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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250523_LMP_Sea View Ave_265_OST_SUBLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN 265 Sea View Avenue Osterville, MA May 22, 2025 TMTM 2 SEA VIEW AVENUE #265 Top of Coastal Bank The numbered photo points and directions correspond to the numbered images on page three. 3 1 2 AREA DIAGRAM INTRODUCTION & PROJECT GOALS This Land Management Plan (LMP) accompanies a Notice of Intent (NOI) filing for construction activities and vegetation management to act as mitigation. The vegetation management will include the removal of lawn, management of invasive and non-native plant species, and restoration of appropriate native plant communities. Proposed vegetation management activities will occur on the Coastal Bank and within the buffer zones to Coastal Bank and within Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF). The goals presented in this LMP are the restoration of native vegetation to the entire Coastal Bank and creation of a vegetated buffer where none currently exists. Restoring native plant communities will result in greater biodiversity, improved habitat for wildlife, and improved flood control and storm damage prevention. Wilkinson Ecological Design (WED) believes the interests protected under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Barnstable Wetlands Bylaw are furthered by this project. 50’ from TOB 100’ from TOB EXISTING CONDITIONS This residential property is sandwiched between Sea View Avenue and Nantucket Sound. The residence is on the east side of the property with a formal landscape surrounding the home. The formal landscape and lawn continue out to the top of Coastal Bank. The red overlay on the Area Diagram below depicts the dense State-listed invasive species that cover the Coastal Bank and an area along the western property line. These invasive plant species include Asiatic bittersweet, multiflora rose, porcelain berry, privet, rambling rose, rugosa rose, shrub honeysuckle, and vine honeysuckle. Very few native plant species were identified within the project area. These include eastern red cedars at the top of Coastal Bank and aggressive vines such as Virginia creeper and poison ivy growing over the top of the existing revetment. Images on page three show the dense invasive cover. 3 IMAGE 1 - Image from the top of Coastal Bank looking east to Nantucket Sound. A dense cover of invasive shrubs and vines can be seen covering the bank. IMAGE 2 - Image from the top of the existing revetment looking west across the Coastal Bank. The invasive vegetation can be seen completely covering the face of bank and draping over the top of the revetment. IMAGE 3 - Image showing a small area of invasive and non- native shrubs along the western property line. 4 PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES The project goal of restoring native vegetation to the Coastal Bank and creation of a vegetated buffer will be met through the following proposed activities: 1. Vegetation Management: Remove lawn and manage invasive, non-native, and aggressive species within the project areas. 2. Native Plant Restoration: Seed and plant appropriate native shrub and herbaceous species to restore the targeted native plant communities. Vegetation Management Vegetation management will target all invasive, non-native, and aggressive species, including Asiatic bittersweet, shrub and vine honeysuckle, multiflora rose, rambling rose, and all other plant species approved for management. Vegetation management treatments will comprise pre-treatment using a low-volume foliar application. Following pre-treatment, the targeted vegetation will be cut by hand and the resulting debris winched to the top of bank and removed from the site. To protect stability of soils on the bank, no machines will traverse over the top of the steep Coastal Bank. A tracked dingo may be staged in the lawn above the bank to winch plant debris up to the lawn so it can be removed from the site. Poison ivy will be managed along the existing stairs and deck where it can come in contact with people. All herbicide applications will be performed by Massachusetts licensed applicators. The Invasive Plant Management Protocols in the Appendix include species-specific information and SEA VIEW AVENUE #265 50’ from TOB 100’ from TOB MITIGATION DIAGRAM Top of Coastal Bank Invasive management and restoration of native plant communities (3,525 SF) Lawn to be converted to native vegetation (2,500 sf) 5 PLANT SPECIES ROOTING DEPTHS TYPICAL NON-NATIVE/ INVASIVE ROOT SYSTEM DEEPLY-ROOTED NATIVE SHRUBS AND GRASSES LITTLE BLUESTEM BAYBERRY SHRUB HONEYSUCKLE 1 0’ 6’ 8’ 6’ 8’ 4 ’4 ’ 2’2’ management strategies. Immediately following vegetation management, all bare soils will be seeded with the native grass species listed on the Restoration Plan. Biodegradable erosion control blanketing will be installed on the Coastal Bank to protect against erosion and temporarily hold mineral soils in place until the root systems of the seeded native grasses can establish and stabilize soils. Native Plant Restoration Native plant restoration recommendations are based on several environmental factors, including soils, topography, solar exposure, salt tolerance, and existing plant