy water and apply cool cloths.

• Pets are not allowed on trails.

• Stay on established trails.

• Leave plants and natural objects where found.

• Leave No Trace.

• Watch for poison ivy.

• Check for ticks.

Trail Tips

Brown-headed nuthatches probe pine forests for insects, sometimes prying under bark with a small wood chip.

The northern flicker is a woodpecker. They are found on the ground or in trees at forest’s edge.

Green herons eat small fish, insects, and amphibians. They forage in shallow water.

White-tailed deer frequent forests and open areas. Males grow a set of antlers each year.

Loblolly pine cone

Greenbriar

Loblolly pine cone

Greenbriar

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | OCTOBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 027

Sheltered Environment

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The faint sound of the distant surf drifts through the thick vegetation of the maritime forest. Though close to the beach it seems a completely different world. It contrasts greatly with the intensity of the ocean shore. The impact of salt, sand, and sun is less here. Birds, animals, and insects are attracted to this sheltered environment.

From the top of the canopy to the forest floor, this habitat is a haven for life. The slightly higher elevation and richer soil allows trees and shrubs to flourish.

Tall loblolly pines and other trees provide shade and sources of food. The thick understory offers shelter and sustenance for birds and small animals.

Fresh water does not mix with heavier, denser salt water. Instead it floats on top creating a fresh water “lens”. A large band of sediment extends under the lens separating it from a deep aquifer of fresh water.

creating a fresh water “lens”. A large band of sediment extends under the lens separating it

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 028

Freshwater Oasis

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Reliable sources of fresh water are essential for wildlife.

Naturally occurring freshwater ponds exist throughout the island. Shallow depressions in the ground also collect rainwater. These crucial water sources are the heart of a thriving community of plants and animals.

Fresh water is less dense than salt water, so it floats above it.

Horses sip the surface of ponds to determine the salinity of the water.

The dunes, forest, and marsh are the main habitat zones on Assateague.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 029

A Thin Ribbon of Life

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The cross-section of the island reveals distinct habitat zones.

The dynamic Atlantic Ocean on the east (right) shapes the shoreline. Wind and tides build the primary dunes. The salt spray and intense sunlight dictate the plants and animals that can survive here.

The center of the island is higher. Its richer soil and more protected environment enables greater biodiversity. Shrubs and trees take hold here. The shallow bay washes the western (left) shore. Plant and animal communities transition as the elevation descends to the wetter conditions of the marsh.

Bay

Forest Primary dunes

Low marsh Ocean

Shrub Inner dunes

Beach

Shrub High marsh

Native pine bark beetles bore into trees and lay eggs that hatch and consume the tree from the inside.

Tall loblolly pines dominate the upland forest.

Expansive marshes stretch to the water’s edge.

Ocean beach migrates westward. New plant communities adapt to the changing environment.

Storms and rising sea level inundate the bayshore.

Pines are weakened by increased salinity from the seaside and bayside.

Native pine bark beetles bore into trees and lay eggs that hatch and consume the tree from the inside.

Native pine bark beetles bore into trees and lay eggs that hatch and consume the tree from the inside.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 030

Disappearing Forest

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

It may look like a static scene but dynamic forces gradually change the forest. Salt water from storm surges and rising tides affects this stand of loblolly pines. The increase in salinity of the soil weakens the trees. They become more susceptible to insect infestation and disease.

Over time the trees die off. Organic matter builds up in the sandy soil and more sunlight reaches the surface.

A succession of new plants will take their place. Different plants, birds, and other animals will adapt to the environment.

The forest of today will look quite different in the future.

Eroded mud flat

Salt pannes

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36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | AUGUST 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 031

Forest Today, Ocean Tomorrow

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Can you believe tall ships once sailed through an inlet here?

What is now a marsh was once an open channel to the sea.

It is common for barrier islands to be altered by storms.

The intense force of wind and tides can cut through the island or fill in an existing waterway. What is forest today could become ocean tomorrow.

