South Hadley Ecological Assessment The Conservation Commission of South Hadley Gail Berrigan, Eliza Cress, Patty O’Neill The Conway School Winter 2018
Acknowledgments The authors of this document would like to thank the South Hadley Conservation Commission for the opportunity to work on this project and would also like to thank the faculty and staff of the Conway School for their support and guidance throughout the process. A special thanks to Anne Capra for her role as client adviser.
Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................ v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 1 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY, PEOPLE, AND PLACE ..................................... 3 CHAPTER 3: ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE ................ 7 CHAPTER 4: ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE RIVER & OTHER WATERS .............................................................................................11 CHAPTER 5: ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS................................................23 CHAPTER 6: LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS .................47 CHAPTER 7: SUMMARY OF WATERSHED CHARACTER ZONES & DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS.. ...............................................................55 CHAPTER 8: MATRIX TOOL FOR PARCEL ASSESSMENT....................58 CHAPTER 9: RECOMMENDATIONS & VISION FOR EACH WATERSHED.. ...........................................................................67 CHAPTER 10: STRATEGIC APPROACHES & NEXT STEPS...................73 REFERENCES......................................................................................77
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary The Town of South Hadley, Massachusetts, is fortunate to have an abundance of water resources and natural resources of distinction. Streams thread east-west through forested lands in the northern end of town; scenic vistas of the Connecticut River attract both hikers and residents; and lakes and vernal pools provide rare aquatic habitats and cooling respites in the summer. An aquifer underlying South Hadley provides drinking water, and a rare wetland complex in the southeastern corner is notable for its ecological significance. There is also the Connecticut River. Running the entire length of the western boundary of town, the river has supported South Hadley through its initial settlement as a fishing village into subsequent periods of agricultural and industrial growth. To the north, the town is bounded by the Mount Holyoke Range, one of the most ecologically significant areas in Massachusetts, home to numerous plant and animal species and rare habitats. Today, the water quality is threatened in three of the Town’s major streams: Bachelor Brook in the north; Stony Brook in the central region; and Buttery Brook in the southern reaches of town. The loss in water quality threatens the ecological integrity of these resources and their potential to support recreational and other uses. One of the streams is located in a flood zone in the most urban area of town. In an era of more extreme storms and flood events, the potential impacts from flooding have increased. Even more importantly, pressures to develop existing open spaces are growing in the town. Impacts on streams from development and related infrastructure are likely to further impair and degrade water quality unless deliberate action is taken. The South Hadley Conservation Commission is charged with protecting the Town’s natural resources. Some of the tools at their disposal include acquisition of lands and enforcement of local and state wetlands protection laws. The Commission reviews and approves development permits and is in a position to advise the town to acquire parcels of significant conservation value. In order to help the South Hadley Conservation Commission in its mission to conserve land through acquisition, this document presents a tool to quantify the ecological value of individual parcels of land. A set of criteria have been identified in this assessment and
applied to all currently unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels of land along or adjacent to the Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook streams. The results rank existing parcels in terms of their conservation value, according to the following criteria: • forest cover • agricultural land • NHESP habitat • CORE habitat • Critical Natural Landscape habitat • 500-year flood zone • aquifer protection district • wetland or stream • 100’ buffer (around all bodies of water) • within a quarter mile of an existing conservation area
These criteria are incorporated into a matrix tool that can be used in future assessments of any parcel of land in town. The matrix is described in greater detail in Chapter 8. In the 2010 Master Plan, residents of South Hadley expressed their appreciation for the Town’s open space, agricultural history, and scenic views of the Connecticut River and Mount Holyoke Range. The Town’s sustainability goals expressed in the plan include preserving open space and maintaining its legacy of farmland. However, continued residential development throughout South Hadley threatens its ecological integrity and rural character. Currently, the spread of low density, rural, residential development and related infrastructure has a negative impact on stream health, which in turn impairs water quality. Encroaching development is visible throughout South Hadley in the form of active construction of new housing units. Analysis of watershed features, habitat and development identified three distinct character zones within South Hadley. The northern zone, containing Bachelor Brook, is largely undeveloped and contains a great
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deal of valuable and intact habitat. The central zone, containing Stony Brook, is predominantly residential, with business development to the east and undeveloped land to the west with low-density residential development encroaching from the east. The southern zone, containing Buttery Brook, is densely developed with residential, commercial and business use, with very little undeveloped land. In keeping with the community’s desire to maintain water quality; increase accessibility to natural resources; and protect the rural character of the town, this report describes threats to water quality in relation to development as well as strategies and visions for land conservation throughout the three distinct zones of South Hadley.
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Chapter 1: Introduction Initial client request In the winter of 2018, the Conservation Commission of the Town of South Hadley, Massachusetts, approached the Conway School with concerns about the water quality in three local streams. The Commission requested assistance in developing a plan to prioritize undeveloped parcels of land along these three streams in order to mitigate threats from streamside development that may be contributing to water quality degradation. The Conservation Commission has a role in reviewing and approving development permits as part of its mission to promote the conservation of South Hadley’s natural resources; to protect and manage land for conservation and passive recreation; and to administer and enforce state and local wetlands laws. A growing trend of low-density, rural, residential development and related infrastructure threatens the health and integrity of streams, which in turn impairs water quality.
Purpose of this plan This plan will provide assistance and practical tools to support the Commission in its review of development permits by doing the following: • provide an analysis of development patterns in each of the three watersheds; • establish criteria for determining the relative conservation value of undeveloped parcels along three main stream corridors; • describe conditions that both contribute to and detract from stream health and ecological integrity; • examine the causes and potential remedies for poor stream health and related water quality concerns in the town; • make recommendations for how the Conservation Commission might address water resource protection in South Hadley to preserve stream health and protect water quality into the future.
Additionally, this plan provides a conservation methodology to assist the town when it conducts an Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) review and update later this year.
Streams in South Hadley vary in character and quality. Buttery Brook (top) runs through a high-density urban area of town. Bachelor Brook (below) is located in a rural region at the north end of town.
Goals Goals established at the beginning of this project include: • Analyze threats to water quality related to development patterns in three tributary watersheds in South Hadley; • Develop recommendations for how to protect remaining unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels of land along the three stream corridors; • Assess which unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels may have greater priority for conservation. The Commission’s mission is to protect South Hadley’s natural resources.
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The three streams that are the focus of this analysis are Bachelor Brook in the north end of town, Stony Brook in the central region, and Buttery Brook in the south. All three streams are tributaries of the Connecticut River.
Key Questions Three key questions are explored in this analysis: • How to determine the ecological/conservation value of a single parcel of land; • How to evaluate individual parcels of land as part of a regional conservation strategy; • How South Hadley might better protect the ecological integrity of its streams and water resources.
The Conservation Commission has a role in overseeing wetlands and water resources. The most recent Master Plan and OSRP have identified these resources to be of importance to the town’s character and to the well-being of residents. Along with protecting these resources, the town has expressed the desire to improve walkability, especially in the commercial centers of town; increase connectivity between conservation areas; and promote the value of the town’s recreational resources. While the recommendations in this plan follow from an ecological assessment of riparian systems, the conclusions reinforce the Town’s current planning goals and community vision related to improving connectivity and supporting the enhancement and use of its recreational resources.
Bachelor Brook Watershed
SOUTH HADLEY Stony Brook Watershed
Buttery Brook Watershed
Above: The Connecticut River forms the western boundary of the Town of South Hadley. Right: Highlighted areas show the location and extent of the three stream watersheds that are the focus of this study.
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Chapter 2: History, People, and Place History South Hadley’s distinctive scenic and natural resources have long attracted visitors and new residents. The town is bordered by a stretch of the Connecticut River to the west, and framed on the north by the Mount Holyoke Range, a mountain ridge that dominates the skyline for miles around. The area’s earliest inhabitants settled seasonally near a natural falls in the Connecticut River, where a 53’ drop in elevation slowed fish migration upstream and offered bountiful fishing. Further north, archeological evidence indicates agriculture was practiced on floodplains along the banks of the river (MHC Reconnaisance Survey). In 1795, one of the first commercial canals in the U.S. was constructed in South Hadley to provide a water passage for boats traveling past the falls. A century later, construction of a Great Dam on these same falls would link South Hadley with the City of Holyoke across the river, powering the expansion of industrial mills and factories along this stretch of the Connecticut River and supporting a local manufacturing economy until the middle of the twentieth century.
View of the dam on the falls looking northeast from Holyoke to South Hadley with the Mount Holyoke Range in the distance.
In 1837, the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary was founded in South Hadley. It later was reorganized as Mount Holyoke College and today is part of a thriving community of colleges in the region. Students attending any of the schools in the Five College Consortium (Mount Holyoke, Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst) can travel between them by bike, car and bus. Two bridges connect South Hadley with Interstate 91 and the Amtrak train line across the river, providing transportation connections within the
View up the Connecticut River looking north to the Mount Holyoke Range. Photo courtesy of Vermont Cycling Tours.
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South Hadley is located in the Connecticut River Valley ecoregion, a designation that refers to a region that shares similar geography, soils, vegetation, topography and climate (EPA).
Grey shaded area indicates the Connecticut River Valley ecoregion. Blue outline shows portion of the Connecticut River watershed within Massachusetts. The Town of South Hadley (outlined in black) is located in Hampshire County.
valley and to metro regions beyond. Mount Holyoke College was founded in an area historically known as the Town Center, and today it is part of a historic district with well-preserved homes from the eighteenth century. Over the last two centuries, agriculture in South Hadley has included tobacco, grazing, and dairy farming. The legacy of the town’s agricultural past is visible in large farmlands with open pastures and tree-lined streams that meander through fields. Most of these
Elmer Brook crosses Pearl Street in South Hadley and runs through one of the remaining farms in town that preserve its agricultural character.
farms are located in the northern and central regions of town.
People
Mount Holyoke College, founded as the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary by Mary Lyon in 1837, is located in South Hadley.
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Prior to the 1960s, local manufacturing provided jobs to local residents (2010 Master Plan). Today, many residents commute to work outside of town. As of 2010, the population of South Hadley was 17,514, with a
population density of 989.5 people per square mile. In 2005, the median household income was $63,725, lower than the state median of $64,051. Before 1999, the median household income in South Hadley was above the state average (2010 Master Plan).
Place South Hadley sits on 18.4 square miles of land in the Connecticut River ecoregion of western Massachusetts. Along the town’s northern boundary, the Mount Holyoke Range rises abruptly from the river more than 1000’ above sea level. A signature landmark and distinctive feature of the Pioneer Valley, the range affords sweeping views of the Connecticut River and river valley. A summit house built on the peak of Mount Holyoke in 1821 was one of the region’s first tourist attractions. The artist Thomas Cole famously painted the landscape from this vantage point in1835; his painting of “The Oxbow” is considered a masterpiece of the Hudson River School and today hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. To the west, South Hadley is bordered by 6.6 miles of the Connecticut River. Formed nearly 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, the river shaped the landscape of western Massachusetts, from the rich, fertile floodplains along the river, to the rolling hills and terraces in the valley, to the many rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds that weave through the region. For centuries, the river has been used for transportation, trade, fishing, energy, agriculture, industry, recreation, and more. Today it provides an abundance of recreational opportunities, critical habitat for plants and animals, and fresh water supply to more than two mil-
Thomas Cole’s “The Oxbow” features a view of the Connecticut River from the range. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Fossilized dinosaur tracks were discovered in South Hadley by a local farmer in the early 1800’s. Today, at Nash’s Dinosaur Track Quarry, visitors can tour the quarry and still view the 200 million-year-old footprints found at a site not far from Bachelor Brook at the base of the Mount Holyoke Range.
lion people (connecticutriverus). The Connecticut River is fed by several brooks, the largest of which are Bachelor Brook and Stony Brook. Freshwater bodies include several small ponds and reservoirs, including Lithia Springs Reservoir on the range. South Hadley has numerous wetlands, floodplains, and vernal pools. Many of these vernal pools and streams are located on the south slopes of the range (Mount Holyoke Range Planning Unit). The 3,000-acre Mount Holyoke Range State Park, which includes Skinner State Park on the South Hadley-Hadley town line and Mount Tom State Reservation in neighboring Holyoke, offers hiking and biking trails along a 7-mile stretch of the mountain ridge. Together, Mount Tom and the Mount Holyoke Range form an aerial corridor and east-west migratory bird
The same view of the Connecticut River can be enjoyed today from scenic vistas at the summit of Mt. Holyoke and Mt.. Nonotuck.
