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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBarnstable - NOI - 333 Seapuit Road Realty Trust - 333 359 Seapuit Road Land Management PlanLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN 333 & 359 Seapuit Road | Osterville, MA November 1, 2023 TMTM 2 This page intentionally left blank 3 INTRODUCTION This Land Management Plan (LMP) accompanies a Notice of Intent (NOI) filing for construction activities and vegetation management. The vegetation management will include the removal of invasive, non-native, and aggressive plant species and the restoration of appropriate native plant communities. Proposed vegetation management activities will occur on the Coastal Bank, within BVW and LSCSF, and within the buffer zone to BVW. Resource areas on the property include Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW), Coastal Bank by the State definition, and Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF). PROJECT GOALS The goal of the project is conservation of the existing native vegetation and restoration of appropriate native plant communities to enhance plant species biodiversity and pollinator benefits. This action will further enhance and improve the vegetated buffer between the resource area and upland portions of the site. Restoring a native plant community 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. 4 BOG POND 100’ Bu f fer50’ Bu f ferAE EL 12 ’ F lood Zone BVWThe numbered photo points and directions correspond to the numbered images on page five. 3 1 2 AREA DIAGRAM EXISTING CONDITIONS The properties are located at the end of Seapuit Road and are bordered by Bog Pond to the north, and Dam Pond to the west. These parcels have a unique history, as they are located within the former Seapuit Golf Links. The links were in operation from 1892 to 1942, making it one of the oldest golf links in the country. 333 Seapuit Road contained the fairway and green for hole #1 of the course, which is located south of the proposed project area. The vegetation within the proposed project areas on 333 and 359 Seapuit Road has been divided into three color overlays in the Area Diagram below. Each of these vegetation types is described on page five, with an accompanying photo that represents the area. 5 1 IMAGE 1 - An area of naturalized vegetation is located along the edge of Bog Pond. A number of valuable native plant species were found colonizing the area. These included trees and shrubs like American holly, oak, black cherry, bayberry and clethra. In areas that lacked a tree canopy, herbaceous species like cattail, ferns, and goldenrods were found in higher quantities. Aggressive native vines like grape and briar were dominating much of the area. The plant community is degraded by several State-listed invasive and non-native plant species that include grey willow, multiflora rose, burning bush, glossy false buckthorn, Asiatic bittersweet, and vine honeysuckle. 2 IMAGE 2 - An area of maintained landscape runs along the landward edge of the naturalized vegetation. Most of this area is vegetated by mown grasses, as seen in the photo. An existing gazebo and footpath to the pond are located at the northern edge of the maintained landscape. Several non-native Japanese andromeda and other ornamental landscape plants are found near the gazebo. 3 IMAGE 3 - A closed canopy woodland is located north of the existing footpath. The plant species in this area are predominantly native and include trees like oak, birch, pitch pine, and white pine. The diverse understory vegetation contains shrubs like clethra, bayberry, arrowwood, black huckleberry, and hazelnut. Some non-native species like rhododendron, beautybush, and vinca vine are found in the woodland at low densities. 6 PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES The project goals will be met through the following activities: 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 enhance the project area with a higher diversity of native species that will provide additional pollinator benefits. Vegetation Management Invasive plant species can cause significant changes to the environmental conditions of a site, such as soil nutrient RESTORATION AREA DIAGRAM levels, sun exposure, increased erosion, and the ability to adversely 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 10. Vegetation management will target all invasive, non-native, and aggressive species, including Asiatic bittersweet, glossy false buckthorn, grey willow, vine honeysuckle, multiflora rose, English ivy, and all other plant species 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 species like vine honeysuckle and English ivy, BOG POND 100’ Bu f fer50’ Bu f ferAE (E lev 12) BVWMITIGATION PROJECT AREA - 11,800 SF Invasive plant management, conservation of existing native vegetation, and supplemental planting of native speceis to enhance and restore a native plant community . Invasive plant management and planting/seeding to convert area to a meadow of native grasses and flowering plant species. 7 which has stems with too small of a diameter for effective cut and wipe treatment. Following pre-treatment, the targeted vegetation will be mechanically removed where feasible and hand removal within the BVW, and where necessary to protect existing native vegetation and stability of soils in sloped areas. Where invasive vines, such as Asiatic bittersweet, are intertwined with viable native species, they will be treated and left in place until desiccated, then removed in order to avoid damaging the native vegetation. The vegetation management plan does not propose functional eradication of aggressive species such as grape and greenbriar, they should be reduced to encourage the growth and establishment of other native plant species to increase biodiversity. Poison ivy will also be managed 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 management strategies. Invasive plant management protocols maximize the effectiveness of management treatments and minimize disturbance to natural resources and non-target plants by using selective herbicide application methods combined with hand and machine removal. Native shrubs that have been degraded or otherwise negatively affected by invasive species within the project area will be regeneratively pruned. This proposed restoration technique restores native plants to a natural healthy branching structure and will result in increased biomass of the subject plant over subsequent years. 