Description:

The Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) within the Department of Conservation conducted a field survey of selected areas of Frye Island, in the Town of Frye Island, on August 8, 2002.  The survey was conducted at the request of the Frye Island Conservation Commission.  The area of the survey included wetlands on the south end of the island (just north of the marina), wetlands along a drainage on the center-west side of the island, and a series of forested slopes on the eastern side of the island.  One rare natural community and one rare plant species were observed during the survey, also noted was a maturing stand of hardwood forest with a high density of vernal pools.             The island is generally an elongate gently sloping undulating ridge that rises about a 100 feet above Sebago Lake.

Frye Island, 1991 Color Infrared Photo

As a whole, it is primarily forested by red oak dominated forest with beech, red maple, hemlock, white pine and yellow birch being common.  There is a moderately dense network of roads on all but the eastern side of the island.  Seasonal homes are scattered along many of the roads and are mostly concentrated along the roads adjacent to the shoreline.  Seasonal homes generally lack lawns which somewhat limits their impact on the continuity of the forest cover.  The largest unfragmented area of habitat is ~150 acres and is located in an area that stretches one half to two thirds the length of the island on its eastern side.  There is a nine hole golf course on the higher ground along the south end of the island.

            A fair quality example of a Hemlock - Hardwood Pocket Swamp Natural Community was observed in a wetland area adjacent to the marina at the south end of the island.  The swamp was dominated by a mix of hemlock, black gum, yellow birch, paper birch, and red maple.  Some of the black gum trees were old growth and range in age from approximately 250 to 350 or more years.  The understory was somewhat open and was characterized by witch hazel and high bush blueberry.  Shrubs were generally thicker nearer to the open water area of the lagoon.  The floor of the swamp was characterized by pronounced microtopography with hummocks and hollows that were carpeted with sphagnum moss.  Common herbs included cinnamon fern, royal fern, marsh fern, star flower, and three seeded sedge.

            This natural community has been historically impacted by logging but the effects of the past timber harvest are now minimal.  The site is bordered to the north and west by a dirt road that appears to be having little if any effect on the community.  It is possible impeded drainage caused by the road could impact the long term hydrology of the site.  The south side of the site borders an area of impounded lagoon.  It appears the lagoon has been modified to accommodate the marina and that fill was placed to create a road across the lagoon from west to east.  The road splits the lagoon into two parts, one connected to the lake where the marina is located, and one cut off or impounded from the lake where it is assumed there is no marina activity.  Wading water birds were using this area at the time of the survey. 

            A rare aquatic plant, snail-seed pondweed was observed growing in the impounded area of the lagoon.  The population was abundant along sections of the shore on the north side where there was shallow water over a sandy substrate.  Associated species included ribbonleaf pondweed, common bladderwort, and floating bladderwort. 

            Also of conservation significance on the island was an area of maturing forest with a high density of vernal pools.  This area is located southwest of the ferry landing on the slopes and terraces of the rising landscape.  It is the north end of the largest area of unfragmented habitat left on the island.  The forest was composed of maturing red oak, beech, hemlock, red maple, and yellow birch trees including some 100 – 200 year old specimens.  Herb and shrub diversity was moderate as is typical for this type of forest in Maine.  Scattered in perched locations within the forest on terraces and in hollows were small vernal pools.  Vernal pools are ephemeral wetlands that typically fill with water from snow melt and spring run-off and often dry out over the course of the summer.  They offer critical breeding habitat for some species of amphibians and invertebrates such as wood frogs, spotted and blue salamanders, and fairy shrimp.  The seasonal nature of the temporary pools maintains a fishless environment conducive to the successful breeding of these animals.  Vernal pools are also used as feeding and breeding habitat by many other animals such as spring peepers, grey tree frogs, and other common amphibians.  The amphibians and aquatic invertebrates that are dependent on these ponds for survival are an important food resource for other forest dwellers such as turtles, snakes, birds, and small mammals.  The vegetated condition of vernal pools varies from completely vegetated, usually with sedges, grasses, ferns, and scattered shrubs, to non-vegetated, with only dead leaves on the pool bottom.  Non-vegetated pools can be just as important for amphibians as are those with plant cover.

            Frye Island has a very finite land resource and care should be taken in planning of for the future of wildlife habitat.  Future development should be planned where possible in such a way as to promote the permanent retention of large blocks of undeveloped landscape.  Many of the plants and animals that depend on Frye Island for habitat will not be able to survive in the long term if the forested areas of the island become smaller and smaller and isolated from one another.  Corridors should be retained connecting forested areas throughout the island.  Forested buffers of 100 feet or more should be retained around wetlands and streams.  The conservation commission and the planning board should develop a long term conservation plan for the island that includes designated conservation areas and the promotion of natural landscape integrity.

Rare Species/Natural Community Table for Frye Island:

Conservation Considerations:

·    Natural vegetation still occurring on the island should be conserved as part of the greater island ecosystem.  Long term preservation of the full compliment of plants and animals found on the island will be best achieved by retaining as much of the surrounding natural landscape as possible. 

·    The integrity of wetlands and the processes and life forms they support are dependent on the maintenance of the hydrology and water quality of the site. Intensive timber harvesting, vegetation clearing, soil disturbance, new roads, and development on buffering uplands can result in greater runoff, sedimentation, and other non-point sources of pollution that can degrade the natural wetland systems.

·    The island is relatively free of invasive plant species.  Care should be taken not to inadvertently introduce aggresive invaders that will naturalize into the island’s forests and wetlands and outcompete native plants.  Residents should be encouraged to plant native species in landscaping around their homes.  They should be discouraged from planting any honeysuckles, barberry, winged euonymous, purple loosestrife, multiflora rose, and Autumn or Russian olives.

·    Conservation planning for upland features should include setting some areas aside from timber harvesting to allow for the development of some unmanaged forest ecosystems.

Protection Status:

The Town of Frye Island owns and has discretion over numerous lots on the island.  A few areas have been set aside for conservation purposes.

Posted: 07/10/2003