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A trail map of the 3,000-acre Mount Holyoke Range State Park shows hiking and biking trails and other amenities along a 7-mile stretch of the mountain ridge. The state park encompasses Skinner State Park on the South Hadley-Hadley town line and Mount Tom State Reservation in the neighboring City of Holyoke.
flyway, appreciated by ecologists, botanists, ornithologists, bird watchers and others. The range provides the visual backdrop for the town, and serves as a significant scenic, recreational and natural resource in the valley. Like many towns in the fertile Connecticut River Valley, South Hadley’s rural character stems from centuries of agricultural settlement and use. More recently, it has become increasingly suburban, particularly in the southern half of town. Along its southernmost boundary, the town merges into the commercial-industrial fringes of the neighboring city of Chicopee, just north of Springfield. The southern half of town has seen sustained commercial development in recent decades, and is the site of most of the town’s remaining industrial enterprises.
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Industrial enterprises are concentrated along the southern edge of South Hadley where it borders the city of Chicopee.
Chapter 3: Ecological Assessment of the Range Geology Geologically, the Mount Holyoke Range is unusual, both in terms of rock formation and orientation. Running east to west, it is part of the larger Metacomet Range, formed millions of years ago when continental drift reshaped the earth’s surface. Shifting tectonic plates created deep fractures and rift valleys, with fissures releasing lava that hardened into a layer of molten rock hundreds of feet thick. The resulting basalt rock broke into columns and vertical pillars, known as traprock. Traprock formations contribute to the region’s distinct geological character.
Soils by Slope 25-35% 15-25% 3-15% 0-3%
Above: A color relief map highlights areas of steepest and flattest slopes in South Hadley. Areas in red-brown indicate steep slopes where building is limited. Below: Blue and yellow areas show the location and extent of well-drained loamy-sandy soils, typically associated with areas of agricultural use.
Area of detail above shows Metacomet Range traprock.
Slope and Soils Over time, water worked its way through the cracks of the basalt, breaking off chunks that fell and scattered in fragments at the base of the slopes. These fragments form talus fields that trap cool air long into the summer months and create a cooler climate that many plant species favor. Feldspar, a mineral found in basalt rock, releases calcium as it ages and provides an important nutrient. The combination of calcium, warm rock resulting from the range’s southern exposure, and the cooling talus skirts around the base of the ridge create a rich and highly diverse biological habitat. A greater variety of plant life is found on the southern slopes than those on the north side of the range (Farnsworth, “Hard Knocks”).
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Opposite page: According to the CAPS Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI), most of South Hadley north of Pearl Street is an area of high ecological integrity. This includes the entire portion of the Mount Holyoke Range that lies within South Hadley. Part of Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Natural Resource Area, which is managed by the Conservation Commission, is also identified as an area of high ecological value.
The Mount Holyoke Range is a known habitat for the peregrine falcon, an endangered species in Massachusetts. Illustration by G. Berrigan.
From the range, the land gradually slopes down to the south, marking a transition from forest to fields to town to industrial center. Conifers and a mix of hardwoods provide a continuous forest canopy along the steeply sloping southern aspect of the range. South of the range, the terrain consists of moderate uplands and terraces interspersed with rich, narrow floodplain valleys interlaced with streams and wetlands. The sand and gravel soils of South Hadley are generally welldrained, making them well suited to crop cultivation and other agricultural uses.
Ecological Integrity and Biodiversity Although physically small, extending just seven miles from east to west, the Mount Holyoke Range is one of the most ecologically significant areas in Massachusetts, home to numerous plant and animal species and rare habitats (BioMap2). The CAPS ecological integrity index map on the opposite page BioMap2
In 2010, MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy issued BioMap2, a guide to conserving the biodiversity of Massachusetts. This guide identified two types of areas important for conservation: Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape. The first is crucial for the long-term persistence of rare species and other species of conservation concern. The second provides habitat for wide-ranging native wildlife, supports intact ecological processes, maintains connectivity among habitats, enhances ecological resilience, and buffers aquatic Core Habitats to help ensure their long-term integrity. Protection of both areas, which may overlap, is “important to conserve the full suite of biodiversity” in Massachusetts (MassWildlife and TNC 2010).
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shows areas in South Hadley with the highest ecological integrity. Almost all of this land is located on the range. Ecological integrity may be defined as “the ability of an area to support biodiversity and the ecosystem processes necessary to sustain biodiversity over the long term” (EPA). Protecting resources of high ecological value is a priority for the Conservation Commission. Parts of the range are currently protected. There are two state parks, including Skinner State Park in Hadley and South Hadley, and Mount Holyoke Range State Park, located in the towns of Hadley, South Hadley, Granby and Amherst. Nearly 60 percent (2,721 acres) of the Mount Holyoke Range State Park is designated as Priority Habitat under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (321 CMR 10.00). Priority Habitat is known to serve as habitat for state-rare species of plants and animals. State-listed animal species, including blue-spotted and marbled salamanders, are found in the range parks. Wood turtles are found in streams and wetlands, and Eastern box turtles are known to inhabit both the park’s wetlands and forests. Rare moths, including the orange sallow moth and sandplain euchlaena, are associated with dry uplands regions (Range Planning Unit). Priority Habitat for Rare Species
“Exceptionally rare” wetland species—including swamp cottonwood and false hop sedge—are associated with wetlands and riparian areas at the base of the south slope of the range (NHESP 2007a). Additional state-listed species include the blackpoll warbler (Special Concern), northern parula (Threatened), peregrine falcon (Endangered), and Philadelphia panic grass (Special Concern).
Pearl Street corridor Bachelor Brook/ Stony Brook Natural Resource Area
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Most of the rare plants on the range occur on the range’s main ridge and south slope. Some of these plants require partial to full sun exposure (NHESP 2007a). Threats to these plants include invasive species, trampling by hikers, erosion, and sedimentation. Most of the range park has been designated as Core Habitat (4,194 acres or 91%) and Critical Natural Landscape (4,450 acres or 96%) by Massachusetts’ BioMap2 program. Forest Core Habitat areas are defined as those minimally impacted by roads, residential and commercial development, and other fragmenting features. Of the seven large (500-acre+) Forest Core Habitats in the ecoregion of the Connecticut River Valley, three are associated with the Mount Holyoke Range State Park. Both Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape areas extend in all directions beyond the park’s current boundaries, presenting significant conservation needs and opportunities in the region.
Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Resource Area is a town-owned conservation area located south of the range along Route 47. Currently, there are no hiking trails connecting the resource area to the range. However, the town has a strong interest in creating connectivity to the range, especially between the range and the river, which this area has the potential to provide.
Protection Status Because of its ecological value, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts permanently protects 1,265 acres of land in the Mount Holyoke Range State Park. However, most of the protected land is largely outside of South Hadley. This important natural resource has been identified as a state heritage landscape (Range Planning Unit); yet the continued ecological, scenic, and recreational quality of the park depends on limited development in adjacent areas. This includes farmland along Pearl Street in South Hadley, the preservation of which has been identified in the state’s Reconnaisance Report as being “crucial” for the conservation of both open space and the historically agricultural character of South Hadley. Privately owned properties near the range open the door to possible development in the future. Currently, the town has a strong interest in increasing recreational access to the range from South Hadley, and this interest could help build public support for conservation efforts focusing on the range.
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Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Resource Area
Chapter 4: Ecological Assessment of the River & Other Waters South Hadley is rich in water resources. In addition to the Connecticut River, the town contains four lakes, six major streams, numerous wetlands and vernal pools, floodplains, and an aquifer. As stream health is best understood in the context of a watershed, this section begins with an explanation of watersheds. This is followed by a discussion of factors that both contribute to and detract from stream health. The chapter concludes with an inventory of South Hadley’s water resources and a table of existing conditions in the three main streams.
What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet. It can consist of a few acres or thousands of square miles. The Connecticut River drains a watershed of 7.2 million acres and passes through four states.
course. Activities in the upper reaches of a watershed affect the water quality downstream. This presents a challenge for locally managing water resources. Being downstream in a watershed has advantages and disadvantages. South Hadley benefits from being located downstream from the largely rural and forested lands in Maine,Vermont and New Hampshire, in part because forests help protect downstream water quality. However, land use anywhere along a river or stream affects water quality, and urban areas along the riparian corridor can impair water quality. This interconnectedness with the landscape is one of the reasons that rivers are increasingly managed in the context of their associated watersheds (Connecticut River Joint Commissions).
Stream ecology and healthy streams Ecologists measure stream health primarily in terms of three characteristics: • Physical (hydrology or flow; habitat; water level, temperature and velocity; channel shape/size; substrate presence; shaded cover; aquatic and riparian vegetation; and bank/riparian stability); • Biological (presence of fish, benthic invertebrates and algae); • Chemical (nutrients, pesticides and pesticide by-products, suspended sediments, sulfates and chloride; water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductance; also chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and certain insecticides known to be toxic to living organisms) (USGS website).
A properly functioning stream and riparian system provides diverse habitat that supports a variety of aquatic and terrestrial life forms. A healthy stream captures and reduces excess nutrients and sediment; helps control water flow; and transports water. Most importantly, a healthy stream supplies clean water. The 11,250 square mile Connecticut River basin encompasses parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Why is the watershed context significant? Land use throughout the watershed can have significant impacts on water resources. This is true along single stretches of a river as well as over its entire
Natural streams exhibit a dynamic equilibrium. While streams continually change, the forces of hydrology, geology and topography create a natural stream shape and flow. As development occurs in the watershed, stream changes can include channelization, burial and diversion, all of which affect the natural balance of a
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stream. One of the biggest threats to stream health in more developed watersheds is the increase in runoff and sedimentation that results from clearing forests and converting open space to residential or commercial uses.
Riparian corridors
A vegetated riparian buffer helps keep a stream healthy by filtering runoff and helping reduce erosion.
A corridor of natural vegetation along a stream or river is known as a riparian buffer. A forested riparian buffer is optimal for protecting and preserving water quality.
Stream health is protected and maintained in part by a corridor of natural vegetation, known as a riparian buffer. A vegetated riparian corridor helps filter and retain excess nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen; it can also help stabilize stream banks and provide food and shelter for wildlife.The type of soil, vegetation, and slope along the corridor all affect the buffering capability of a riparian corridor. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the four most important water quality elements impacted by a riparian corridor are nutrient loading, sediment loading, water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels in the water. How big does a riparian corridor need to be? The size of riparian corridors can vary with the size and
shape of the stream channel, frequency of flooding, local topography and soil type. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, a riparian corridor that includes a minimum 100-foot wide forested strip of land on each side of the channel can provide most of the functions needed to protect stream health of all but the largest streams. Narrower corridors can be used to partially protect a stream, but they do not provide all of the benefits of a wider corridor.
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Vegetation along the stream can improve streambank stability because the roots of plants and trees hold the soil and help reduce streambank erosion. Streamside forests shade streams and help moderate water temperatures. High water temperatures can directly stress or kill fish and reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, potentially harming other aquatic life. Streams benefit from healthy riparian corridors, as do the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife that use them. People benefit from healthy riparian corridors because of the corridor’s ability to protect land from erosion, keep water clean, and support diverse ecosystems.
Threats to stream health According to the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project, a number of factors compromise the health of streams: • The greater the suburban sprawl, the greater the need for support infrastructure to connect people to services and jobs. Minimizing sprawl is one way to help protect stream health and ecosystem function. • Lawn care and maintenance contributes runoff of pesticides, chemicals, and herbicides. • Impervious surfaces such as roads, driveways, parking lots and rooftops can block the infiltration of precipitation (in the form of rain and snow) from being absorbed into the ground where it
falls. Impervious cover is usually compounded by increases in storm drains and concrete-lined stream channels in areas of urban development, which can increase the speed and amount of water flowing to streams. • Changes in the speed and volume of water can increase stream bank erosion and change the course of the stream, destroying diverse stream conditions and habitats in the process. • Impervious surfaces contribute to runoff of pollutants into streams, including sediment, nutrients, fertilizers, and other contaminants. • Runoff can cause changes in stream hydrology (including the amount and flow of water); physical characteristics (in the channel, banks and bottom); aquatic habitats; and stream chemistry—all for the worse (USGS NAWQA website).
Heat and stream health Cool water can hold more oxygen than warm water, because gases, like oxygen, are more easily dissolved in cool water. Trees shade the water from the sun and help keep water cool. Cutting trees that shade streams can degrade stream health and water quality. Removing trees and other vegetation from streambanks, plowing near the streambank, and construction can also degrade stream health and water quality by causing soil erosion. Soil erosion impacts water temperature by increasing the amount of suspended solids in the river, a condition Biological Condition Gradient (BCG)
A common framework used by ecologists to assess stream health is known as the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG). The BCG uses a standardized ranking system based on sampling the biological community found in a stream that ranks biological conditions from natural to highly disturbed. In New England, the BCG was used in combination with a modeling tool to predict that when the levels of urban development in a watershed exceed 31 percent, the likelihood of attaining a healthy stream would be only about 25 percent. However, if actions are implemented to improve water quality and reduce stream “flashiness,” then the likelihood of attaining a healthy stream increased to about 70 percent.