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 native grasses can establish and stabilize soils. Native Plant Restoration After invasive species removal has reached approximately 85% eradication, the project areas will be planted with the native species as specified on the Restoration Plan. 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 that will benefit pollinators by providing food sources and host plants that do not currently existing within the project area. Meadow Creation The areas shown in green on the Restoration Area Diagram are proposed native meadows. The seeding and planting of native grasses and forbs will provide an increase of forage and host plant species to the local pollinator habitat. This is accomplished by establishing a wide variety of flowering native plant species that can offer nectar and pollen over a greater span of time during the season, while offering a diversity of flower colors and plant heights to encourage the greatest numbers and diversity of pollinators. Resources for this information included The Pollinator Biology and Habitat, New England Biology Technical Note and species lists from the Xerces Society for Invertebrates Conservation. The diagram on pages eight and nine depicts the diversity in the flowering times and colors of the plant species selected for the project. The diagram also lists the other wildlife benefit that will be provided through the establishment of the native plant species within the mitigation area. The Town of Barnstable has joined the National Wildlife Federation Mayors Monarch Pledge, which promotes healthy land management for monarch butterflies. This project supports the program by planting and protecting milkweed species that serve as important forage and host plants for migrating monarch butterflies along their long migration route. 8 ForbsGrassesJuniperis virginanaTree ShrubCRINKLE HAIR GRASS Deschampsia flexuosa PENN SEDGE Carex pensylvanica NovMayAprilMarchEcofunctionSpeciesJuneJulyOctSeptAug PITCH PINE Pinus rigida TUPELO Nyssa sylvatica OAK Quercus spp. Ecological Function Legend Ecological Function of Existing Native Plant Species sequesters carbon AMERICAN HOLLY Ilex opaca BLACK CHERRY Prunus serotina EASTERN RED CEDAR * Information on blooming and fruiting times obtained from Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder data base and Lady Bird Johnson Wild- flower Center Native Plant Information Network . Information on ecological functions obtained from The Living Landscape by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy and Illinois Wildflowers.com. food for breeding birds food for wintering birds cover for wildlife food for fall migrating birds nesting sites for birds food for spring migrating birds nectar producer food for mammals pollen producer flowering time food for caterpillars fruiting time Native Plant Ecological Functions The term native plant ecological function refers to the principal set of ecological roles performed by each plant species in its ecosystem. The proposed native shrubs, forbs, and grasses can provide supplemental functions to the existing native species, and a higher level of ecological functions than those provided by the invasive plant species proposed for removal. Restoration of the native plant species can improve the ecological function benefits provided to wildlife. These benefits include increased: cover from predators, nesting sites, year round food sources, and new sources of nectar, food, and pollen for native insects. In addition to providing ecological benefits to wildlife, the restoration of the native plant species will also function to stabilize the coastal bank. The following graphs represent the ecological functions of the existing native plant species in the project area and the subsequent increase in ecological functions from the proposed native species. BAYBERRY Morella caroliniensis CLETHRA Clethra alnifolia LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY Vaccinium angustifolium HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY Vaccinium corymbosum ARROWWOOD Viburnum dentatum BIRCH Betula populifolia AMERICAN HAZELNUTCorylus americana FOX GRAPE Vitis labrusca RED FESCUE Festuca rubra SWAMP ROSE Rosa palustris GOLDENROD Solidego spp. BORADLEAF-CATTAILTypha latigolia 9ShrubForbsGrasses and SedgesGrasses and FernsFOX SEDGE Carex vulpinoidea LITTLE BLUESTEM PURPLE LOVE GRASS Schizachyrium scopariumSchizachyrium scoparium Eragrostis spectabilis BROOM SEDGE Andropogon virginicus Ecofunction EcofunctionEcofunction EcofunctionEcofunction Species Species SpeciesSpecies NovMayAprilMarchJuneJulyOctSeptAug Ecological Function of Proposed Native Plant Species SWEETFERN Comptonia peregrina WHITE WOOD ASTER Eurybia divaricata BLACK-EYED SUSANRudbeckia fulgida BROWNEYED SUSAN Rudbeckia triloba BUTTERFLY WEEDAsclepias tuberosa EARLY GOLDENRODSolidago juncea NEW ENGLAND ASTERSymphyotrichum n. PARTRIDGE PEA Chamaecrista fasciculata PURPLE CONEFLOWER Echinacea purpurea UPLAND BENTGRASS Agrostis perennas HAY-SCENTED FERN Dennstaedtia punctilobula INTERRUPTED FERNOsmunda claytoniana BONESETEupatorium perfoliatum WILD LUPINE Lupinus perennis WHITE BEARDTONGUE Penstemon digtalis LITTLE JOE PYE WEEDEupatorium dubium FLAT TOPPED ASTERAster umbellatus COMMON MILKWEEDAsclepias syriaca CARDINAL FLOWERLobelia cardinalis SWAMP ROSE MALLOWHibiscus moscheutos SWAMP MILKWEEDAsclepias incarnata CRANESBILLGeranium maculatum ANISE HYSSOPAgastache foeniculum BLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD Solidego caesia BROAD LEAF MOUNTAIN Pycnanthemum muticum COMMON YARROWAchillea milefolium EASTERN SHOWY ASTER Eurybia spectanbilis HEATH ASTERAster ericodies MOUNTAIN MINT Pycanathemum virginanum 10 Winter/Spring • Pre-treat plant species approved for removal with an herbicide appropriate to the plant species using cut and wipe method to treat individual stems or low-volume foliar application will only be used for stems whose diameter is too small for effective cut and wipe treatment. The pretreated vegetation will be removed and the project area immediately seeded with the specified seed mix. Install biodegradable erosion control blankets, only where needed, 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. Summer/Fall • Monitor plant response to earlier management treatments and calibrate follow-up treatments accordingly. • 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. • 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 restoration measures shown in this document to be overseen by a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP). 