communities. Recommendations primarily consider the long-term health of the resource area by proposing to increase biological diversity through the removal of invasive, non-native, and aggressive plant species and the restoration of native a plant community. The project area would benefit from the establishment of the proposed native shrub and grass species to stabilize soils. Native warm-season grasses are extremely effective at retaining soils because they develop thick, fibrous root systems that bind and retain sediments. Please refer to the Plant Species Rooting Depth Diagram below for a graphic representation of the rooting depths of native plant species verses invasive plant species. Native shrubs like bayberry are well adapted to salt spray and wind, and develop extensive root systems that help to retain soils. After invasive species removal has reached approximately 85% eradication, the project area will be planted with the native shrubs and grasses listed on the Restoration Plan. Refer to the Restoration Plan for a full listing of the proposed species. References for plant species rooting depth include :http://annarbor.wildones. org/resources/, Staver, K. W. (2000), Waramit, Naroon. (2010), Weaver, J.E. (1961), Weaver, J.E. (1958), Rainer, T., & West, C. (2015) 6 Summer/Fall • Pre-treat plant species approved for removal with an herbicide appropriate to the plant species. The pre-treated vegetation will be removed and the project area immediately seeded with the specified seed mix. Install biodegradable erosion control blankets on the Coastal Bank to stabilize the soil while the native grass seeds are germinating. • To limit re-establishment of invasive plant species within restoration areas, selectively treat re-sprouting invasive and non-native plant species using low-volume spot applications or cut and wipe applications, only if necessary, otherwise hand-pull small quantities. General Notes: • Herbicides used are to be applied by knowledgeable, licensed individuals only. • All herbicide applications will avoid non-target native species. Winter/Spring • To limit re-establishment of invasive plant species within restoration areas, selectively treat re-sprouting invasive and non-native plant species using low-volume spot applications or cut and wipe applications, only if necessary, otherwise hand-pull small quantities. • Mow or string-trim newly seeded restoration area once in early spring to limit establishment of non-native cool season grasses. Summer/Fall • Monitor plant response to earlier management treatments and calibrate follow-up treatments accordingly. • To limit re-establishment of invasive plant species within restoration areas, selectively treat re-sprouting invasive and non-native plant species using low-volume spot applications or cut and wipe applications, only if necessary, otherwise hand-pull small quantities. • When invasive plants have been reduced by 85%, commence planting of the areas according to the Restoration Plan and install an automated, temporary, above ground irrigation system to help establish new plants to the growing conditions. THREE YEAR LAND MANAGEMENT TIMELINE Season 2Season 1 7 Winter/Spring • To limit re-establishment of invasive plant species within restoration areas, selectively treat re-sprouting invasive and non-native plant species using low-volume spot applications or cut and wipe applications, only if necessary, otherwise hand-pull small quantities. • Mow or string-trim newly seeded restoration area once in early spring to limit establishment of non-native cool season grasses. Summer/Fall • Monitor plant response to earlier management treatments and calibrate follow-up treatments accordingly. • To limit re-establishment of invasive plant species within restoration areas, selectively treat re-sprouting invasive and non-native plant species using low-volume spot applications or cut and wipe applications, only if necessary, otherwise hand-pull small quantities. Ongoing Maintenance Invasive plants take a minimum of three to five years of active management to reach a level of successful control. After the treatments of the third season, the management plan should be assessed and re-evaluated. If land management treatments have been successful, only monitoring and hand removal will be required to keep species from being reintroduced. Season 3 8 APPENDIX Invasive Plant Management Protocol Invasive Plant Management Protocols are designed to maximize the effectiveness of treatments and minimize disturbance to natural resources through mechanical removal, hand removal, or selective herbicide application where necessary. Appropriately timed treatments are based on individual plant life cycles, growing seasons, and levels of infestation. A program of selective herbicide application will be instituted during time periods when the plants will translocate the herbicide most efficiently to destroy root materials. As the carbohydrate transfer is dictated primarily by weather, the management timeline is specified by season only, necessitating field expertise to initiate timely management procedures. Please reference the Three Year Land Management Timeline for specific treatment times. The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) is responsible for classifying plants as invasive in Massachusetts. The plant species listed below include their invasive status as defined by MIPAG. Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) poses a serious threat to native plant communities due to its high reproductive rate, long- range dispersal mechanisms, and the ability to root-sucker. Vines of this plant species also have the ability to aggressively wrap around and grow over other vegetation strangling mature trees. Even entire plant communities can be over-topped and shaded out by the vine’s rapid growth. It is most effectively controlled using a cut-and-wipe method of herbicide application with an ultra-low volume Triclopyr- based herbicide. A low-volume foliar spray or a basal bark treatment is also very effective. When the vines of bittersweet are intertwined with native trees they should be treated and left in place until desiccated to avoid damaging the tree. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a biennial that thrives in shady conditions and can rapidly invade a woodland understory through prolific seed dispersal. An effective control method, if undertaken consistently, is hand pulling of garlic mustard in early spring before the plant flowers. Because garlic mustard remains green when most native plants are still dormant, targeted foliar herbicide application using a low-concentration Glyphosate-based herbicide in late fall through the early spring, are effective in controlling this plant while limiting potential damage to dormant native plants. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) is a tree native to coastal areas of Japan and South Korea. It has become a popular horticultural tree for windbreaks and use in coastal landscapes in America. This species can be managed by mechanical removal if soil disturbance is of minimal concern. A cut and wipe application of Glyphosate-based herbicide can also be utilized to minimize soil disturbance. Follow-up management of newly germinating pines should be conducted using the cut and wipe method of herbicide application or hand removal, if limiting the use of herbicides is preferred. (MIPAG Listed Likely Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List). Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is a highly adaptable perennial vine or shrub that can grow in full sun or full shade and thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including upland, wetland, and coastal habitats. The plant’s aggressive growth habit forms impenetrable thickets, allowing it to crowd out native vegetation. Birds help disperse the prolific amount of seeds Multiflora rose produces. Mechanically removal is recommended if conditions allow. If soil disturbance must be minimized, a cut and wipe or low-volume foliar treatment with a Triclopyr-based herbicide should be used. Regular hand pulling of juvenile plants and spot herbicide treatments are also recommended for persistent re-sprouts. (MIPAG Listed Invasive) Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), although a nuisance to people, is a native plant with high wildlife value. The vines form berries in late summer that persist into the winter, providing many songbirds and other wildlife a food source when resources are scarce. Nonetheless Poison ivy can be an aggressive plant of woodlands, wetlands, and disturbed landscapes. Selective management of this species within the areas of invasive plant removal is important so that the ivy does not overwhelm and impede other native plants from establishing. (Not a State-Listed invasive). Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)is an aggressive perennial vine native to Asia. It rapidly spreads into a variety of habitats, including wetlands, uplands, and edge habitats. This vine can form dense mats that climb over and shade out existing native plant communities. In addition, birds spread the large amount of seed produced by the vine. The most effective management includes a herbicide treatment, followed by careful removal of the dense mat of vines to release any existing native vegetation. Regular hand pulling or treatment of juvenile plants should be part of the maintenance of the project to block re-introduction of invasive vine. (MIPAG Listed Likely Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List). Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium) is a ubiquitous garden escapee that can be particularly aggressive in heavier soils and areas adjacent to wetlands. Mature plants annually produce hundreds of viable seedlings that spread the species rapidly through a variety of habitats. Plants up to 4-inch basal caliper can be mechanically uprooted. A cut-stump herbicide application is the most effective treatment method for these species when the basal diameter exceeds 4 inches. (MIPAG Listed Likely Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List) Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa) iis regarded as a common feature of New England’s beaches, but people introduced this plant to the region in the 1770s from Asia. People commonly planted it for its showy flowers, salt tolerance, drought resistance, and perception as an effective erosion control plant. In fact, rugosa rose is less effective than native coastal plants at preventing erosion, as its prolific growth habit shades out more