Physical characteristics of a healthy stream include structures that oxygenate the water (riffles), keep it flowing (runs), and provide aquatic habitat (pools). Credit: Texas Aquatic Science.
known as turbidity. Turbid waters absorb more of the sun’s rays, increasing water temperature. Thermal pollution can also occur when stormwater drains into the stream from streets, sidewalks and parking lots heated by the sun. Runoff from hot surfaces has been measured as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit in some places (Missouri Fact Sheets).
Flow and stream health Stream flow can be altered by human activities both in the surrounding watershed and directly in the stream. When naturally vegetated areas and wetlands are converted into bare soil and impervious surfaces, the volume of stream flow will increase. In addition, there will be more water entering the stream channel faster due to less infiltration and higher overland flows. Reduced infiltration will also result in decreased groundwater recharge and lower base flows.
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Non-point source pollutants: Septic leaching and broken sewage pipes can introduce contaminants into the water supply, especially during heavy rain events which cause flooding and raise the water table.
The loss of riparian buffers to clean runoff, filter particulates, slow water, stabilze stream banks, reduce flooding, and prevent contamination all contribute to the loss of clean, high-quality water.
Stormwater running off impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots, roofs) increases the rate and volume of water flow, creating pressure at outflows and causing stream banks to erode, degrade and straighten. Straightened steams are even less capable of managing heavy flows, and can contribute to flooding.
Healthy forest, open fields, healthy stream
Impacts of development on water quality
Non-point source pollutants: De-icing salt used on roads and motor oils leaking from cars
Non-point source pollutants: Chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers used for lawn care
Non-point source pollutants: Sedimentation increases stream turbidy, adding particulates that build up and alter stream function
Lack of trees to hold and stabilize soil leads to erosion. Roads play a part by washing sediments into streams and culverts.
Natural vegetation and topsoil removed and replaced with turf grass
House construction; new roads and driveways
Impervious surfaces reduce water infiltration on site. Without space to “spread and sink,� rain fall and snow melt inundate wetlands and and channelized streams, causing flooding and sending excess runoff further downstream.
The impacts of development on water quality are amplified as land use changes from naturally vegetated areas to suburban sprawl.
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Channelizing a stream (which typically involves straightening and/or lining the stream channel with concrete) and removing woody debris and other large objects can increase the velocity of flow. A straight stream channel has much less ability to dissipate and absorb the force of flood waters. Less woody debris can result in a loss of habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial animals.
Impervious surface and stream health Urban development replaces natural vegetation and topsoil with impervious cover that blocks water from infiltrating into the ground. In addition to roads, stream channels are often lined with cement to prevent stream banks from eroding. Impervious surfaces can increase the speed and amount of water flowing to streams, and increase the likelihood of flooding during severe or “flash� storms, which have become increasing common in our current era of climate change. The next section focuses on water resources in town.
CONNECTICUT RIVER The Connecticut River is the longest river in New England, flowing roughly 410 miles from the Canadian border to the Long Island Sound. It is one of 14 American Heritage Rivers, and was named the first, and only, National Blueway in 2012 by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The designation was intended to support river conservation and restoration and celebrate the river as a recreational destination and outdoors resource. In 1997, the entire Connecticut River watershed was designated as the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The only federal wildlife refuge to encompass an entire watershed, it serves as a model for watershed protection by recognizing the importance of protecting the whole river system and its wide variety of unique habitats, ranging from northern forest to salt marshes. The designation also protects migratory fish and other species dependent upon the
Forested areas along the Connecticut River corridor contribute to water quality. However, centuries of industrial land uses along the river, combined with dumping of sewage and other contaminants, degraded water quality to the point where most of it, including the segment along South Hadley, is no longer drinkable.
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Connecticut River corridor (USFWS Silvio O. Conte website).
River ecology The Connecticut River offers critical tidal resting and feeding habitat to migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, and fish. Its watershed encompasses over 20,000 miles of streams that support nearly 500 species of fish and wildlife, 1,500 species of invertebrates, and nearly 3,000 species of plants. Ten federally listed endangered or threatened species live within this watershed, many depending on abundant cold-water habitat throughout the watershed. Eighty percent of the river’s watershed is forested, with 12 percent in agricultural use, 5 percent in wetland and other waters, and 3 percent in developed land (ctriver.org).
The Connecticut River is habitat for threatened and endangered species in Massachusetts, including shortnose sturgeon and piping plover.
River water quality Centuries of industrial use, combined with the practice begun in the 19th century (and still in place in many localities today) of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which discharge untreated stormwater and wastewater directly into rivers and other water bodies, contaminated the Connecticut River. Since passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, efforts to clean up and restore the river have led to significant improvements, and some portions of the river are classified now as Class B fishable/swimmable (ctriverorg). According to the 2003 Water Quality Assessment of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, the segment along South Hadley is categorized as Class B. The last comprehensive report on water quality of the entire river in Massachusetts was conducted in 2003 (Water Quality Assessment). The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 requires every state to examine existing and potential threats to the quality of all its public water
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FOUR
Guide to Water Resources
Vernal pools are isolated depressions that flood seasonally. Dry for most of the year, vernal pools are difficult to identify and therefore difficult to protect. Wetlands are areas that are frequently inundated or saturated by water and feature vegetation characteristically adapted to wet soils. The main wetland types are swamps, marshes, bogs, and fens. Wetlands are highly sensitive areas and although they have a strong degree of protection through the Wetlands Protection Act, are nevertheless vulnerable to development impacts. Floodplains are the low-lying grounds adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding. An aquifer is a groundwater reservoir that recharges when water drains into the ground. The top of the water level is the water table (EPA website).
supply sources and to develop a Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program. The assessments in Massachusetts were completed in 2004. The top five potential threats to public water sources that were identified through the SWAP Program include: 1) residential lawn care/gardening; 2) residential septic systems and cesspools; 3) residential fuel oil storage; 4) stormwater discharge; and 5) state-regulated underground storage tanks (mass.gov SWAP program website).
Major Streams: Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook
Bachelor Brook Watershed
The three major streams that flow though South Hadley and drain into the Stony Brook Watershed Connecticut River are Bachelor Brook in the Buttery Brook north, Stony Brook in Watershed the central region, and Buttery Brook in the south. Bachelor Brook and Stony Brook flow The map above shows the location of westward from neigh- the three stream watersheds in South Hadley that are the focus of this study. boring Granby; Buttery Brook feeds into the river from wetlands in the south section of the town.
Flood plain forest along Bachelor Brook in South Hadley. This stream water quailty is generally considered good.
Mouth of Stony Brook in South Hadley, where it drains into the Connecticut River. This stream is categorized as impaired due to its chronic turbidity and presence of e.coli.
The water quality of Bachelor Brook is classified as Class B. It supports aquatic life and has acceptable bacteria counts. Some non-native plant species are present. Otherwise, water quality is considered good (2003 Water Quality Assessment). Stony Brook is classified as impaired in the lower 3.5 miles due to chronic turbidity (presence of suspended particulates) and presence of e. coli (2003 Water Quality Assessment). Buttery Brook is not assessed in the report. On the following page, a summary chart details additional characteristics and conditions in these tributary watersheds. These streams are the focus of both the ecological and parcel analysis in this study. Additional water resources of significance in South Hadley are described below.
Buttery Brook in South Hadley was not assessed in the 2003 Water Quality Assessment conducted by MASS DEP. Direct observation showed signs of stream bank erosion, pollution, and dumping.
supplied by the Quabbin Reservoir. Two water sources in the southern part of town were abandoned in the early 1950s due to poor water quality.
Floodplains Floodplains along the Connecticut River historically served to capture and absorb seasonal flooding. Agricultural fields along these floodplains benefited by the regular influx of nutrients that replenished soils. Today, many of these floodplains have been developed in South Hadley. Impervious surfaces on developed floodplains and other urbanized areas of a watershed can lead to excessive flooding, which can result in damage to roads, buildings, and other infrastructure, and cost millions of dollars in repairs, and even cost lives. Floodplains and wetlands provide natural flood
Town Aquifer and Water Supply A large aquifer underlying South Hadley supplies potable water to roughly 30 percent of town residents. (See map on page 27.) The well for this water supply is located at the mouth of Dry Brook, which drains from a point starting high up on the Mount Holyoke Range. A 400’ wellhead protection zone surrounds the well, and a larger Water Supply Protection Overlay District, designed to protect the aquifer from contamination, extends from the wellhead area to the eastern boundary of town. The remainder of town water is
This house under construction on River Road in South Hadley is located on a floodplain of the Connecticut River. The water’s edge is visible just behind the house (circled area).
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8.5 miles
Length 11.8 miles
Central region of town; runs east to west through Mount Holyoke College campus
Location Northern region of town; runs east to west along base of Mount Holyoke Range
Unknown
Southern region of town; runs south and west
Dominant Land Use Mostly agricultural and residential l Includes large, undeveloped parcels of land Along stream: Open space
Land Cover/% Impervious Surface Extensive forest and open space 3.6% impervious surface
Lawn, limited open space 15.7% impervious surface
Highly fragmented 22.2% impervious surface
Soil Type Sand, gravel pits located here
Mostly sand and gravel
Mostly sand and gravel
Watershed Area (sq. miles) N/A
5.5
2.9
Stream Quality Class B brook, supports aquatic life; acceptable bacteria counts; some non-native plant species present; otherwise, water quality is good (2003 CT River Water Quality Assessment) Lower 3.5 miles classified as impaired due to chronic turbidity (presence of suspended particulates) and e.coli contamination (2003 CT River Water Quality Assessment)
Watershed & Stream Characteristics: Bachelor, Stony and Buttery Brooks
Stream Name
Bachelor Brook
Stony Brook
Buttery Brook
Mix of agricultural and suburban; largely residential Historically agricultural; extensive development in recent decades Along stream: Residential Primarily commercial and industrial Some high density residential Along stream: Industrial and residential
Not mentioned in 2003 CT River Water Quality Assessment Stream channel no longer recognizable (different on every map); some segments not visible. Culverted near Route 202 bridge to Holyoke
Flood Plain Prone to flooding where it drains into CT River Largely undeveloped along flood plain Rare flood plain forest; pasture land
Includes flood plains and wetlands bordering CT River. Extent of development along stream: Unknown
Other Natural Resources Forest, streams, wetlands, warm water fishery, rare flood plain forest
Patchy forest cover
Prone to flooding where it drains into CT River. Numerous businesses located in 100-year as well as 500year flood plain.
Other Scenic value Conservation areas in this watershed Large extent of river floodplain now a protected conservation area Extensive branching A walk-through found signs of dumping, eroded stream banks, and clogged culverts
Contains culverted segments A walk-through found signs of dumping, eroded banks, clogged culverts
Vulnerabilities Views and proximity to range very attractive to potential buyers Large unprotected parcels of land
River views make it very attractive to developers Subject to significant runoff of excess nutrients, pesticides and herbicides from lawn care, as well as pollution and salt from roads Collects significant runoff from largely impervious surfaces in this area as well as toxic and hazardous materials from auto repair shops and other industrial uses here
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BACHELOR BROOK WATERSHED
STONY BROOK WATERSHED BUTTERY BROOK WATERSHED
Esri, HERE, Garmin, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
LAND USE IMPACTS ON STREAMS Land use throughout the watershed impacts stream health. The map above shows the full extent of the watersheds that are the focus of this study. The map at right shows the watershed area within just South Hadley. Comparing these two maps highlights the difference in the watershed area contained within a town versus the watershed area in its entirety. Managing rivers and streams in a watershed context requires regional coordination and planning.
Bachelor Brook Watershed
Stony Brook Watershed
Buttery Brook Watershed
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control function; however, their ability to function requires buffer areas that can hold water until it can be absorbed into the ground. Aquifers and Runoff
A groundwater aquifer supplying local drinking water can be vulnerable to contamination from runoff, especially during heavy rain events or floods. Dams, flooding and roads can all have an impact on runoff entering the water.
Wetlands South Hadley is dotted with numerous wetlands. Wetlands provide important functions in the watershed. These functions include providing groundwater and aquifer recharge; helping control seasonal flooding; preventing pollution by filtering contaminants; providing nesting, food, and habitat for wildlife, and critical habitats for fish and water species; providing essential breeding habitat for amphibian species; and supporting the overall hydrologic system and natural community structure of an area. The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act establishes a buffer zone that prohibits alterations within 100’ of a delineated wetland boundary, but variances within this area are allowed by special permit. South Hadley has a bylaw that prohibits any building or alterations to the land within 50’ from wetlands.
