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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBarnstable - NOI - Herlihy Family Limited Parntership - 103 Blantyre Avenue LMPLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN 103 Blantyre Avenue, Centerville MA August 30, 2022 TMTM INTRODUCTION This Land Management Plan (LMP) accompanies a Notice of Intent (NOI) filing for vegetation management to remove State-listed invasive, non-native, and aggressive plant species and planting of appropriate native species. Proposed vegetation management activities will occur within the buffer to the Edge of Pond and within NHESP mapped habitat. PROJECT GOALS The goal presented in this LMP is the restoration of native vegetation to areas of the property currently degraded by State-listed invasive and non-native plant species. Restoring native plant communities will result in greater biodiversity, improved habitat for wildlife, and improve 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. EXISTING CONDITIONS The property abuts the southern shore of Long Pond. The residence and formal landscape are located at the center of the property. An existing low stone retaining wall runs along the edge of Long Pond. The vegetation management project includes two areas of naturalized vegetation beyond the formal landscape. The southern project area is small closed canopy woodlands with a canopy of native oak, black cherry, and American holly. Invasive Norway maple is also present. The understory vegeation is a mixture of mostly burning bush, rhododendron, yew, orange day lily, and other typical garden escapee plant species. Some native arrowwood were identified in this area. An image of this area can be seen at the bottom of page two. The northern project area is also a small closed canopy woodland of native oak, pitch pine, white pine, American holly, and elm. Invasive Norway maple is also present and has begun to further colonize with many saplings identified. The understory vegetation was found to be dominated by State- listed invasive and non-native species. These include burning bush, multiflora rose, shrub honeysuckle Asiatic bittersweet, vinca vine, lily of the valley, and English ivy. Images of this area can be seen on page three. SOUTHERN PROJECT AREA Dense understory vegetation of burning bush, rhododendron, yew, orange day lily, and other typical garden escapee plant species. 2 3 NORTHERN PROJECT AREA Dense understory vegetation of non-native solomn’s seal, vinca vine, lilly of the valley, English ivy and others in areas with lower levels of sunlight. NORTHERN PROJECT AREA Dense cover of multiflora rose, shrub honeysuckle, and Norway maple saplings near the edge of pond where the increased levels of sunlight have allowed the woody invasive plant species to establish. PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES The project goal of restoring native vegetation to areas of the property currently degraded by State-listed invasive and non- native plant species. 1. Vegetation Management: 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 Invasive plant species can cause profound changes to environmental conditions of a site, including soil nutrient levels, sun exposure, increased erosion, and the ability to negatively affect resources for wildlife. For a description of the environmental effects of the non-native and invasive species proposed for removal, refer to the Appendix on page six. Vegetation management will target all State-listed invasive, non-native, and aggressive, including Norway maple, burning bush, multiflora rose, Asiatic bittersweet, vinca vine, lily of the valley, daylily and others approved for management. Plant management treatments will consist of selective herbicide application using the cut and wipe method to treat individual stems. Low-volume foliar application will only be used for stems whose diameter is too small for effective cut and wipe treatment like vinca vine, lily of the valley. Removal of the pre-treated vegetation will include mechanical removal using compact, low ground pressure equipment to remove only root material. All native soils will be left in place. Hand removal is proposed where necessary to protect the existing native vegetation to remain the in the project areas. All herbicide applications will be performed by Massachusetts licensed applicators. The Invasive Plant Management Protocols in the Appendix on page six include species-specific information and management strategies. Trees within the project areas and the willows and red maples along the bottom of the low stone wall will be evaluated and pruning activities, such as the removal of dead and dying branches, crossing branches, and thinning of limbs will be performed as needed. These practices will reduce density, which reduces wind resistance, subsequent storm damage, and increases the solar exposure in the woodland. Immediately following vegetation management, all bare soils will be seeded with the native grasses species listed on the Restoration Plan and covered in a biodegradable mulch product. Biodegradable erosion control blanketing will be installed on slopes, where necessary, to protect against erosion and temporarily hold mineral soils in place until the root systems of 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. 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. Fall/Winter • Pre-treat Multiflora rose, Norway maple, Asiatic bittersweet, English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, and other species approved for removal with an herbicide appropriate to the plant species. Treatment methods, depending on species, size, and environmental conditions, will consist of cut and wipe method to treat individual stems and low-volume foliar application or species whose stems are too small for effective use of the cut and wipe method. • Where feasible, mechanically uproot or root grapple pre- treated vegetation using compact, low ground pressure equipment with care to remove only root material, leaving native soils in place. Where necessary, hand removal of vegetation will be performed. • Immediately seed any exposed soils with specified seed mix and cover managed areas with a biodegradable mulch product to facilitate rapid colonization of exposed mineral soils. Install biodegradable erosion control blankets on Coastal Bank, if necessary, to stabilize the soils. General Notes: • Herbicides used are to be applied by knowledgeable, licensed individuals only. • All herbicide applications will avoid non-target native species. • All restoration measures shown in this document to be overseen by a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP). THREE YEAR LAND MANAGEMENT TIMELINE Season 1 4 5 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 foliar 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. • Annual evaluation of tree health will be conducted by a certified arborist. The Conservation Administrator will be consulted in the event of any necessary tree management. 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 foliar 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. 