p2770

Grassy Balds

The fire regime of grassy mountain balds within the historic period is much better understood than the prehistoric fire regime. Grazing in the historic period has heavily influenced both the flora and structure of grassy mountain balds. Cattle and sheep were the most common and important grazers on grassy balds from the early to mid 1800’s to early 1900’s (White and Sutter 1999, Smathers 1981). In fact, grazing intensity was enough to reduce the vegetation to a “low grassy sward” (Lindsey and Bratton 1979), which provided very little fuel to carry fires. During the historic period when grazing was common, fires on grassy balds were not common (Lindsey and Bratton 1979).

Grassy Bald Formation

It is possible that fires have played a role in bald formation and subsequent maintenance prior to the introduction of non-native grazers but it is far from certain. Hypotheses regarding bald formation are numerous and include human origin in the historic period, geologic origins, climatic events in relation to topographic position, disturbances including wind and ice storms, insect outbreaks, chronic grazing (by now extinct native grazers) and fires, both catastrophic fire and frequent prehistoric anthropogenic fire (see White and Sutter 1999 or Peterson 1981 for discussions of various bald formation hypotheses).

Central to the debate over bald formation is when balds were formed. It is certain that some balds originated or were enlarged during the historic period when high mountain tops were used by settlers for summer pasture (Lindsay and Bratton 1979). Creation and expansion of balds in the historic period likely involved some use of fire in conjunction with girdling and felling of trees (Lindsay and Bratton 1979).

Though the earliest European explorers failed to mention balds (Smathers 1981, Peterson 1981), it seems likely that some balds were in existence prior to European arrival (see White and Sutter 1999). The first mention of balds per se post-dates the beginnings of European settlement of the mountains, but not by many years (Smathers 1981). However, “savannas”, “pasture” and “prairies” are mentioned by early explorers of the region.  Some of these may have been an interpretation of what is known as, or what has become bald communities today (Peterson 1981). Other evidence that suggests balds did exist in some form prior to European settlement include bald formation myths within Cherokee culture (Smathers 1981), and deep and well developed soil characteristics of some grassy balds which was interpreted as an indication that they pre-dated the arrival of people of European ancestry (Cain 1931).