Conclusion According to the EPA, by the time a watershed reaches about 10 percent impervious cover in urban areas, aquatic invertebrate communities are degraded by as much as 33 percent in comparison to aquatic invertebrate communities in primarily forested watersheds. Ecological function is reduced by the overall loss in number of aquatic species, which results in a decline in food-web complexity. Forests offer many important watershed functions, including interception of rainfall, water purification, groundwater and surface flow regulation, erosion control, and streambank stabilization. The Forest Service, a division of the USDA, refers to healthy forests as “ecological life-support systems” that provide vital goods and services, including:
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Wetlands are protected in Massachusetts by a 100’ buffer; however, towns have discretion to approve alterations by special permit. The town of South Hadley has an additional wetland bylaw that prohibits alteration of the land or building within a 50’ buffer under any circumstances. The South Hadley Conservation Commission reviews permits that impact wetlands and is charged with enforcing state and local wetlands laws.
• water filtration and purification • water storage • carbon storage • temperature regulation • wildlife habitat and diversity • scenic and recreational landscapes
(US Forest Service website). It comes as no surprise that Bachelor Brook, located in the watershed with the most extensive, largely unfragmented forest cover and least impervious surface, is in the best condition of the three streams assessed in this study. Both Stony Brook and Buttery Ecosystem Services
As water quality becomes a critical issue around the world, the need for healthy forests will increase. In the past, forest ecosystem services were considered “free,” yet when the costs of protecting an ecosystem for improved water quality are compared with investments in new or improved infrastructure (such as water treatment and purification plants, stormwater management facilities, and flood control structures) the value of forests becomes clear. Many communities find that it is often cheaper and more efficient to invest in ecosystem management and protection.
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FOUR
Brook are located in more developed areas with correspondingly more infrastucture, including buildings and roads. Stream health in these more developed areas could be supported by protecting existing open space, preserving existing forest, and increasing riparian buffers.
A large aquifer underlaying the town of South Hadley supplies drinking water to residents in the northern part of town.
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Chapter 5: Ecological Analysis A complex relationship of conditions determines the ecological structure, functions, and health of a watershed. A healthy system has significant ecological value. This section begins with an overview of the criteria used to assess South Hadley’s ecological value. These values, which are then mapped with the Biofilter tool to show areas of highest ecological value, serve as the foundation from which further assessment of the three stream watersheds in South Hadley was conducted. After identifying areas of high ecological value with GIS, this chapter explores the distinct ecological characters of the three watersheds to better understand South Hadley’s relationship with water.
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Part 1: Biofilter Tool Criteria
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The ability of a landscape to provide high ecological value in relation to nearby development is shaped by a few key elements: 783
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• the level of fragmentation and connectivity afforded to plants and wildlife; • the width of riparian buffers along streams and waterbodies; • and the appropriate amount of floodplain space in flood zones.
In conjunction with the state’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) and BioMap2 program’s mapping tools for identifying state-wide ecological integrity, the criteria listed above were layered in a series of maps to form the “Biofilter” tool, ultimately showing areas of highest ecological value in the darkest shades of gray. This tool helped to represent the town’s ecological integrity and was used to further quantify ecological value in the town of South Hadley as it relates to stream health.
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The mosaic of life that has developed around South Hadley’s environmental conditions contributes to the landscape’s resiliency to disturbance in extreme weather events and supports the overall quality of life for South Hadley residents. Maintaining that diversity depends on affording these ecological communities the space they need to function properly.
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Fragmentation and Connectivity Fragmentation and connectivity were chosen as a metric for this plan’s evaluation of watershed ecology because more connected (less fragmented) areas provide for greater ecological integrity in relation to habitat conservation and species diversity (Shafer 1990). Fragmentation occurs when habitat connectivity is lost. Fragmentation can reduce the size of a habitat, or result in the loss of a habitat altogether, such as when a forest core or interior habitat is lost due to an increase in surrounding edge habitat. Fragmentation can drastically alter species composition and ecosystem function. Loss of connectivity can significantly compromise the resiliency of a species that depends on cover to move (and survive). It can reduce both the availability of habitat resources and also the genetic diversity of a population, thereby diminishing its capability to survive disease or other threats. Resiliency is considered critical for many species to survive projected climate changes (Shafer).
A utility corridor fragments the forest in the Stony Brook watershed. As this corridor is vegetated, it provides value for species that occupy edge habitat and open grassy shrubland. A road corridor, by contrast, fragments the landscape without providing habitat value.
Roads and development present severe threats to ecosystem integrity by cutting off connectivity corridors that allow species to disperse and travel for hunting, nesting, and reproduction. The presence of vehicles on roads contributes directly to animal mortality when they are caught attempting to cross roads or when they become attracted to or poisoned by materials applied to roads, such as the salt used to de-ice roads in winter (Shafer).
>25% Development in Critical Terrestrial Habitat Likely to support vernal life
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Opposite: The complete Biofilter Map overlayed with certified and potential vernal pools. Clusters of vernal pools offer connectivity between new breeding sites for amphibians and help maintain their healthy populations within a fully-functioning ecosystem.
Below: Amphibians are very sensitive to habitat fragmentation because they need to travel between breeding pools and heavily rely on surrounding upland habitat to survive. The percentage of development within their critical terrestrial habitat can have a major impact on the persistence of a population (Calhoun 2002).
25% Development in Critical Terrestrial Habitat Likely to support vernal life
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
<25% Development in Critical Terrestrial Habitat Unlikely to support vernal life
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South Hadley Legend Vernal Pools Certified Vernal Pools
4,750
Patty O'Neill Eliza Cress Gail Berrigan CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
0
4,750 Feet
Stream & Wetland 100' Buffers
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Potential Vernal Pools
500 Year Floodplain
Undeveloped Parcels: Bachelor
NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
Undeveloped Parcels: Stony
BioMap2 Core Habitat
Undeveloped Parcels: Buttery
BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape
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Riparian Buffers A 100’ riparian buffer metric was chosen to identify the most critical land abutting stream corridors. Most (77%) wetland-dependent wildlife in Massachusetts rely (Wetland Buffers and Beyond) on such land. Adequate vegetated buffers are necessary to protect the critical terrestrial habitat of wetland-dependent wildlife, the integrity of wetland vegetation, stream integrity, and water quality. Most riparian-, wetland- and vernal-pool-dependent wildlife rely just as much on the upland areas surrounding waterbodies as they do the waterbodies themselves, and in fact may spend the majority of their life taking refuge in this critical terrestrial habitat (Calhoun). Many species also use riparian corridors and wetland networks for hunting, breeding, and dispersal. Although determining an adequate buffer size, or as one researcher (Semlitsch 1998) referred to it, “life zone,” varies greatly according to species’ individual terrestrial habitat, connectivity, and dispersal requirements, the preservation of a significant amount of terrestrial space is crucial for maintaining ecosystem function.
100’ Fully
Riparian buffers along healthy streams naturally protect aquatic and terrestrial communities by cleaning and filtering pollutants from runoff and sedimentation that might otherwise enter the streams.
Stream Corridor Protection For streams, a 250’ vegetated buffer would protect the Material Contribution Area, or the area abutting streams that contributes the course particulate organic matter and large woody debris that characterize the variety of habitat types that naturally occur in a healthy stream in addition to providing some terrestrial habitat and buffer from disturbance and pollution originating inland (The Active River Area).
250’ buffer
Vernal Pool
Protected Vernal Pool Envelope Maximum 25% Development
650’ Critical Terrestrial Habitat Buffer
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Vernal Pool Protection For vernal pools and wetlands, a protected 100’ area immediately surrounding the waterbody calculated at the high spring mark, plus an additional 650’ of forested area with uncompacted organic matter and woody debris with no more than 25% of this area developed, would afford a sufficient amount of space to support most wetland- and vernal-pool-dependent species’ habitat requirements (Calhoun).
South Hadley Biofilters Patty O'Neill Eliza Cress Gail Berrigan CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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Legend South Hadley Town Boundary
Parcels
Stream & Wetland 100' Buffers
Undeveloped Parcels: Bachelor
Rivers and Streams
Undeveloped Parcels: Stony
±
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Flood Zones Floodplains include a variety of natural community types that play an important role in maintaining water quality and mitigate flooding. Intact, these communities offer varying degrees of flood storage that contribute to groundwater recharge and improve surface water quality by filtering sediment, pollutants, nutrients, and maintain soil fertility. Additionally, flood-plains provide habitat and recreational opportunities. When floodwaters come into contact with development, there is a greater chance that degrading substances like oil, chemicals, sewage, and sediments will contaminate surface and groundwater. The 100-year and 500-year floodplains used in this analysis are the areas that FEMA estimates would flood under the kind of heavy rainfall that has a 1 in 100 (1%) or 1 in 500 (.2%) chance of occurring in a
particular year(Vox 2017). Contrary to what these low percentages may suggest, FEMA categorizes the 100-yearfloodplain as a “high risk area” and the 500year floodplain as a “moderate to low risk area” for flooding. Development is discouraged within the 100year floodplain and there are precautions usually taken for building in this area, including the purchasing of flood insurance; however, no such precautions are usually taken for development in the 500-year-floodplain. Nevertheless, as the occurrence of heavy rainfall increases with climate change, so does the likelihood of flooding. Recognizing these patterns and heeding the 500-year floodplain delineation may serve better to safeguard ecosystem functions that support water filtration and storage into the future. In South Hadley Falls, there are many buildings in the 500 year floodplain (listed as B) with very little vegetated surface to absorb floodwater.
100-Year Floodplain 500-Year Floodplain
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South Hadley Biofilters Patty O'Neill Eliza Cress Gail Berrigan CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
1
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Priority Habitats for Rare Species Tasked with protecting Massachusetts’ biodiversity, the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) developed two conservation characteristics for consideration in land use planning, conservation management, and compliance: • “Priority Habitat for Rare Species” are mapped areas known to serve as habitat for state-rare species of plants and animals, and any proposed development within these mapped areas must comply with NHESP regulations; • “Priority Natural Communities” are areas recognized to contain state-rare or exemplary natural community types (distinctive assemblages of species that recur together in particular environmental conditions).
Notably, priority communities are ranked according to rarity, but the designation offers no explicit protection. That said, part of what makes natural communities unique are the species associated with them, and rare species tend to inhabit correspondingly rare natural communities in addition to more common landscapes. “Priority Habitats for Rare Species” was chosen as a metric for this plan’s ecological evaluation because these identified areas provide habitat for species that are important to preserve for state biodiversity and thus the overall integrity of the ecosystems that support water quality.
State Ranking System for Priority Natural Communities S1 = Critically Imperiled in Massachusetts: Critically imperiled in the state because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very few remaining acres or miles of stream or other factors making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state. S2= Imperiled in Massachusetts: Imperiled in the state because of rarity (typically 6 -20 occurrences), very restricted range, few remaining acres, or miles of stream or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state. S3 = Vulnerable in Massachusetts: Vulnerable due to a restricted range, relatively few occurrences (often 80 or fewer), limited acreage, or miles of stream, recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation from the state. S4 = Apparently Secure in Massachusetts: Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors. S5 = Secure in Massachusetts: Common, widespread, and abundant in the state. S#S# = Range Rank: A numeric range rank (e.g., S2S3) is used to indicate the range of uncertainty in the status of a species or community.
Opposite: Map showing priority habitat for rare species outlined in red. Priority Natural communities not shown.
Aboeve: Blue Spotted Salamander. Photo Credit: Matthew Ignoffo, Flickr
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South Hadley Biofilters Patty O'Neill Eliza Cress Gail Berrigan CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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Legend
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Parcels
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Undeveloped Parcels: Bachelor
500 Year Floodplain
Undeveloped Parcels: Stony
NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
Undeveloped Parcels: Buttery
Rivers and Streams
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BioMap2: Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape Another important mapping framework for conceptualizing a biodiversity conservation strategy is BioMap2 and its two major components: Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape. Core Habitat describes areas essential for the longterm persistence of species of conservation concern (those listed under the state Endangered Species Act
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or in the State Wildlife Action Plan) and include Priority Natural Communities as well as the most intact and unfragmented aquatic, wetland, vernal pool, or forest core habitats in the state. Critical Natural Landscapes are larger areas that are best able to support ecological processes and wideranging species, and cope with disturbance. These especially include areas that could serve as upland buffers around unfragmented core habitat blocks.