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 foliar 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. • Annual evaluation of tree health will be conducted by a certified arborist. The Conservation Administrator will be consulted in the event of any necessary tree management. Ongoing Maintenance After three seasons of management, the project 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. Invasive plants generally take a minimum of three to five years of active management to reach a level of successful control. Season 2 Season 3 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. All plant species listed in the protocol include the invasive status as defined by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG). Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) poses a great threat to the preservation of native plant communities. Asiatic bittersweet has been officially classified as an invasive plant in Massachusetts because it has the ability to overwhelm open fields and forests alike, forming dense stands of the aggressive vine. Asiatic bittersweet is treated by hand cutting stems and immediately wiping the stem with an ultra-low volume treatment of Triclopyr-based herbicide. A low volume foliar spray or a basal bark treatment is also very effective. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), also known as ‘Burning Bush’, was a popular ornamental shrub to plant in the landscape because of its brilliant red fall foliage. Winged euonymus has escaped from cultivation and has become a problem in many parts of the state. Winged Euonymus will tolerate full shade and colonizes by root suckers and spreads by seed. Mechanical removal is usually effective in areas where feasible and the size of the plant allows. A cut and wipe application of Glyphosate- based herbicide may be necessary in areas where mechanical removal is not an option. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is currently scattered throughout the ground layer and understory. Taking advantage of its persistent fall leaves, control should consist of a late fall application of Glyphosate-based herbicide to eradicate this weed from the plant community. Vine honeysuckle is opportunistic and will colonize managed areas if it is left untreated. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Privet (Ligustrum spp.) is a ubiquitous garden escapee that can be particularly aggressive in heavier soils and adjacent to wetlands. Mature plants annually produce hundreds of viable seedlings which 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 most effective treatment method for these species when the basal diameter exceeds 4 inches. (MIPAG Listed Likely Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List). English Ivy (Hedera helix) is an aggressive evergreen vine that is often used as an ornamental groundcover. It has the potential to completely out-compete all low-growing vegetation where it is growing. English ivy can also grow into trees where it will cover the trunk and branches, excluding light from the leaves and killing the branches from the ground up. The tree eventually becomes susceptible to blow over due to its weakened state and the added weight of the vine. Mechanical uprooting followed by treatments of a Triclopyr-based herbicide is the preferred treatment method for this plant. (Not a State-Listed invasive). Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a bieannial that thrives in shady conditions and can rapidly invade the woodland understory through prolific seed dispersal. Garlic mustard can be hand-pulled in early spring before the plant flowers can be an effective control method if undertaken consistently. Because garlic mustard is remains green at times of the year when most native plants are still dormant, targeted foliar herbicide application using a low concentration Glyphosate solution, in late fall through the early spring, are effective in controlling this plant while limiting potential damage to dormant native plants. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is a species that aggressively out-competes other native shrubs in the edge habitat, in the open, or even in wooded areas regardless of sunlight levels. According to the National Parks Service Plant Conservation Alliance: “Multiflora rose is extremely prolific and can form impenetrable thickets that exclude native plant species. This exotic rose readily invades open woodlands, forest edges, successional fields, savannas, and prairies that have been subjected to land disturbance.” Multi-flora rose should be mechanically uprooted if conditions allow; where this is not possible 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). Vinca (Vinca major) is an aggressive evergreen vine that is often used as an ornamental groundcover. It’s tendency to escape into neighboring edge habitat, creating a dense ground cover, means that it can exclude other native ground covers and low- growing vegetation. Mechanical uprooting followed by winter treatments of a Triclopyr-based herbicide is the preferred treatment method for this plant. (Not a State-Listed invasive). Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is a significant invasive tree species observed throughout Massachusetts. This species’ dense foliage and understory growth habit can significantly impact native forest understory stratification. This tree spreads rapidly at maturity because of the large volume of seed that 6 are produced. A cut and wipe treatment with Glyphosate- based herbicide is recommended, with follow up treatments for suckering regrowth. (MIPAG Listed Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List). Orange Day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva) was brought to North America from Europe via Asia in the 17th century. It is a very popular ornamental plant due to its showy flowers, hardiness, and ability to spread. This ability to spread consequently allows the orange day-lily to establish dense patches that displace native plants in field, meadows, floodplains, moist woodland, and forest edges. Orange day-lily can be controlled by mechanical removal with special care taken to remove all root tuber or the day-lily will easily re-invade the area. Foliar treatment can also be used to manage this species. (Not a MIPAG Listed Invasive) Plant Inventory Native species: American Holly Ilex opaca Black Cherry Prunus serotina Black Oak Quercus velutina Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Goldenrod Solidago spp. Pitch Pine Pinus rigida Poison-Ivy Toxicodendron radicans Red Maple Acer rubrum Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia White Pine Pinus strobus Williow Salix spp. Invasive and Non-Native species: Apple Malus spp Asiatic Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Burning Bush Euonymus alatus Day-lilly Hemerocallis spp. English Ivy Hedera helix Garlic-mustard Alliaria petiolata Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Lilac Syringa vulgaris Norway Maple Acer platanodies Privet Ligustrum spp. Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. Vinca vine Vinca minor Yew Taxus spp. 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 Britton, N. L., & Brown, H. C. (1913). An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada (2nd ed., Vol. 3). Charles Scribner’s Sons. Hutchison, Max. “Vegetation Management Guideline: Round- leaved Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatas Thunb.).” Introduction to Vegetation Management Guide. 6 February, 1990. Illinois Natural History Survey. 16 Nov. 2011. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 24(5), 891-904. doi: 10.1023/A:1022377618562. 7