HomeMy WebLinkAboutOSC Cover Letter Smiths Creek CPA 10.28.2024mhr
October 25, 2024
Lev Malakoff, Chair
Town of Barnstable, Open Space Commitee
367 Main Street,
Hyannis, MA 02601
RE: REQUEST FOR LETTER OF SUPPORT - SMITHS CREEK LAND PROTECTION PROJECT
Dear Mr. Malakoff,
On behalf of the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust. Inc. (Orenda), we respec�ully ask that the Open Space
Commitee review the atached informa�on on the Smiths Creek Land Protec�on Project at their
November 4, 2024 mee�ng. The Smiths Creek Land Protec�on Project includes the purchase of 5.5 acres
of undeveloped land at 564 and 0 Main Street in West Barnstable (Assessors Map 133, Parcel 011 and Map
157, Parcel 004-002).
The extended Rice/Hinckley family has owned this property for more than 100 years. In 1997 the Hinckleys
donated a conserva�on restric�on on the adjoining 16.8 acres to The Trustees of Reserva�ons. The family
did not want to see the 5.5 acres on the creek developed and approached Orenda in early 2024 to see if a
conserva�on bargain sale could be nego�ated. In June 2024, a purchase agreement was signed for
$400,000 for the two parcels. Orenda hopes to raise the purchase price from a combina�on of privately
raised funds, a state Conserva�on Partnership grant (awarded in October 2024), and funding from the
Barnstable Community Preserva�on Fund. A June 2025 closing is an�cipated in compliance with the
Conserva�on Partnership Grant Program and the landowners’ wishes. Our partner The Compact of Cape
Cod Conserva�on Trusts, Inc. is prepared to co-hold the required conserva�on restric�on (CR) with the
Town of Barnstable and conduct the annual monitoring required under the CR.
A�er the parcel is purchased, Orenda will allow public access, but not develop a formal trail system, owing
to the wetland and fragile nature of the parcel. Parking on the parcel is not feasible, owing to the busy
traffic on Route 6A and lack of road shoulder. Orenda does provide limited parking and trail access at its
Wyman Sanctuary at the end of nearby Meadow Lane.
The premises is a significant parcel for both wildlife habitat and water protec�on. All of the property’s land
lies within 300 feet of freshwater and �dal wetlands, including 900 feet of streambank on Smiths Creek.
This land purchase will protect the coast from another sep�c system, whose leachate would contribute
nitrogen to the harbor and cause eutrophica�on and possible algal blooms.
The Massachusets Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program has recorded one Threatened
vascular plant on or near the property. While we do not know for certain, the Salt Reed-Grass is a rare
plant some�mes found along the edge of brackish marshes like this one around Cape Cod Bay. Natural
Heritage has also included all of the property within the BioMap, meaning it has top significance on a
statewide basis for its ability to help support rare and exemplary habitats. Smiths Creek is part of the Tern
Foraging Area of Barnstable Harbor. Common, least and arc�c terns are Species of Special Concern in
Massachusets.
Orenda supports a major nes�ng habitat for the Threatened Diamondback Terrapin at the mouth of Smiths
Creek at the end of Meadow Lane off Route 6A. In 2023, volunteers provided daily supervision of the
nes�ng plots. Twenty-four nests were protected and 75 hatchlings were counted. The hatchlings that
survive the winter will help to repopulate Barnstable Harbor with this rare species.
We appreciate your considera�on of providing a leter in support of the Community Preserva�on Act
funding for the project and approval of the Conserva�on Restric�on, subject to approval by the Secretary
of Energy and Environmental Affairs, who may make minor revisions thereto. Assistant Town Atorney Kate
Connolly has reviewed the CR as writen.
We look forward to answering any ques�ons you may have. If you require any addi�onal informa�on in
advance of your November 4th mee�ng, please reach out to Mark Robinson at The Compact of Cape
Cod Conserva�on Trusts, Inc. at 508 694 7415 or mark@thecompact.net. Mark is assis�ng Orenda with
our CPA applica�on.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Morast
President
cc. Lindsey Counsell, CPC Chair
P.O. Box 669, West Barnstable MA 02668 508-362-4798 www.orendalandtrust.org