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South Hadley Biofilters Patty O'Neill Eliza Cress Gail Berrigan CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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BioMap2 Core Habitat
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Bachelor Brook Watershed
Above: Bachelor Brook’s floodplain forests accommodate flooding and stream meandering , thereby contributing to stream health and ecological function.
The Bachelor Brook watershed is well-known for its biodiversity and has been studied extensively. Beginning in the rocky uplands of the Mount Holyoke Range, Bachelor Brook flows west down to the Connecticut River through valleys and floodplain forests. Largely undeveloped and unfragmented, it retains a significant amount of forest cover and riparian buffers. It is a favorite spot of hikers and naturalists who come to take in scenic views and appreciate the relatively undisturbed natural flora and fauna. The Bachelor Brook watershed contains 25 species of conservation concern: fifteen species of plants, five insects, three amphibians, and two reptiles (BioMap2 South Hadley). A gradient of different community types has developed in response to the unique geology and change in elevation along the south face of the range down to the floodplains of the Connecticut River. The unusual east-west orientation of the range draws migratory birds who stop to forage, offers a sunny exposure for plants not commonly afforded on other mountain
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
ranges in the region, and creates favorable conditions for wildlife corridors. Many species meet their food, cover, and other needs in the diverse landscapes connecting the range and the riparian corridor along Bachelor Brook. Priority Natural Communities in this watershed are concentrated along the western segment of Bachelor Brook where it meets the Connecticut River with a few more communities scattered throughout different areas of the range. The former lake bed of Glacial Lake Hitchcock supports a very rare “perched” wetland full of hilly hummocks and hollows which offer a mosaic of microsites with varying degrees of wetness as it floods in the spring and dries in the summer. Netted chain ferns, sedges, mosses, and wildflowers like goldthread and Indian cucumber grow between highbush blueberries, buttonbush, spicebush, and arrowwood beneath canopies of black gum, pin oak, and white oak. Another kind of rare natural community found in this watershed is known as a red maple-black ash swamp, which is fed by rich seepage and supports plants like
Bachelor Brook at a Glance Location
Northern region of town at the base of Mount Holyoke Range, running East to West
Land Cover
3.6% Impervious Surface Largely unfragmented with intact contiguous forest
Habitat Cores Forest Core
Vernal Pool Core Aquatic Core
Priority Natural Communities of Bachelor Brook
Black Gum-Pin Oak-Swamp White Oak “Perched” Swamp S1 Red-Black Ash Swamp S2 Open Talus/Coarse Boulder S2 Hickory Hop Hornbeam S2 Circumneutral Rocky Summit/Rock Outcrop S2S3
Above: Coptis trifolia, otherwise known as Goldthread for its goldencolored roots, is one of the herbs that grows in Bachelor Brook’s floodplain forests.
Species of Conservation Concern 15 plants
3 amphibians 5 insects 2 reptiles
skunk cabbage, foamflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and cinnamon fern between winterberry, witch hazel, and silky dogwood. Other rare communities exist at higher elevations on the range and have adapted to the varying sloping conditions. The open talus-coarse boulder community found below cliffs is home to vines like climbing fumitory, clematis, and Virginia creeper, snakes that hibernate between the rocks, and vultures that nest on the cliffs. The hickory-hop hornbeam community has an unusual park-like condition with about 60% forest canopy cover, sedges, grasses, and flowers like violets, aster, goldenrod, and boneset. The circumneutral rocky summit/outcrop community is sparsely vegetated with lots of exposed bedrock, lichen, grasses, and tough flowers like skunk meadow rue, linear-leaved milkweed, and pink corydalis.
Bachelor Brook Watershed
Stony Brook Watershed
Buttery Brook Watershed
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
35
d” rche
“Pe
mp
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Red
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p
As
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ar se
/Co alus en T
er ould
B
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op H
H or y Hick
m bea
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it/
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Op Above: The five Priority Natural Communities include floodplain forests , a park-like hickory hop hornbeam community, and rock outcrops.
The Bachelor Brook watershed’s relatively unfragmented state offers significant protection to flora and fauna that comprise these rare communities that have adapted to the unique conditions throughout the landscape. Maintaining these special communities would contribute to preserving the health of the stream and water quality from the range to the river. The Bachelor Brook watershed is notable for its large swaths of Core Habitat and supportive Critical Natural Landscape: it has a large, intact Forest Core
encompassing the higher elevations of the range that provide habitat for large mammalian predators and forest interior species;Vernal Pool Core Habitat is concentrated in the eastern area of South Hadley’s range near the headwaters of Bachelor Brook and is home to significant populations of Blue-spotted and marbled salamanders; and Aquatic Core Habitat is supported downstream of Bachelor Brook near the river. Total Core Habitat area includes a large section of mostly undeveloped land bordering the length of the Connecticut River from the Range to the mouth of Stony Brook in addition to the entire length of Bachelor Brook and the Range. Critical Natural Landscape extends past areas of Core Habitat along the river, range and brook, acting as a buffer to areas of denser development in the south and on either side of the brook. Priority Habitat for Rare Species covers the entire Range, the Connecticut River, and areas further inland along the Brook beyond mapped Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape areas on the outskirts of denser development to the southeast. The northeastern distribution of the most valuable habitat areas (and thus areas of high ecological integrity and stream health) suggest that forest cover plays a critical role in maintaining South Hadley’s ecological value, especially where forest canopy is contiguous.
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
Habitat Map of Bachelor Brook Watershed 539
Ha rt s Bro o k
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s Hart k Bro o
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it S ere n d i p m S t re a
r Batchelo Brook 1646 833
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BioMap2 CH Vernal Pool Core
Parcels
BioMap2 CH BioMap2 Wetlands
NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
Description
BioMap2 Core Habitat
Priority Natural Community Wetlands and Selected Oxbows
BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape
Wetland core - least disturbed wetlands within undeveloped landscapes
^^ _ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Priority Natural Communities _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _ _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Forest Core
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Stony Brook Watershed Stony Brook, pictured at left (photo credit to Janice Stone), contains a variety of floodplain forests home to many wetland plants such as Cephalanthus occidentalis, otherwise known as Buttonbush, pictured at far right.
between residential lots. A powerline runs through the brook where the priority floodplain forests are concentrated along the main channel and mouth of the brook. The Priority Natural Communities of the Stony Brook watershed span floodplains that move inland with abundant vegetation and wildlife. The high-energy riverbank community undergoes constant erosion and therefore has sparse vegetation–trees and shrubs are kept at bay by annual ice scour. Grasses, sandbar willows, and riverside sedges are some of the plants that grow among river cobblestones and provide habitat for migrating shorebirds and burrowing tiger beetles. The low-energy riverbank community is found further inland and does not experience ice scouring. Turtles and beavers take refuge among the shrubs found along these narrow, inland corridors.
Stony Brook is extremely rich in biodiversity: Although fragmented by powerlines, roads, Mount Holyoke College, and threatened by encroaching residential development, the Stony Brook and Connecticut River watersheds harbor 12 Priority Natural Communities of statewide importance, the majority of which are different types of floodplain forests. Seventy-nine species of conservation concern live in and around these natural communities, and their survival is directly related to the stream health of Stony Brook (BioMap2 South Hadley). The floodplain forests border sections of Stony Brook and its tributaries, which weave across town through former agricultural lands undergoing conversion to low-density residential development. Some patches of canopy cover and wetlands are confined to ditches 38
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
Other annually flooding communities include the major-river floodplain forest community, which is distinguished by silver maples, ferns, and sparse understory; further inland, transitional floodplain forests contain wetlands, meander scars, and abundant vines followed by small-river floodplains which have a more established organic soil layer and greater herb diversity than floodplains nearer to banks. The furthest-inland high terrace floodplain forest community is characterized by steep banks within the 100-year-floodplain, but does not experience annual flooding. Alluvial deposits and a moist, organic soil layer create excellent conditions for plant diversity, but frequent disturbance leaves these communities vulnerable to invasive plant establishment as well. As in the Bachelor Brook watershed, “perched” swamps and coarse boulder/talus forest communities occur in the Stony Brook watershed. Circumneutral
Stony Brook at a Glance Location
Central region of town running east to west through Mount Holyoke College Campus 5.5 mi² watershed area
Land Cover
15.7% Impervious Surface Significantly fragmented by powerlines, roads, and development, surrounded by development
Habitat Cores Wetland Core Aquatic Core
Priority Natural Communities of Stony Brook Black Gum-Pin Oak- White Oak Perched Swamp Calcareous Rock Cliffs Calcareous Talus Forest Circumneutral Rock Cliff High-Energy Riverbank High-Terrace Floodplain Forest Low-Energy Riverbank Major-River Floodplain Forest Sandplain Grassland Small-River Floodplain Forest Transitional Floodplain Forest Wet Meadow
Bachelor Brook Watershed
Species of Conservation Concern 35 plants
8 freshwater mussels 4 fish 22 insects 4 amphibians 1 reptile 5 birds
Stony Brook Watershed
Buttery Brook Watershed
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
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ock
sR eou
ar
Calc
rest
rest
st Fore
alus er/T
st land Fore rass ow G d a n e lai tM ndp We d Sa n a l In
st Fo in Fore lain Fo k ould mp plain loodpla lain ban bank p d r p d o e d o Swa oar se B v o F i l o o r ” l F R o e e l d F c r v F y e i a C R rg ive nal er rch Terr -Ene ergy jor Riv ransitio Small-R “Pe High T High Low-En Ma Above: The 12 Priority Natural Communities in Stony Brook include a variety of floodplain forests, meadow, grassland, and outcrops.
rock cliffs above the talus forests are sparse in vegetation on 60% slopes of sandstone taprock, where grasses, ferns, plaintain-leaved pussytoes, and peregrine falcons make their home between dry to moist rock crevices. In the calcareous rock cliffs, slopes of exposed bedrock are nearly vertical. Peregrines and plants welladapted to cliffs like maidenhair spleenwort and small enchanter’s nightshade thrive in these nutrient-rich limestone and dolomite cliff faces.
Back down-slope above the floodplain forests, wet meadows and inland sandplain grasslands provide exceptional nesting and foraging habitat for marsh birds like rails and bitterns and grassland birds like killdeer, northern meadowlarks, and snowy owls that compete with snakes to make a meal out of the abundant rodent species in these communities. Core Habitat in the Stony Brook watershed follows the footprint of brook down its main channel from the river with Critical Natural Landscape extending just beyond, buffering the Core Habitat from the denser development upstream. Priority Habitat for Rare Species extends up Stony Brook from the river past Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape ending just before the lakes at Mount Holyoke College. Within these cores live a great variety of rare clubtail dragonflies and freshwater mussels—indicator species of the brook’s fair water quality and a last remnant of what was once a more common sight along American streams. The diversity of floodplain forest types offers many kinds of habitat for wetland, vernal pool, and large predator species in addition to a great diversity of plant life; however, connectivity in this area is challenged by the new development increasingly fragmenting forests and natural wetland corridors to the north and, to a lesser extent, to the south. As in the Bachelor Brook watershed, forest cover coincides with the most ecologically valuable areas in the Stony Brook watershed. However, wet meadows and grasslands also offer opportunities also play important roles in supporting biodiversity and protecting stream health from development.
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER FIVE
liff
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Habitat Map of Stony Brook Watershed 78
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BioMap2 CH Vernal Pool Core
Parcels
BioMap2 CH BioMap2 Wetlands
NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
Description
BioMap2 Core Habitat
Priority Natural Community Wetlands and Selected Oxbows
BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape
Wetland core - least disturbed wetlands within undeveloped landscapes
^^ _ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Priority Natural Communities _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _ _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Forest Core
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Buttery Brook Watershed
The Buttery Brook watershed is characterized first and foremost by development, which has impacted water quality significantly in the southern portion of town. Buttery Brook runs through vacant lots and is enclosed by fences where it skirts around the edges of industrial parking lots. In the southern-most area of town, the brookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banks are severely eroded and lined with trash and fallen trees where it daylights from a culvert under South Hadley Falls. Water quality is presumed to be very poor. However, degraded as it likely is, there is evidence of use by species welladapted to human disturbance (such as fox and raccoon), and therefore the stream and its banks has some habitat value.
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Forest cover along Buttery Brook is patchy, where it exists at all, and the Buttery Brook Park provides little ecological function, given the density of development, lack of connectivity to other natural areas, and presumed impaired water quality of the brook. Opportunities for plant dispersal and wildlife corridors exist mainly as airborne options for birds, windborne seeds, or for animals comfortable traversing dense semi-urban development.