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. • 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. • 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 11 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. • 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. • 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 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. Invasive plants generally take a minimum of three to five years of active management to reach a level of successful control. Season 3 12 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). Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) was a popular ornamental shrub due to its brilliant red fall foliage. It has escaped from cultivation and now occurs in multiple habitats throughout the state. Burning bush reproduces aggressively by root suckers and seed dispersal. The plant will tolerate full shade and form dense thickets in woodland understories. Mechanical removal is usually effective where feasible. A cut-and-wipe application of Glyphosate-based herbicide may be necessary in areas where mechanical removal is not an option such, as a dense woodland understory. (MIPAG Listed Invasive). Green Briar, Cat Briar, and Fox Grape (Similax rotundifolia, glauca) (Vitis spp.) are aggressive native vines that play a functional habitat role, serving as cover, a food source, and nesting sites for some animal species. These species have an aggressive growth rate, allowing them to colonize recently managed areas rapidly and hinder restoration efforts. Selective management of these vines should be part of a maintenance plan to prevent excessive colonization and loss of the targeted native plant community being restored. (Not a State-Listed invasive). 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) 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) Vinca Vine (Vinca major) is an aggressive evergreen vine that often functions as an ornamental groundcover. The plant tends to escape into neighboring edge habitats, creating a dense ground cover that excludes 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) Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) is shrub that occurs along roadsides, coastal sites, disturbed sites, pastures, and dry scrubland. Its nitrogen fixing ability allows it to compete successfully on nutrient-poor, dry, sandy soils. It is seen as an ecological threat to native grasslands of Massachusetts as well as the globally rare sandplain grasslands of the coast and islands. The most effective management is herbicide treatment, but hand pulling can be used to protect surround existing native plants. (MIPAG Listed Likely Invasive, Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List) Glossy False Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is a native to Eurasia and was commonly planted as a hedge and for wildlife benefit in the United States until its invasive tendencies became apparent. This invasive shrub leafs out early in the spring and retains its leaves late into fall, increasing its energy production and shading out native plants. 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). 13 Plant Inventory Native species: American Hazelnut Corylus americana Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum Bayberry Morella caroliniensis Blackberry Rubus spp. Black Cherry Prunus serotina Black Oak Quercus velutina Broad-leaved Cattail Typha latifolia Clethra Clethra alnifolia Crinkle Hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Goldenrod Solidago spp. Greenbriar Smilax spp. Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Fox Grape Vitis labrusca Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica Pitch Pine Pinus rigida Poison-Ivy Toxicodendron radicans Red Fescue Festuca rubra Swamp Rose Rosa palustris Trailing-arbutus Epigaea repens Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia White Oak Quercus alba Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens Invasive and Non-Native species: Apple Malus spp Asiatic Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Beauty Bush Kolkwitzia amabilis Burning Bush Euonymus alatus Glossy False Buckthorn Frangula alnus Grey Willow Salix cinerea Japanese Andromeda Pieris japonica Rhododendron Rhododendron spp. Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius Small-leafed Linden Tilia cordata Vinca Vine Vinca minor Vine Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora 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. 3. Restorative pruning Restorative pruning is a process of pruning older and/or damaged branches, over time, to allow for the regrowth of new healthy branching. During the first season, one third of the improperly pruned or topped branches are proposed to be pruned, which will promote young vigorous growth from the base. In the second season, if necessary, an additional one third of the previously topped branches will be pruned to promote additional new growth. Following the restorative pruning of the shrub in the second season, the native shrubs will be allowed to grow to their natural heights. Gray Willow (Salix cinerea) is native to Europe and Western Asia and outcompete native willows for the same wetland niche. Case studies on Cape Cod have observed this species crowding out native species in pond and dune swale habitats. The most effective management is a cut and wipe application with a Glyphosate-based herbicide immediately after cutting. (MIPAG Listed Invasive).