Storm surges overwash low, narrow areas of the island.

Ocean currents push the inlet southward. The bayside delta of sand and sediments forms marshes.

An open channel is formed connecting ocean and bay.

A tidal delta forms on the bayside.

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36 X 48 INCHES | 28% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 040

Life of the Dunes Trail Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Discover the unique habitat of the inner dunes. Protected from pounding surf, a varied community of plants and animals are found here. Some flourish in the extreme conditions, others struggle to barely survive.

The sandy path rambles through thickets of bayberry and stands of beachgrass. Wind, salt, and blowing sand twist the familiar form of trees into compact and contorted shapes. The trail skirts past broken slabs of asphalt, the remnants of Baltimore Boulevard. It was the only paved road on the island before the Ash Wednesday Storm.

• Pets are not allowed on trails.

• Follow trail directional arrows.

• Leave plants and natural objects where found.

• Leave No Trace.

• Protect yourself from the blazing sun.

• Sand temperatures can exceed 100º F (38º C).

Trail Tips

Ticks—Inspect yourself periodically to avoid tick bites, which may cause diseases.

Poison ivy—All parts of the three-leafed plant can cause an itchy rash.

Wash skin with warm soapy water and apply cool cloths.

Fowler’s toads eat most small insects. Their vocalizations are prominent in the spring.

Eastern hognose snakes use their upturned snout to burrow in the sand to prey on toads. They are non-venomous.

Snowy owls are a rare, unpredictable winter visitor, usually found on Assateague during population “irruptions".

Monarch butterflies stop at Assateague on their long fall migration to their overwintering habitat.

• Watch for poison ivy.

• Check for ticks.

Dunes provide protection from wind and salt spray, creating a sheltered environment where plants may become established. The vegetation helps to stabilize this habitat zone.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 041_056

A Dune is Born

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

It is a long, slow process. First one grain of sand, then another gets trapped by a shell, plant, or obstacle. Over time a mound forms. Pioneer plants like sea rocket create conditions that enable other plants to get a foothold. Beach heather and grasses help build and stabilize dunes by trapping blowing sand as they grow and anchor sand with their roots.

Wind-blown sand accumulates around stationary objects.

Over time the dunes rise above the shoreline. These inner dunes are never stationary. They are sculpted by the wind and scoured by storms. They protect the island by absorbing the energy of storm surges. Dunes are vulnerable to people walking on them. Enjoy them from a distance.

A car splashes past signs of unfinished streets.

More than 130 side streets were planned to intersect with the main thoroughfare.

Asphalt and optimism were the foundation of the road constructed in the late 1950s.

Plans for the island changed when the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 damaged the thoroughfare.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 042

Baltimore Boulevard

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Today the asphalt slabs are primarily used by gulls as a hard surface on which to drop and crack clams. They are the remnants of Baltimore Boulevard, a 15-mile road built by developers in the 1950s. It was the only paved road on the island, extending south to the Maryland/Virginia State line.

Planned side streets that would connect thousands of building lots were never constructed. The main thoroughfare was damaged by the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. The nor’easter thwarted plans to develop the island. The destruction put a halt to planned development and created an opening for the growing movement to protect Assateague Island as a wild place. In 1965, Assateague Island became a National Seashore.

42 X 24 INCHES | 38% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 043

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Telltale Signs The sand is like a blank canvas. The artists are the plants, insects, and animals that leave their mark. Other than birds, most animals are active at night, or at dawn and dusk.

Their tracks linger until erased by wind or shifting sand.

Animals like fox and raccoon leave prominent tracks. Look for squiggly lines marking the path of a snake.

Doodlebugs (antlion larva) leave a distinctive whimsical trail. Try to follow the path to the cone-shaped pit at the entrance to its home. A pencil-size hole likely leads to a spider den. Wind-tossed grasses etch delicate circles around their stems. The seemingly barren dunes are busy places.

Sika deer were released on the island a century ago. They thrive on salt marsh grasses and other vegetation.

