Located on the South Fork of Long Island in Nepauge, in the Town of Southampton, this management complex contains roughly 2700 acres of undeveloped coastal land. Its natural communities consist of secondary oak-hickory forest, maritime moorlands, dunelands, freshwater wetlands, old field, shrublands, and an approximate 25 acre, shallow, freshwater pond (Fresh Pond). The only developed areas within the state park are the Long Island Railroad, a power transmission line corridor, and a network of unpaved roads and trails providing public access.
In the early 1900s, 1,755 acres of this complex were planned for development of a recreational complex that was to include hotels, casinos, a polo field, and yacht basin. This plan was blocked by the Long Island State Park Commission, and the land was subsequently sold to New York State. It was then opened as Hither Hills State Park in 1924.
Size: 2700 acres
Relatively free of invasive species compared to its size:
The lack of historical disturbance has allowed this site to stay relatively resilient to invasion by exotic species. Initial surveys in 2008 by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and a TNC sponsored Student Conservation Association crew found manageable populations of a few widespread invasive species, mostly along trails and roadsides within the complex
Keeping intact rare communities found within this park such as oak-heath forest, coastal oak-laurel forest, globally rare maritime oak-holly forest, and regionally significant maritime interdunal swales, and maritime pitch pine dune woodlands. In particular, the interdunal swales have been invaded by phragmites; thus management of this species may be an important action to prevent further loss of this community and protect the integrity of the tidal wetland.
Species found within the buffer of the ISPZ, require monitoring for early detection and rapid response:
- Rock-Sea Lavender (Limonium binervosum)
- Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
- Arthraxon (Arthraxon hispidus)
Species recently found within the park that require rapid response:
- Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
- Memorial Rose (Rosa lucieae)
- Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
- Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
- Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
Invasive species that are established within the park, requiring containment and removal in highest quality areas:
- Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
- Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
- Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica var. japon)
- Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)
- Mile-a-Minute (Persicaria perfoliata)
- Phragmites (Phragmites australis ssp. australis)
- Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Widespread invasive species found within the park that require greater research on their impact:
- Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergiana)
- Canada Bluegrass (Poa compressa)
- White Poplar (Populus alba)
Learn More
Citations:
Schwager, Kathy; Horwirth, Bruce (2009). Invasive Species Prevention Zone Plan for Hither Hills-Hither Woods Complex, East Hampton, NY. The Nature Conservency
New York State Department of State (2002). Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat Assessment Form. Accessed: https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/hither_hills_uplands.pdf
Use of photos with permission by Uli Lorimer, Flicker.com
