Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Affected Environment
On the southern part of Wallops Island, the dune and swale zone extends to the tidal marsh on
the western side of Wallops Island with no maritime forest present. In the central and northern
areas, the dune and swale zone extends to the maritime zone that starts where the secondary dune
line once existed. The central portion of Wallops Island is dominated by common reed, an
invasive undesirable species, and maintained lawn areas. Due to its successful competition with
many other plant species, the common reed has virtually taken over much of the area in the
center of Wallops Island. A small area of maritime forest dominated by loblolly pine (Pinus
taeda) and cherry trees (Prunus spp.), with an understory of northern bayberry, wax myrtle, and
groundsel-tree, exists on the central portion of the island. The northern part of Wallops Island
within the dune and swale zone is in an almost natural state, and is dominated by northern
bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), groundsel-tree (Baccharis
halimifolia), and American beachgrass.
An area of tidal marsh encompasses 1,130 hectares (2,800 acres) between Wallops Island and
Wallops Mainland. As the marshes provide suitable habitat for both foraging and reproduction,
these areas are of tremendous importance to marine life and many terrestrial and avian species.
Wallops Main Base
The vegetative zones from east to west on Wallops Main Base are marsh, thicket, and upland
forest. Inland communities such as fresh and brackish marsh, xeric and mesic shrub, patches of
open ground, areas completely covered by pine, and pine-deciduous mixed woodlands are often
separated from one another by a sharp topographic change. Small rich remnants of upland
forests and swamps occur on the Main Base. Dominant species in the upland forest include
loblolly pine, various oaks (Quercus sp.), hickory (Carya sp.), tulip-poplar (Liriodendron
tulipifera), dogwood (Cornus florida), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer
rubrum), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Black willow (Salix nigra) and red maple are
dominant species in the swamps. The tidal marsh found on Wallops Main Base is similar to the
tidal marsh on Wallops Island. Fields, pine forests, lawns, buildings, and pavement are present
throughout the Main Base.
3.2.2 Terrestrial Wildlife
Wallops Island and Wallops Main Base host both terrestrial and aquatic forms of fauna that
comprise their biotic communities. Terrestrial and aquatic species are particularly concentrated
in the tidal marsh areas, which provide abundant habitat.
3.2.2.1 Invertebrates
Wallops Island, particularly the tidal marsh area, has an extensive variety of invertebrates.
Saltmarsh cordgrass marshes have herbivorous (plant-eating) insects such as the saltmarsh
grasshopper (Orchelium fidicinium) and the tiny plant hopper (Megamelus spp.). Plant hopper
eggs are in turn preyed upon by a variety of arthropods, the group of animals that includes
insects, spiders, and crustaceans. The tidal marshes are inhabited by a number of parasitic flies,
wasps, spiders, and mites. The spiders prey mostly on herbivorous insects, and mites prey
primarily on microarthropods (small invertebrates) found in dead smooth cordgrass. Saltmarsh
mosquitoes (Ochlerotatus sollicitans) and greenhead flies (Tabanus nigrovittatus) are prevalent
insects on Wallops Island. Periwinkle snails (Littorina irrorata) and mud snails (Ilyanassa
obsoleta) are found on the marsh surface.
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