Methods to Reestablish Grass Species On Disturbed Sandy Soils in the Northeastern US.

Fort Drum is a 107,000-acre US Army post in northern New York State.  The installation contains a mosaic of forested and grassland areas.  The herbaceous-dominated landscapes are favored for cross-country maneuver training.  However, the vegetation on sandy soils shows poor wear tolerance to military traffic.  We evaluated different grasses and planting seasons to assess establishment and persistence.  Findings indicate that hairgrasses (Deschampsia spp.) can provide a long-term cover, but are challenging to establish.  The naturalized fine fescues (Festuca spp.) provide a more rapid establishment and can survive for up to five years.  We use either of these groups of species to recover disturbed areas, depending on anticipated intensity of land use.