Eastern hognose snakes use their upturned snout to burrow in the sand to prey on toads.

They are non-venomous.

The eastern cottontail is an herbivore. They nest in shallow ground depressions. They give birth to four to five young.

The red fox digs its den into the sides of sand dunes. Fox diets include birds, rabbits, fruits, and insects.

Prickly pear cactus

Beach heather

Monarch butterfly

Fowler’s toad

Bayberry

© JOHN MacGREGOR

The loblolly pine is much smaller in the harsh dune environment.

The wind and salt stunt growth and fosters low skirting branches.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 044

Natural Pruning

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Harsh winds and salt spray distort plants from their typical form. These natural forces shape trees and shrubs in the dunes. Exposed plants cling close to the ground, often in unusual shapes. Their trunks are short and thick with low spreading branches.

Over time fallen leaves decay, enriching the sandy soil with organic material. As the pioneer plants grow, they provide a buffer against the wind. This enables less hardy plants to slowly become established. The plant community of the dunes develops over time.

The loblolly pine can grow to a height of 100 feet. Branches typically start two-thirds of the way up on the trunk.

Loblolly Pine

Red oaks and other deciduous trees are subject to flagging by strong winds. Growth is curtailed on the windward side and extended on the opposite side.

The red oak grows tall and straight. It can reach 75 feet tall with a canopy of 45 feet.

Red Oak

Harsh conditions shear exposed holly trees. The tree grows tight and dense in response to constant wind and salt exposure.

The American holly typically takes a pyramidal shape. This evergreen can reach a height of 50 feet.

American Holly

© JEFFREY GIBSON

The hook at Toms Cove was created by the natural migration of sand. Over time, currents deposited several miles of shoreline on the southern end of island. It stranded the lighthouse farther and farther from the ocean.

At the top of the lighthouse, the Fresnel lens focuses light into an intensely magnified beam.

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36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 050

Lighting the Way

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The current Assateague lighthouse was completed in 1867, replacing an earlier 1833 version. The lighthouse marked the southern tip of the island and guided vessels into the Chincoteague Bay. Today, it is surprising to find the structure far removed from the ocean. Over time, natural migration of sand reshaped the shoreline.

Changes at the Toms Cove “hook” extended the island south five miles to the inlet.

The distinctive red and white design dates to the 1960s when the lighthouse was first painted. Now fully automated, it produces a double flash every five seconds.

The beacon is visible up to 22 miles away.

COURTESY MUSEUM OF CHINCOTEAGUE

The dagger-like bills enable herons and egrets to spear their prey.

The dagger-like bills enable herons The dagger-like bills enable herons The dagger-like bills enable herons

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | OCTOBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 051

A Bird Buffet

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

High tides flood the mud flats and saltmarshes with water from the bay. Scattered throughout the wetlands are small depressions that trap water as the tides recede. These small pools are banquets teaming with small fish and other aquatic organisms. The rich bounty attracts birds and other wildlife.

Cordgrass stretches across the horizon. It thrives in the saltmarsh along the intertidal edge of the bay. The marsh provides shelter for small animals, feeding and nesting areas for birds, and hunting grounds for predators. When the plants die back, the detritus provides nutrients for the marsh and bay.

Snowy egret

Great egret

Unlike most Life-Saving Stations, the Assateague Beach Coast Guard station faced the bay. The calmer waters and gasoline powered vessels enabled speedy dispatch of rescue craft.

The 38-foot cabin picket boat was used for “chow runs” to Chincoteague, for supplies and transporting crewmen.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 053

Coast Guard Station

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

This Coast Guard station was active from 1922 until it was decommissioned in 1967. The location at Toms Cove was beneficial. The protected waters made deployment of rescue boats easier. When conditions at the beach were too rough it was safer and faster to launch boats in the protected waters of the cove. An earlier Life-Saving Station built in 1874 was cut off from the ocean with the growth of Toms Cove hook.