Buttery Brook at a Glance Location
Southern region of town running north to south 2.9 mi² watershed area
Land Cover
22.2% Impervious Surface Very developed, fragmented by powerlines, residential, retail, and industrial uses. A landfill abuts a wetland.
Habitat Cores Wetland Core Aquatic Core
Priority Natural Communities of Buttery Brook Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak/Pine Barren S2
Species of Conservation Concern 2 plants Left: The banks of Buttery Brook near the mouth of a culvert (not pictured) are strewn with trash and fallen trees, suggesting instances of dumping and excessive erosion. Above: Lygodium palmatum, otherwise known as American climbing fern, is a rare plant that grows in the Bynan Conservation Area wetland. This plant was one of the first plants to be protected by law in the United States after rampant collection for Christmas decorations.
One of the most distinctive natural communities in the Buttery Brook watershed is a pitch pine-scrub oak community, otherwise known as a pine barren. Globally rare and one of three in the state, pine barrens are fire-dependent communities that occur on dry, poor, sandy, and acidic soil with sparse, small-statured tree cover and are dominated by shrubs like lowbush blueberry, bearberry, huckleberry, small scrub oaks, and chinquapin oaks, and grasses like little bluestem. This community, which also contains a valuable wetland, is extremely threatened given its proximity to the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landfill and location in a primarily industrial area. A sizable complex of wetlands and vernal pools in the southeastern area of thi watershed is considered highly valuable for its quality and size (112 acres) and is, therefore, of statewide significance. It contains the largest 20% of wetland core in the state (The Town Reminder) and hosts a significant population of blue-
3 insects 3 amphibians 2 reptiles 2 birds
Bachelor Brook Watershed
Stony Brook Watershed
Buttery Brook Watershed Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Community
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Pitch Pin-Scrub Oak Community
Above: The Bynan Conservation Area contains a state-rare pitch pine-scrub oak community, otherwise known as a pine barren with a valuable wetland that is often disturbed by recreational vehicles. Photo Credit: Town Reminder.
spotted and four-toed salamanders. Northern leopard frogs, snakes, cottontail rabbits, mice, voles, and rare species of sparrows, warblers, and moths can be found here. Some of this community lies within the Bynan Conservation Area, the integrity of which is threatened by an abutting landfill. Additionally, active recreational uses like paintball and off-roading in the conservation area have caused damage to the wetlands (Town Reminder).
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This large wetland complex straddles the border between the Buttery and Stony Brook watersheds and makes up a portion of a larger complex of Core Wetland Habitat that continues south into Chicopee near the Westover Air Force Base. This Core Habitat overlaps with Priority Habitat for Rare Species. The close proximity to a variety of surrounding wetlands has important implications for wildlife connectivity.
Habitat Map of Buttery Brook Watershed Wetland_core_921
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Legend South Hadley Town Boundary
3,400
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BioMap2 CH Vernal Pool Core
Parcels
BioMap2 CH BioMap2 Wetlands
NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
Description
BioMap2 Core Habitat
Priority Natural Community Wetlands and Selected Oxbows
BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape
Wetland core - least disturbed wetlands within undeveloped landscapes
^^ _ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Priority Natural Communities _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _ _^ ^ _^ _^ _^ _BioMap2 CH Forest Core
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Chapter 6: Land Use and Development Patterns South Hadley Falls
Hadley
Mt. Holyoke Range
Co n
1 mile
ne ct icu
tR ive r
Development History
Holyoke
Ri Su ver bd bo ivi at sio n
Village Center
Newton Street (RT-116)
Granby
Newton Street (Rt. 116)
South Hadley Falls Chicopee Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, Š OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
The southern and western portions of South Hadley have been largely developed over the last 145 years. Over the past several decades, South Hadleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population grew by approximately 500 residents every 10 years. As a result, residential development has continued to encroach on open space throughout the community. Development is densest in the southern portion of town and becomes less so to the north and west. South Hadley Falls was the location of the first development in South Hadley. A church and the establishment of Mount Holyoke College further to the north followed soon after. The initial development in these locations can be characterized by small dense lots and was largely influenced by the topography of the area. Development occurred next along Newton Street (Route-116), the major roadway connecting these villages.Over time, residential development spread in all directions from these original villages. Development in these outer areas is characterized by slightly larger lots and follows a more rectilinear pattern. Today, the residents of South Hadley value the rural
Riverboat Subdivision
The images above illustrate how patterns of development have changed over time throughout South Hadley.
character of the town. As a result, development over the last several decades has expanded north towards the Mount Holyoke Range and west towards the Connecticut River to take advantage of scenic views of open space. New development here is characterized by even larger lot sizes and patterns that are typical of modern subdivisions, with large homes on large lots spaced evenly along new roads. The topography of the Mount Holyoke Range and lack of sewer system has constrained development in the northern portion of town, keeping the range largely undeveloped. Apart from the village of South Hadley Falls, development along the Connecticut River is limited. However, as residents and developers continue
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER SIX
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of the community, zoning regulations do not prevent development in this area. Consequently, new development in this zone could take the form of more singlefamily homes on larger lots than in any other zone in town. If future development follows this pattern, the area designated by the horizontal hatch will likely look like the Riverboat Subdivision. Should this type of development pattern continue, there would be very little remaining open space in the central portion of South Hadley.
1 mile
To date, development has not spread into the Mount Holyoke Range because of steep terrain, some protected lands, and lack of a town sewer system in that area. However, there is still a considerable amount of undeveloped and unprotected land in northern South Hadley. If the community wishes to maintain its scenic and rural character, changes to zoning bylaws may be necessary to keep continued development from encroaching on the remaining unprotected and predominantly undeveloped open space. Early development Secondary development Current development
to build homes in the central and western portions of South Hadley that feature the rural character of the community, open space is compromised throughout South Hadley. The map above describes the general spread of development in South Hadley over time, where shades of red to yellow represent past to present. The area designated by cross hatch represents the locations, under current zoning, where development is sanctioned with the exception of Agricultural use. Currently this area is dominated by the Residence A-1 zone, which correlates with low-density single-family homes. Should this type of development continue in all permitted zones, the entire cross-hatched area would have a similar density to that of Newton Street. Development of this density would eliminate virtually all of the remaining open space in the Stony Brook watershed. The area designated by horizontal lines represents the area of South Hadley zoned for Agricultural use. While zoning bylaws emphasize the preservation of large contiguous tracts of open space and the protection of scenic vistas to maintain the scenic and rural identity
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER SIX
1 mile
Conservation Land Municipal Vacant Land Undeveloped Fire Dept. Municipal Housing Auth. Recreation School Property Protected in Perpetuity DPW Electric Power Sewage Facilities
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, Š OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Characteristics of Zoning in South Hadley South Hadley is predominantly zoned for residential development. Residence A-1 and Residence A-2 are the dominant zones in the southern and eastern portions of town. The Holyoke Range dominates the
northern portion of town and the western portion is largely zoned Agricultural. The residential zoning bylaws in South Hadley regulate the density of development by zone. While there are some areas zoned for Business A and Business C use along the Route-116 corridor in the central part of South Hadley, most Business and Industrial zones are located along the town’s southern boundary. Specific uses include the Department of Public Works and manufacturing. The southern portion of South Hadley also contains several Residence C zones, which allow for high-density housing development, as well as the South Hadley Falls Overlay District and the South Hadley Falls Smart Growth District. The Overlay District encourages redevelopment in a manner that is consistent with the village’s historic urban patterns, and the Smart Growth District promotes mixed development. Ideally, these districts will serve to diversify housing supply, promote pedestrian use, generate tax revenue, and implement sustainable development practices. In these zones, high density is seen as advantageous. In contrast, areas zoned as Agricultural seek to maintain large tracts of open space to preserve scenic vistas of the river and the range to maintain South Hadley’s rural identity. However, the Agricultural zone does not prevent residential development. Consequently, some low-density residential development has occurred in the western portion
South Hadley Zoning Bylaws
The town of South Hadley is divided into twelve zoning districts, and contains three overlay districts pertaining to water protection, redevelopment, and smart growth. 1) Residence A-1(Low-Density Residential) Allows new development that is in character with the existing single-family homes and seeks to preserve natural open spaces for their scenic quality and ecosystem services. 2) Residence A-2 (Medium-Density Residential) Allows for medium density new development that is in character with existing predominantly single-family homes. 3) Residence B (Village Residential) Seeks to maintain the traditional character, scale, density, design and mixed housing types of South Hadley’s historic villages. 4 )Residence C (High-Density Residential) Accommodates dense residential development, especially for multi-family development. 5 )Agricultural Seeks to promote agriculture, forestry, recreation, land conservation, and open space by allowing development that preserves large contiguous tracts of land and views of the river and the range and maintains South Hadley’s rural identity. 6) Business A-1 (General Business) Seeks to create vibrant commercial areas. 7) Business A (Neighborhood Business) Allows for a mix of business and residential use along major road corridors. 8 )Business B (Village Center Mixed Use) Seeks to maintain the traditional scale, diversity, design, and mixed uses of South Hadley’s historic village. 9 )Business C (Planned Business) Provides development methods that accommodate large scale businesses. 10) Industrial A Allows low-impact industrial and business uses. 11) Industrial B Allows greater impact industrial and business use than Industrial A. 12) Industrial Garden Allows low-impact industrial and business uses as well as public-private recreation with high-quality design that preserves natural scenic beauty.
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of town near the Connecticut River, in the Stony Brook watershed.
South Hadley Falls Overlay District The purpose of the South Hadley Falls Overlay District is to encourage redevelopment of the South Hadley Falls Village that is consistent with the historic urban pattern of the area. This overlay district allows for redevelopment to remain dense in an area that is otherwise zoned for Residence A-2 and Business B use. This overlay is in the Buttery Brook watershed.
Smart Growth Districts The goal of the Smart Growth Overlay District in South Hadley Falls is to promote housing and mixeduse development in the village that is consistent with the area’s historical and architectural character while ensuring high-quality site planning, diversification of the housing supply, increased pedestrian use, the generation of tax revenue, and sustainable development practice. There is also a proposed Smart Growth District located at the intersection of Newton Street (Route116) and Lyman Street. The adoption of Smart Growth Districts means stricter stormwater regulations for redevelopment than currently exist for new development in other zoning districts throughout South Hadley.
Water Supply Protection Overlay District The purpose of this district is to promote the health, safety and welfare of the community by protecting and preserving the surface and ground water resources of
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
Newton Street (RT-116)
the Town and region from land use or development that would reduce the quality and quantity of these water resources. Within this district, most residential, agricultural, forestry, outdoor recreation, conservation and wildlife management uses are permitted. Most business and industrial use is prohibited, including dumping, trucking terminals, landfills, salvage yards, graveyards, repair shops, and storage of any kind. There are also restrictions within this district that serve to keep pollutants out of the ground: these include bans on sodium chloride, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, sewage and other chemicals. This overlay is located in the Bachelor Brook watershed.
Wetlands Protections Under Massachusetts State Law, South Hadley is required to enforce the Wetlands Protection Act through its Conservation Commission. In addition to the state Wetlands Protection Act, South Hadley also adopted a local wetlands bylaw in 2005. These two documents serve to guide the Conservation Commission in review of new development. The purpose of the local Wetlands Bylaw is to establish additional standards that augment those of the Wetlands Protection Act, to maintain the quality of water supplies, and to protect public health and safety. Specifically, the bylaw aims to: • Protect public and private water supply and ground water • Maintain flood control • Maintain erosion and sedimentation control • Prevent storm damage • Prevent water pollution • Protect habitat for rare species • Maintain recreation and agricultural values
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER SIX
To meet these requirements, the Wetlands Bylaw prevents removing, filling, dredging, building, or polluting in freshwater wetlands, vernal pools, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, creeks, streams or any area within 100’ of wetland and lakes or 200’ of rivers without a permit
In all cases, a 50’ conservation zone has been established where vegetation must remain undisturbed and no work or alterations to the land are permitted. Unique to South Hadley, the conservation zone for vernal pools is based on the size of the basin. Vernal pools that are less than 10,000 square feet have a 25’ conservation zone and those over 10,000 square feet have a 50’ zone. Additionally, basins within South Hadley that are not already delineated as vernal pools by NHESP but are at least 500 square feet and hold water for a minimum of two consecutive months most of the year mandate a 100’ conservation zone. These areas are protected because of their essential habitat function. The Wetland Bylaw is important because it helps to mitigate the harmful impact of excess stormwater and its threats to water quality.
