Alot of places in the adirondacks looks like that.
Sand doesn't have much, but it doesnt take much to steer it. A little lime goes a long way without organic material or clay to absorb it. I do food plots in the adirondacks in similar spots. There's spots with a layer of organic mterial (tree decay), then right next to it the water washes it out. Think thirds.... put a third of the lime yourre used to using, think about fertilizer lightly tw or three times a year than a heavy dose.
Hairy vetch, grains will do ok, even clovers do alright. Drought resistance is the key here. An oddball I use in "dead" sandy areas that get sunlight on a logging land lease is plantain. Plant some green cover seeds early spring and early fall. Summers will be tough for awhile.
A place you can learn alot from is the albany pine bush preserve. New mexico and arizona ranchers or deer farms might have some opinions.
prarie willow and blueberry mmight be your friends there. Deer can enjoy many native bushes and shrubs. White pines, juniper, and cedars work good there. bayberry, beach plum, and bear oak might be helpful to you too.
Rake under the shrub and spread some it around. Some of these very hardy shrubs likely have seeds in there.
Again, you nudge a place like that, dont hit anything hard ,except maybe seed.
Mixing 3 parts pelletized lime and one part fertilizer and lightly applying it to the native forage there will make it look alot better.
Long term, promoting anything that grow will help. Adding organics like wood chips, leaf litter, or burning branches will help.
Avoid you temptation to level it out right away. A very mild device just to stir some seeds into the sand a bit will be better. Tire drag chain harrow. You get spots with deeper layers of organic material right next to dead sand. You level that flat, you'll bury anything good.
Mine remediation strategies will work in a place like that.
This place a good deal?
