Sources of Degradation, roughly in the historical order in which they occurred Timbering, decimated old growth forest Sheepherding, eliminated possibility of successional reforestation because animals ate all saplings Farming, introduced exotic pasture grasses which became invasive Granite Stripmining, denuded terrain and caused extreme erosion of topsoil Railroad, leaving coal dust in soil, rendering some of it too acid to support life Site of Town Dump, leaving debris and other materials behind Speculation, dynamited portions of site, scattering and breaking remaining glacial boulders Adjacent lawns, creating eutrophication from nitrogen fertilizers and reducing capacity of soil to accomplish filtration The cumulative effects of these activities include the loss of scant topsoil, possibly the loss of unique species adapted to the island and watershed contamination.