Stormwater Management Bylaw Like the Wetlands Bylaw, the Stormwater Management Bylaw seeks to ensure that the quality of water resources are maintained. Specifically, this set of bylaws seeks to: • Slow runoff and velocity to increase infiltration and reduce erosion; • Trap sediment and other pollutants, decreasing or preventing pollutions in waterbodies;
Stormwater Handbook outlines best management practices for stormwater treatment according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. This document contains definitions, strategies, criteria, and requirements. These strategies include analysis of existing and proposed topography, hydrology, soils, vegetation, and habitat. These standards must be incorporated into plans by the developer and approved by the Planning Board and the South Hadley Department of Public Works before new and redevelopment building permits are approved.
Changes in Land Use The composition of land use in South Hadley has shifted over time and can be characterized by a general trend of decreasing open space and increasing residential development. As demonstrated by Tables X-Z, from 1971 to 2005 the town saw a 39% loss in agricultural/grassland, a 7.2% loss in forested land, a 63.7% increase in recreational land (which can be attributed to the creation of the Ledges Public Golf Course), an overall 10.6% increase in residential land, and an overall 21.7% increase in non-residential land used for commercial, industrial, and institutional purposes.
Land Use 6,082
5,855
5,785
1,202
190
1,058
1971
• Increase permeability of soils and surfaces to contribute to groundwater recharge;
199
833
Year
1985 Agricultural Land
• Minimize damage to public and private property from flooding;
This bylaw is regulated and enforced by the South Hadley Planning Board. The Massachusetts
150 1999
Forested Land
733
311 2005
Recreation/ Golf Course
Residential & Commercial Land Use
• Provide stormwater facilities; and
3,127 2,729
2,715
2,467
Acres
• Encourage practices to reduce development runoff, waste materials, and debris.
5,639
Acres
from the Conservation Commission. These buffer zones help prevent the adverse impacts of construction which include erosion, siltation, loss of ground water, degraded water quality, and loss of wildlife habitat.
1971
635
622
498 1985
Residential
Year
1999
606 2005
Non-Residential
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While these figures only represent changes in land use over the course of the 30-year period from 1971 to 2005, they are representative of the continued changes in land use that have persisted over the last 13 years, and therefore highlight concerns about continued residential development, the loss of open space, and threats to water quality in South Hadley.
typically single-family homes; nearly one third of rental properties were within buildings that contained five or more dwellings. From 1990 to 2000, owner-occupied housing increased 16% and renter units increased 3%. The construction of predominantly single family homes over the last two decades, has resulted in a lack of housing diversity.
The majority of open space lost was in the Stony Brook watershed.
Changes in housing stock in South Hadley also dem-
Population Growth 18,108
555
1,819
717
636 64 219
1971
137 219
1985 Multi-Family
18,000
# of people
2,054 1,797
1,659
37 215
18,500
Year
< 1/4 acre
144 166
1999 1/4-1/2 acre
601
2005 > 1/2 acre
17,514 17,500
17,196
17,033 17,000
16,685 16,399
16,500 16,000 15,500 1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Year
calculated a population of 17,514, and this number is projected to reach 18,108 by 2020 (South Hadley, 2010). Like population, the number of acres occupied by residential housing in South Hadley has largely increased over time. From 1971 to 2005, South Hadley saw a 11% increase in the number of acres occupied by residential housing. There was a 289.2% increase in multifamily units, a 9.6% increase in residential lots between a quarter to half acre in size, and an 8.3% increase in lots over a half acre in size. While the number of larger lots has increased, lots under a quarter acre in size saw a decrease of -22.7%. These statistics are consistent with the housing needs assessment done in the most recent Master Plan completed by South Hadley in 2010. At the time of the housing needs assessment, 82% of homes in South Hadley were owner-occupied and
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Type of Residential Use
Acres
After a slight drop in the late 1970s, the population of South Hadley has steadily increased, growing 1.7% during the 1980s (to reach 16,399) and 3% during the 1940s (to reach 16,685). In 2000, the population of South Hadley surpassed the number of residents the town had in 1970 (17,196). Census data from 2010
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER SIX
onstrate development over time. While most of the housing in South Hadley was built prior to 1939 and between 1950 and 1959, development that occurred from 1970 to 2000 makes up 32% of all the residential housing in South Hadley. Despite recent development, population density in South Hadley has remained relatively constant because new development has occurred consistently on larger lots.
Year
During the 1970s and 1980s, most new development took the form of condominiums with an average density of 10 dwellings per acre, whereas more recent condominium development over the last 20 years has had an average density of 4.55 units per acre. This difference can be attributed to a shift away from stacked multi-family housing towards that of single-level dwell-
ings. As of 2007, the population density of South Hadley was 944 people per square mile. A breakdown of average number of units per acre within each zone where residential building is permitted is provided in table X. Single-family development during the 1980s occurred predominantly in the Residence A-2 zoning districts. From 1990 to 2010, this kind of development has occurred largely in the Residence A-1 and Agricultural zoning districts. This continued shift threatens both open space and water quality as development continues to minimize the amount of open space and undeveloped land throughout South Hadley. According to the 2003-2004 “Build Out Analysis,” there are 4,374 acres of land which can be developed within South Hadley without constraints. If all of this land were to be developed, South Hadley could increase its housing stock by 4,537 units accommodating approximately 12,839 more residents, representing a 75% increase in the town’s population. While further development would bolster tax revenue, it would also dramatically decrease open space and potentially create issues with erosion and particulate contamination with more runoff on impervious surfaces and insufficient waste water systems. As of 2007, South Hadley’s waste water facility operated at 65% capacity, serving 7,300 homes including 240 in Chicopee and 300 in Granby. With a projected population of 18,108 in 2020, the sewer system is expected to reach full capacity. These projections do not include any development north of Bachelor Brook, where public sewer is not available and waste water is handled by private septic. For this reason alone, the possibility for development outlined by the “Build Out Analysis” would require increasing the capacity of the current sewer system.
Approximately 284 acres were protected in 2008 through acquisition of the Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Conservation Area. Permanently protected open space now accounts for approximately 16% of all land. The Open Space and Recreation Plan states that an additional 52 acres has been identified as having either natural resource or recreation potential, though they are not permanently protected. The resources managed by the Conservation Commission are listed in Table 4-4.
Town Owned Parcels and Uses Of the properties owned by the town of South Hadley, vacant and conservation land are the greatest in size and number. Much of the conservation land is located to the north in the Mount Holyoke Range, and to the west along the Connecticut River where the Bachelor Brook watershed terminates. Other considerable conservation areas are in the southern portion of South Hadley in the Buttery Brook watershed. The most sizable area of unprotected vacant land is in the southeastern corner. This corner is also the location of the Department of Public Works, electric power and fire department facilities. Other notable land uses on town property include recreation areas in the western portion of South 1 mile
Conservation Land Municipal Vacant Land Undeveloped Fire Dept. Municipal Housing Auth. Recreation School Property Protected in Perpetuity DPW Electric Power Sewage Facilities
Open Space and Conservation Areas As of December 2009, there were approximately 1,960 acres of land in permanently protected open space status in South Hadley (South Hadley, 2007). Development on this land is substantially restricted or prohibited. Another 1,330 acres of land are assessed as agricultural, forest, or recreation land which is not protected. Of the permanently protected lands, approximately 1,729 acres are publicly owned.
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Hadley and along the Connecticut River near South Hadley Falls. These uses include The Ledges public golf course and the Canal Walk, which is owned by Holyoke Gas & Electric. Additionally, the town owns properties used by the public school, for municipal housing, and for sewage facilities. Because development is most dense in the southern portion of South Hadley and less dense to the north, the greatest opportunity to purchase or otherwise protect large parcels of land for conservation exists in the central and northern regions of town. However, fully protecting municipally owned, unprotected and predominantly undeveloped land into conservation would dramatically increase the amount of permanently protected land in the southern portion of South Hadley.
Unprotected and Predominantly Undeveloped Parcels The greatest quantity of unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels along or near Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook are located in the northern and western areas of South Hadley where development is most sparse. Undeveloped and
1 mile
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, Š OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
54
unprotected parcels in the southern portion of South Hadley are clustered together along a portion of Buttery Brook. There is tremendous potential for large contiguous blocks of land protection within the Bachelor Brook watershed because of the Mount Holyoke Range and the lack of development. Land preservation within the Stony Brook watershed would help to prevent encroaching residential development, provide additional buffers and corridor connectivity, and help maintain the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rural character.
Chapter 7: Summary of Watershed Character Zones & Development Patterns In previous chapters, watershed context and a Biofilter tool were used to analyze three stream watersheds in South Hadley. In this section, these lenses are broadened to emphasize the type of development and relative number of undeveloped parcels of land in each watershed. These development patterns can be generalized as zones, each one corresponding to a different watershed. This analysis begins with the north zone and moves south.
NORTHERN ZONE/BACHELOR BROOK WATERSHED • Least amount of development • Greatest amount of open space • Greatest amount of town-owned land • Greatest number of undeveloped and unprotected parcels
Development in the Bachelor Brook watershed The Bachelor Brook watershed contains the greatest amount of open space and protected land in South Hadley. This watershed contains a large portion of the Mount Holyoke Range and is predominantly zoned Agricultural. The residential development in this area is rural and can be characterized as very low density and large lot size. There are 29 undeveloped and unprotected parcels along or adjacent to Bachelor Brook. There is potential for increased residential development within the Bachelor Brook watershed. However, steep terrain and the lack of sewer system in this area make development more difficult and more expensive. Further development in this area would compromise the scenic vistas and rural identity specified for the Agricultural zone as contained in the zoning bylaws. Currently, the Bachelor Brook watershed has 3.6% impervious surface cover within the boundary of South Hadley. With increased residential development, threats to water quality in the Bachelor Brook watershed within South Hadley would include non-point source pollutants from septic leaching and contamination of the water system.
1 mile
Bachelor Brook Watershed
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CENTRAL ZONE/STONY BROOK WATERSHED • Areas of both dense development and open space • Town-owned properties both partically protected and permanently conserved • Significant number of undeveloped/unprotected parcels
Development in the Stony Brook watershed The Stony Brook watershed is zoned Residence A-1 and Residence A-2 to the east and Agricultural to the west. Development within the watershed can be characterized as low-density single-family homes. Mount Holyoke College was the heart of the first development in this watershed. From here development initially spread to the south along Route-116 toward South Hadley Falls, and ultimately spread along roadways to the north, east, and west. Consequently, the densest residential development within the Stony Brook watershed is in the southeast and becomes less dense towards the north and west. However, areas to the north and west could become equally as dense as those areas in the southeast under current zoning bylaws. Currently there are 91 unprotected and predominantly undeveloped lots along and adjacent to Stony Brook. Development in this area of South Hadley is less expensive than in Bachelor Brook to the north because the terrain is largely flat and there is a sewer system. Currently, the Stony Brook watershed has 15.7% impervious surface cover within the boundary of South Hadley. With increased residential development, threats to water quality in the Stony Brook watershed within South Hadley would include an increase of non-point source pollution from new construction, lawn care, and road maintenance. As the amount of impervious surface increases with development, these pollutants find their way into the water system more quickly via stormwater runoff.
1 mile
56
Stony Brook Watershed
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER SEVEN
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
SOUTHERN ZONE/BUTTERY BROOK WATERSHED • Dense development • Very little undeveloped land • Small amount of town-owned conservation land • Contains Smart Growth District
Development in the Buttery Brook watershed Buttery Brook has the greatest diversity of zones throughout South Hadley. All 16 undeveloped, unprotected parcels along and adjacent to Buttery Brook are located within Residence A-1 zones. Aside from these parcels, this watershed is predominantly built out. A diversity of different zones makes the Buttery Brook watershed unlike either watershed to the north. This area of town is characterized by denser residential development as well as business and industrial uses. Overlay districts in South Hadley Falls encourage the redevelopment of those historical areas of town that initially had dense patterns of development. Because this portion of the town was built around the Falls and the Canal, there is a legacy of industrial use. Currently, the Buttery Brook watershed has 22.2% impervious surface cover within the boundary of South Hadley. Because of present and historic industrial development, water quality in Buttery Brook is already significantly compromised. Development in this area has made the southern portion of Buttery Brook a compromised urban waterway. Large portions of Buttery Brook are buried or culverted or run through industrial property. Both source and non-point source pollution currently threaten Buttery Brook. Redevelopment and stream restoration could be opportunities to revitalize these portions of Buttery Brook, along with protecting predominantly undeveloped parcels along and adjacent to the brook.
