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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLAPC_Bog Preservation PowerPoint FINAL_12-08-2021MARGIE'S TRAVEL1 M Preserving the Centerville Cranberry Bog Town of Barnstable Land Acquisition & Pre se rvation Committee Mee ting, 12.13.2021 “This is what every cranberry grower dreams about --loads of berries. I spent my whole life raising these things. And there'snothing better than to watch those beautiful red cranberries float to the surface.” Jim Jenkins , Travels with Harry, CBS News, 11.20.98 MARGIE'S TRAVEL2 M The Property The Jenkins cranberry bog is located at 1246 Bumps River Road, Centerville. The 20-acre property has an 11-acre bog, last harvested in October 2020, with a one-bedroom house and a detached barn situated on the upland. MARGIE'S TRAVEL3 M Who are we? F R I E N D S O F T H E C E N T E R V I L L E C R A N B E R RY B O G P R E S E R VAT I O N , I N C . •We are citizens of the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. •We desire to preserve, protect, and maintain, alone and with other like-minded organizations and individuals, as well as with the federal, Commonwealth, and local governments and with private landowners, the Jenkins Bog situated at and around 1246 Bumps River Road, Centerville, in the Town of Barnstable. •We hope to preserve this property as an accessible, natural open space; as a resource for public education and enjoyment; and for the benefit of wildlife and indigenous vegetation. MARGIE'S TRAVEL4 M Why Present to the LAPC? F R I E N D S O F T H E C E N T E R V I L L E C R A N B E R RY B O G P R E S E R VAT I O N , I N C . •The Friends seek the assistance of the LAPC and urge it to recommend preservation of the bog to the Community Preservation (Act) Committee. •The bog is subject to Chapter 61A of the Massachusetts General Laws, affording the Town a right of first refusal (ROFR), upon proper notice of an intent to sell or convert the property from its historic tax-preferred agricultural use, to acquire the property or assign its right to a nonprofit conservation organization. •The Town Manager initially passed on this opportunity in early April 2021. Following meetings with the Friends and other interested community members, the Town Attorney recently notified the bog’s seller and buyer that the required notice was not proper and asked that the ROFR process be restarted. •The Friends wish to share with the LAPC the reasons why the Town should either buy the bog or assign its ROFR to a conservation organization when the process is restarted. MARGIE'S TRAVEL5 M Community Character Friends of the Centerville Cranberry Bog Preservation, Inc. MARGIE'S TRAVEL6 M Cape Cod Cranberry History •Cape Cod Pequods used cranberry paste to draw poison from arrow wounds and for dye to color blankets. •First known cultivator of cranberries was Henry Hall from North Dennis, in 1816. •By late 1800s, cranberry culture supplanted the waning maritime business. •Gorham, Samuel, Oliver, and Wilson Crosby and Andrus Bearse were among the first to build bogs in Centerville. •Daniel Lumbert, a Centerville man, invented the first cranberry scoop for harvesting the berries. The Jenkins Family •National Cranberry Magazine listed Braley Jenkins of Barnstable as “one of greatest cranberry growers in the 1850s.” He is noted as the first to market “Cape Cod Cranberries” and transported his yield to market via his catboat “Pomona.” •Jim Jenkins took over his multi-generation family bog business at the age of 19. •He owned 56 acres of cranberry bogs until his death in 2018. •He was a member of the Ocean Spray Cooperative and a director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Association. “Every time I go into these bogs, I think of my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather.” Jim Jenkins , People and Places on Cape Cod, National Park Service, 2004 MARGIE'S TRAVEL7 M Important Information regarding Centerville’s Historic Preservation •Centerville, in 2005, was 95% built out under current zoning and was cited as a District of Critical Planning Concern by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.(The Historic Preservation Plan Update, Town of Barnstable, 2010) •Bumps River Road is considered one of Centerville’s 10 scenic roads.(The Historic Preservation Plan Update, Town of Barnstable, 2010) •Despite Barnstable’s rich agricultural heritage, extensive development has caused a significant loss of the town’s historic farmland; few landscapes and outbuildings have been preserved.(The Historic Preservation Plan Update, Town of Barnstable, 2010) •“…agricultural landscapes found in the cities and towns of Massachusetts are significant to our understanding of our past. They establish our sense of connection to our communities, and they are the very reason people choose to live, work, and visit here.”(Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Plan, 2011-2015) •“Under-represented in the historic resource inventories statewide are certain thematic resource types including historic industry-related resources, agricultural resources, and rural historic landscapes….”(Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Plan, 2011-2015) •Cape Cod has lost thousands of acres of farmland over the past half-century or more, mostly to residential development…Greater collaboration between the agricultural community and open space community on Cape Cod could lead to more protection of farmland.(Agricultural Land Use on Cape Cod Report, Association to Preserve Cape Cod, 2011) MARGIE'S TRAVEL8 M Wildlife Habitat Protection F r i e n d s of t he C e nte r v i l l e C ra n b e r r y B og P re se r v a ti o n , I n c . MARGIE'S TRAVEL9 M Wildlife on the Bog •“Large mammals such as deer, coyote, fox, and raccoon populations in the vicinity of the project are nocturnal species that depend on the open space, refuge, shelter, and food afforded by this bog.”(Letter to Barnstable Conservation Commission, October 2021,Robert Hearn, Retired Biologist.) •“This bog ecosystem at 1246 Bumps River road is part of the habitat in which we have historically conducted a variety of studies in the past including the long-term behavioral ecology of coyotes.”(Letter to Barnstable Conservation Commission, September 12, 2021, from Eric Strauss, Ph.D., Former Chair, Barnstable Conservation Commission; President’s Professor of Biology, Loyola Marymount University.) “…small patches of open space, like this cranberry bog, provide vital habitat needs for eastern coyote families, as well as other species, in highly developed areas like Centerville.” Jonathan G. Wray, Ph.D., Founder, Eastern Coyote,/CoywolfResearch MARGIE'S TRAVEL10 M MassWildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species List •Eastern Box Turtle •Grasshopper Sparrow •Upland Sandpiper •Northern Harrier •Peregrine Falcon •American Bittern •Vesper Sparrow “This particular site is a part of a chain of open spaces that helps to keep the biodiversity and ecosystems of the town intact..” Eric Strauss, Ph.D., Former Chair, Barnstable Conservation Commission; President’s Professor of Biology, LoyalaMarymount University The following species, listed on the MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species List, consider this local area home: •Northern Parula •Eastern Meadowlark •Little Brown Bat •Kennedy’s Emerald •Hessel’s Hairstreak •Frosted Hairstreak •Monarch Butterfly (currently being considered for List) MARGIE'S TRAVEL11 M Water Bodies Proximity Friends of the Centerville Cranberry Bog Preservation, Inc. MARGIE'S TRAVEL12 M MARGIE'S TRAVEL13 M MARGIE'S TRAVEL14 M MARGIE'S TRAVEL15 M Important Information regarding Centerville River Watershed Area •The Town contains only eight watersheds, including the Centerville River System Watershed. •Wells particularly vulnerable to potential sources of contamination include those in the Village of Centerville. (Town of Barnstable Open Space Plan) •The Centerville River System is listed as Class SA, for “outstanding natural resources and [it] should be preserved because of its ecological, social, scenic, economic or recreational importance.” (MA Surface Water Quality Standards) •The stream flowing through the bog empties eventually into Scudder Bay. Two small outfall parcels adjoin land already owned by the Town that is part of the Bay Lane Elementary School property. •Nitrogen loading is affecting the quality of the ground and surface waters adversely. Bogs on the Cape are being restored to wetlands to alleviate this problem. The Barnstable Clean Water Coalition is undertaking a significant renovation project on a former bog in Marstons Mills. Acquiring the Jenkins bog could assist such water quality improvement efforts. “From my perspective as an ecologist…I believe any significant alteration of habitat of this value should be considered with utmost care.” Eric Strauss, Ph..D., Former Chair, Barnstable Conservation Commission; President’s Professor of Biology, LoyalaMarymount University MARGIE'S TRAVEL16 M Community Friends of the Centerville Cranberry Bog Preservation, Inc. MARGIE'S TRAVEL17 M Greenspace, Recreation, and Education •With 20 acres of land, including an 11-acre bog surrounded by a wide path, on a designated scenic road, this site provides scenic views for residents of, and visitors to, a village cited as 95% “built out” in 2005. •As part of a watershed system teeming with wildlife and plant life, this rich habitat offers research possibilities for the Town and local conservation groups. •Preservation of this site provides opportunity to share, through tours, signage, and school collaborations, the history of the cranberry as well as highlight the historical significance of small, multi-generational family businesses to the Town’s economic growth. C o m m u n i t y E n g a g e m e n t “Learned how to skate on this bog. Learned how to put the boards in to flood it in the fall. Went hunting for bullfrogs in the summer.” Suzanne Hurd Pherson, Centerville Resident, Friends of the Centerville Cranberry Bog Preservation Facebook Page . MARGIE'S TRAVEL18 M “This is some kind of heaven.” Jim Jenkins , Travels with Harry, CBS News, 11.20.98 MARGIE'S TRAVEL19 M Questions? F R I E N D S O F T H E C E N T E R V I L L E C R A N B E R RY B O G P R E S E R VAT I O N , I N C . T H A N K YO U F O R I N V I T I N G U S TO S P E A K .