effective erosion control plants. The most effective management is mechanical removal. If soil disturbance must be minimized, use a cut and wipe or low-volume foliar treatment with a Triclopyr-based herbicide. To stop the reintroduction of rugosa, hand-pulling and targeted spot treatments can be used. (not a State-Listed invasive) 9 Shrub Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii & bella) poses a major threat to native plant communities. This species aggressively out-competes native shrubs in the edge habitat and woodland understory. Shrub honeysuckle can invade a wide variety of native habitats, with or with no previous disturbance. According to vegetation management guidelines published by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, shrub honeysuckle is suspected of producing allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. If conditions allow, mechanical removal is the recommended management strategy because this plant has a relatively shallow root system. If soil disturbance must be minimized, use a cut and wipe or low-volume foliar treatment with a Triclopyr-based herbicide. To stop the reintroduction of honeysuckle, hand-pulling and targeted spot treatments can be used. (MIPAG Listed Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List) Vine Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an aggressive perennial vine that thrives in a range of conditions, including full sun and full shade. This invasive species has several advantages over native plants species, including high seed production rates and persistent leaves that allow photosynthesis after surrounding deciduous vegetation becomes dormant. These advantages allow the vine to form dense mats that out-compete native vegetation. An herbicide treatment is the most effective method to control the vine. The persistent leaves can be used to an advantage, allowing for an application of Glyphosphate-based herbicide when other deciduous plants are dormant. (MIPAG Listed Invasive)Plant Inventory PLANT INVENTORY WITHIN PROJECT AREA Native species: Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Poison-Ivy Toxicodendron radicans Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Invasive and Non-Native species: Asiatic Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Garlic-mustard Alliaria petiolata Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergii Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Night Shade Atropa belladonna Porcelainberry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Privet Ligustrum spp. Rambling Rose Rosa luciae Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa Shrub Honeysuckle Lonicera maakii-morrowii Vine Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Definitions 1. Native plants: A native (indigenous) species is one that occurs in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human actions. Native plants suited for our coastal areas bind sediments with their fibrous roots. Grasses and forbs create a groundcover that not only stabilize sediments, but improve the quality of wildlife habitat and slow water runoff. Many invasive plants lack fibrous root systems and often have allelopathic chemicals which inhibit the growth of surrounding vegetation, thus creating areas of bare earth which lead to faster rates of erosion, decreased wildlife habitat quality, and increased storm water runoff. The loss of native vegetation to invasive plant species degrades wetlands and public interests (as stated below), and decreases the diversity of the biological community. 2. Invasive Plants: As defined by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, invasive plants are non-native species that have spread into native plant systems, causing economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and dominating and/or disrupting those native systems. Invasive plant’s biology and physiology equip them with the means to out-compete native plants, disrupting native plant communities, and compromising the integrity of that ecosystem. Invasive plant species can alter hydrological patterns, soil chemistry, moisture holding capacity and can accelerate erosion. References Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) (2005). Strategic Recommendations for Managing Invasive Plants in Massachusetts. Retrieved from https://www.massnrc.org/ mipag/docs/strategic_plan_final_042005.pdf Hutchinson, M. (1992). Vegetation Management Guideline:Round-leaved Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.) Natural Areas Journal, 12(3)(161). Retrieved from http://www.naturalareas.org/docs/53NAJ1203_161.pdf Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council (2003). Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual: Bush Honeysuckle. Retrieved from https://www.se-eppc.org/manual/bushhoney. html Bravo, M. (2005). Japanese Honeysuckle, Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group, Least Wanted: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas. Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group. Retrieved from https://www.invasive. org/alien/fact/loja1.htm Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council (2003). Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual: Multiflora Rose. Retrieved from https://www.se-eppc.org/manual/multirose.