The Coast Guard station included living quarters for the crewmen. The complex included a lookout tower, a boathouse and launchways. The crew maintained round-the-clock lookout for ships in distress. The crew stationed here were actively engaged with intercepting smugglers and watching for enemy ships in wartime.

There is a long tradition of harvesting shellfish in Assateague waters. Commercial watermen operate year round under state-issued licenses.

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 054

Shellfishing

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Gathering shellfish in the back bays of Assateague Island is a popular recreational activity. Along the edges of the salt marsh grasses, ribbed mussels may be harvested by hand. Clams can be found beneath the bayside sand and mudflats. You will need digging tools or rakes and a container to harvest them. Blue crabs are almost everywhere in the bays, moving with the tides. Using a baited line and net to catch them is a favorite activity of many Assateague visitors. Recreational harvesting of oysters has a specific winter season which varies year to year. Stop in the visitor center for current regulations.

Oysters attach themselves on hard surfaces, usually other oyster shells.

Crabs are abundant in the back bays.

They hunt and scavenge for food.

Clams are found in sandy beds and mudflats. They filter food from the water.

Ribbed mussels cling to the intertidal marsh edge with strong byssal threads.

Shellfishing Guidelines

• Take only what you will consume.

• Never eat or cook dead shellfish.

• Shellfishing is subject to state regulations.

• Check at the visitor center for regulations and local conditions.

• Keep out of physically posted commercial leased sites in the bay.

• Prepare for sun, heat, cold, insects, and changing tides.

The 2013 photo (above) shows the southern portion of Assateague Island as one continuous landmass. Three years later, a storm washed over the island. The 2016 photo (right) shows where the ocean breached the southern section of beach near the Toms Cove hook and the area just north of Beach Road.

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36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 057

Changing Island

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Barrier Islands are dynamic landforms. Wind, tide, and wave action cause constant erosion and accretion along the shore.

These forces add materials and carry it away. The process is often gradual, but dramatic transformation can occur instantly during storms. The island is always on the move.

In response to storm overwash and rising sea level, the island is rolling over itself. The overwash of sand changes the interior terrain. It can build up or wash out dunes. It can carve out inlets. It can carry sand across the island to the bay. This natural migration nudges the island westward.

The 2013 photo (above) shows the southern portion of

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The southern tip of the island has changed over time. The dark green shape of the 1859 shoreline did not have a hook. The lighter shades of green show how the distinctive shape of Toms Cove evolved.

Crabbing is a fun family activity.

Watch out for the pinching claws!

36 X 24 INCHES | 40% OF ACTUAL SIZE | NOVEMBER 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 058_060

Crabbing

Assateague Island National Seashore National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Anyone can catch blue crabs. The simplest method is to toss a baited string into the water. A piece of chicken or fish head are commonly used. Gradually pull the string. As the baited end draws near the surface, have a net ready to scoop up a crab clinging to the bait.

Place your catch into a waterless bucket or container and store live caught crabs in a cool, shady area.

Take only what you will consume.

Rules for Crabbing

• Keepers measure 5 inches from point to point on the widest part of the shell.

• Release egg-bearing females called “sponge crabs”. They have an orange egg mass visible on their underside.

• Never cook or eat dead crabs.

• Persons with known shellfish allergy should refrain from handling shellfish.

• Regulations change frequently, check at the visitor center for the latest information.

5” Male, “Jimmy” Blue caws & narrow apron

Immature Female, “Sally” Red tip claws & V shaped apron

Mature Female, “Sook” Red tip claws & wide apron

Female with Eggs “Sponge Crab”

6 X 6 INCHES | 100% OF ACTUAL SIZE | DECEMBER 2018 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 070_071 073_074

6 X 6 INCHES | 100% OF ACTUAL SIZE | MAY 2019 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 070_Diagonal

6 X 6 INCHES | 100% OF ACTUAL SIZE | DECEMBER 2018 | ASIS | Wayside Exhibit 072