- NAFSE
NAFSE Field Trip – Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown, Rhode Island
“Established in 1970, Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge consists of 858 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including grasslands, shrub lands, wooded swamps and freshwater ponds.” - Ninigret Website

DAVE WALKER, FIRE MANAGAMENT OFFICER, MONITORS THE BURN. TAKEN ON MARCH 31, 2012 AT NINIGRET NWR. PHOTO CREDIT: JUANCARLOS GIESE, USFWS
Working Agenda, Wednesday Mrch 20, 2019
8:30 Optional group breakfast. Hungry Haven Restaurant (pay as you go) 9:30 Registration, meet & greet, check out exhibits 10:00 Welcome, introductions 10:10 Presentations
Overview of Refuge system
USFWS Forest Inventory program
Regional perspective on science-based fire management for Region 5
Fire history in Rhode Island
State lands management
Overview of pitch pine forest & shrubland management at Ninigret
Site overview - field trip stops
Q&A, discussion
11:45 Bag lunch time (BYO, or optional pizza order) 12:30 Head to field 12:45 Lewis Tract - pitch pine forest
Stop 1: Unmanaged site (no treatment)
Stop 2: WUI/neighbors
Stop 3: Spring 2018 burn - 19 ac (thin & burn)
Stop 4: Managed site (thinning)
2:15 Trip to Salt Pond Unit via Kettle Pond Visitor Center for vehicle pickup 2:30 Salt Pond Unit
Walk to junction of Grassy Point & Cross Refuge Trail
Rare plant site, 0.5 ac burned every 3 yrs.
Shrubland habitat burned to promote regeneration
Invasive controls
3:45 Wrap-up (in-field) 4:00 End, or optional visit to New England cottontail Pen -> 4:45