1 mile
Buttery Brook Watershed
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
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Chapter 8: Matrix Tool for Parcel Assessment How to assess and assign a conservation value to a single parcel of land This section describes how the five criteria used to develop the Biofilter were combined with an analysis of undeveloped parcels in the three stream watersheds to create a matrix to quantify the ecological value of individual parcels within South Hadley. Using ArcMap, each of the criteria from the Biofilter were cross-referenced with the undeveloped and unprotected parcels along and adjacent to Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook to determine which criteria was or was not present in each individual parcel. The presence or absence of each of these criteria was indicated by manipulating the symbology in ArcMap. Parcels with any of the following criteria were given a value of 1 (positive) for each criteria: • forest cover • agricultural land • NHESP habitat • CORE habitat • Critical Natural Landscape habitat • within the 500-year flood zone • within the aquifer protection district • contains a wetland, stream, 100-foot buffer or is within a quarter mile of a conservation area.
Parcels that do not contain the criteria listed above were given a value of 0 (negative) for each criteria. The Total column quantifies the number of criteria that each individual parcel contains and determines the conservation value of that individual parcel. Those parcels with a greater total number contain more criteria which suggests they have greater value for conservation. Referencing this number with the acreage data for each parcel will help to determine the overall conservation value of each parcel. This matrix can specify not only why a parcel has conservation significance, by highlighting which criteria it contains, but also can help determine the relative conservation value of parcels that are unprotected and undevel-
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
oped. Similarly, it can help determine the conservation value of parcels that are unprotected and partially developed. The following matrix presents findings based on a sample of undeveloped parcels as of March 2018.
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60
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
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62
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VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE MATRIX
Forest Cover
No (0) Yes (1)
The following maps are a visual representation of the absence or presence of the eleven criteria included within the matrix for the unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels along or adjacent to Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook within South Hadley. The grey tone represents where the criteria exist within South Hadley’s borders. Parcels designated in yellow represent the absence of the criteria within that parcel while shades of green, blue and orange represent the presence of a particular criteria within the parcel.
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
CNL (habitat)
CORE (habitat)
No (0) Yes (1)
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Stream
Wetland
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
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Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Un-Forested Open Space
NHESP (habitat)
No (0) Yes (1)
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
500 yr Flood Zone
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Aquifer
No (0) Yes (1)
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
1/4 mile from Con Com
100’ Buffer (all H20)
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
No (0) Yes (1)
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
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66
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER EIGHT
Chapter 9: Recommendations & Vision for Each Watershed This section offers a vision for protecting stream water quality in each watershed and at the same time promotes the conservation of South Hadley’s natural resources and the protection of lands for conservation and passive recreation.
Vision for the Northern Zone: Bachelor Brook Watershed This zone encompasses areas of considerable ecological and cultural significance. To protect these resources, it is important to ensure that the north zone Above, a vision of the Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Conservation Area expansion across Hadley Street to will not experience intensive conserve valuable ecosystems that support water quality along Bachelor Brook’s main channel.. development in the future. The three parcels of greatest conservation value in This zone includes sensitive and rare aquatic habitats; the Bachelor Brook watershed include three potential excessively steep slopes with erodible soils; and vernal pools. The conservation of these parcels would archaeological sites or fragile cultural sites. A prohelp maintain the critical terrestrial habitat and the tected landscape within this zone provides a buffer for main channel of Bachelor Brook and its overall stream sensitive resources, provides adequate recharge areas health. for surface and groundwater, and offers exceptional resource areas where recreational activities can supThe conservation of the three parcels of greatest ecoport economic development in the Town. logical value will increase connectivity to the existing
Bachelor Brook Watershed
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
The most ecologically valuable undeveloped parcels in the Bachelor Brook watershed are spread out along the brook where protection is lacking and connections could be improved.
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER NINE
67
Bachelor and Stoney Brook conservation and recreation areas. Protecting the largest of these parcels would increase the existing conservation area by 86 acres or 30 percent. Other goals and objectives for all of the unprotected and predominantly undeveloped parcels in the Bachelor Brook watershed include the protection of riparian corridors, the preservation of scenic views of the Mount Holyoke Range and the Connecticut River, and ensuring the stewardship of rare or sensitive ecological communities while expanding recreational opportunities. Additionally, South Hadley should seek funding to acquire more land of regional and statewide significance and advocate for signage explaining the significance of conservation areas and efforts to protect natural resources. To ensure the long term preservation of this area, South Hadley should explore regional watershed planning with neighboring towns of Belchertown and Granby.
Another undeveloped, ecologically significant parcel near Granby along Bachelor Brook could be reforested to reconnect a fragmented forest block, thus restoring habitat and expanding riparian buffers.
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER NINE
Vision for the Central Zone: Stony Brook Watershed The three most valuable parcels in the Stony Brook watershed contain sections of Stony Brook’s main channel and its surrounding floodplain forests near the mouth of the brook at the Connecticut River. Conserving these parcels would protect the most critical areas in the central zone of South Hadley as they contain floodplains, riparian buffer space, Core Wetland Habitat, Critical Natural Landscape, a por- Above: A vision of conservation of Stony Brook’s main channel. Although already threatened by disturbance from tion of the 12 Priority an existing utility corridor, conserving these parcels would prevent further encroachment from surrounding Natural Communities, and development pressures. contain powerlines. While this use may prevent the Priority Habitat for Rare conservation of this area, management practices Species associated with 79 species of conservation should be implemented to ensure the protection of concern in this area. There are also four listed potenthe riparian corridors and unique habitat that exists tial vernal pools around these parcels, so this protechere because of the lack of residential development. tion could significantly contribute to maintaining or Management practices that prevent further disturrestoring critical terrestrial habitat. bance and possible development will help maintain the Maintaining the ecological integrity of these key parconservation value of these parcels and preserve concels will support water quality by maintaining riparian nectivity to the existing Bachelor and Stoney Brook buffers in the surrounding area with extensive imperconservation and recreation area. Together, the existvious surface. These parcels, while privately owned, ing conservation areas and the top-ranking parcels
Stony Brook Watershed
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
The most ecologically valuable undeveloped parcels in the Stony Brook watershed are clustered along the brook’s main channel where floodplain forests are concentrated
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER NINE
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
69
make up a total of 425 acres of undeveloped land. This block of contiguous land is important for maintaining water quality, wildlife habitat and connectivity. Conservation challenges in this area include fragmentation, loss of connectivity, and patchy subdivision development due to zoning laws. Designs for subdivisions here should preserve natural resources; manage priority community types and grassland habitat; support opportunities for interconnected trail and greenway systems; and follow stormwater management best practices. Conservation strategies for parcels within the Stony Brook watershed with a lesser ecological value include adding Resource Overlay Districts in areas that have significant water resources like certified vernal pools, potential vernal pools, and wetlands. The conservation of the small parcels near the Bynan Conservation area in the southwestern portion of South Hadley would preserve water quality in Stony Brook as it enters town.
From top to bottom, an example of land pre-development, conventional subdivision development, and cluster subdivision development to preserve open space, limit sprawl, and conserve natural resources.
70
Other parcels near the Bynan Conservation Area could be conserved to preserve buffer space to valuable wetlands.
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER NINE
Vision for the Southern Zone: Buttery Brook Watershed The three most valuable parcels for protection in the Buttery Brook watershed all contain forested land, grassland, wetlands, the brook and its 100’ buffer. Two of the three parcels also are within ¼ of a mile of town-owned conservation land. These parcels happen to be adjacent to one another along a northern stretch of Buttery Brook and are each 14-25 acres. Conservation in this area would focus entirely on water quality and recreational potential as none of the parcels contain NHESP habitat, Core Habitat or Critical Natural Landscape.
Above, a vision of conservation for Buttery Brook’s priority parcels containing the brook’s origination. An exisitng utility corridor easement along these parcels could be managed as grasslands and wetlands, and offer respite to nearby neighbors.
Conservation of these parcels would mean protecting the largest remaining undeveloped and unprotected parcels along Buttery Brook in the southern section of South Hadley. Protecting these parcels, which are upstream of the most densely developed area in South Hadley, may help in some measure to support water quality downstream as South Hadley Falls redevelops in the future.
Buttery Brook Watershed Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
The health of Buttery Brook is most compromised in its southern section near its terminus at the Connecticut River. Currently, large portions of Buttery Brook in and around South Hadley Falls are buried and culverted. As South Hadley Falls redevelops under the Smart Growth District regulations, improvements to stormwater management will be mandated. Green infrastructure design and enhancements would improve the health and appearance of riparian systems in this zone.
Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetM contributors, and the GIS user community
The most ecologically valuable undeveloped parcels in the Buttery Brook watershed are clustered together along Buttery Brook’s origination between residential areas.
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71
Additionally, these parcels are located between the Smart Growth District in South Hadley Falls and the proposed Smart Growth District at the intersection of Newton Street and Lyman Street. Protecting these parcels offers a potential link between these Smart Growth Districts in the future, improving walkability, preserving green space, and providing support for future economic development.
trian connectivity but can also serve to raise awareness about the value of maintain natural resources and reconnect people with outdoor spaces in their neighborhoods and beyond.
Protection of these parcels would significantly increase the amount of conservation land in the southern portion of South Hadley. Maintaining open space in this portion of town would be beneficial to residents, wildlife, and ultimately water quality. Open space is an asset to any community and keeping these parcels in their current condition by preventing further development would serve the surrounding high-density development. Increasing common areas will not only increase pedes-
South Hadley Falls Smart Growth District
Newton/Lyman Street Smart Growth District
These priority parcels fall between two Smart Growth Districts, and could perhaps present a connected greenway opportunity for residents or wildlife in the Black Stevens Conservation Area.
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Chapter 10: Strategic Approaches & Next Steps How to proceed Below are five approaches identified as potential areas to explore further in order to achieve the Conservation Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals:
1) PURSUE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING Maintain communication with state, federal, and non-profit entities about opportunities to develop and collaborate on proposals to protect land in South Hadley. Funding sources are variable year to year. Target different priorities, organizations, and initiatives. Keep abreast of funding opportunities and identify partners that can work with South Hadley as eligible and competitive partners on grant applications.
2) LEVERAGE CHAPTER 61 FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL
4) INCREASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT Work with conservation partners to ensure that owners of parcels identified through the matrix as having high conservation value are aware of the range of conservation options to permanently protect undeveloped lands. Provide access to professional assistance and resources for the long-term planning needs of these property owners.
5) REASSESS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT South Hadley has voted down the Community Preservation Act in Town Meeting twice previously. Actions should be taken to understand why the Community Preservation Act has failed, what the arguments are against it, and any considerations for new strategies to adopt it in the future.
Identify the Chapter 61 lands that rank high in the matrix and inform Town Officials and the Conservation Commission partners so that funding can be identified. Pursue the first right of refusal to acquire these parcels when the opportunity arises.
3) CONDUCT STREAM WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS Seek funding to conduct water quality assessments to establish current baseline conditions in Bachelor Brook, Stony Brook and Buttery Brook. Establish volunteer stream teams to monitor the physical conditions of the three brooks. Consider conducting stream crossing or culvert assessments for wildlife needs.
SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER TEN
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GREENWAY RIPARIAN CORRIDORS Finally, this assessment concludes with a town-wide vision to improve connectivity and increase the use of South Hadley’s abundant recreational and natural resources. Three Riparian Greenways traversing east-west across town connect existing conservation lands and form contiguous corridors for wildlife habitat, stream structure and function, and passive recreation. The greenways connect blocks of undeveloped land, preserving the scenic views cherished as part of South Hadley’s agrarian past. Loss of these areas signals a transition to a suburban environment where natural resources and open space is no longer dominant. As noted previously, town planners and South Hadley residents alike have expressed interest in improving walkability, particularly within the commercial centers of town; increasing the connectivity between conservation areas; and promoting the value of the town’s recreational resources. Creating riparian, greenway, and recreational corridors would meet all these needs while supporting the Conservation Commission’s mission.
Urban greenway corridors: Improving walkability in town Identifying possible walking routes through town to link the various commercial areas of town would not only create new amenities for residents but also support economic development. Roads and sidewalks present opportunities to improve and increase green spaces in the most urban and developed part of town. Installing more permeable surfaces in strategic places along Buttery Brook could help mitigate future flooding as well as provide an amenity to people visiting town on business. Greenways would help connect tourist activities with commercial activities (shopping, dining out, business) in ways that could help stimulate the local economy and provide the town with revenues to support further conservation efforts.
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SOUTH HADLEY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CHAPTER TEN
Community gardens and other public green spaces would provide amenities and support the town’s sustainability goals. Given the loss of former agricultural lands, South Hadley will need to begin thinking about its farms, fields, and even pockets of open land in the more densely settled parts of the town as pieces of a working landscape for gardening and food production.
Recreational corridors: Increasing connectivity between conservation areas South Hadley offers a range of hiking trails, some with a national reputation, including: • Sections of the New England National Scenic Trail, a 215-mile hiking trail extending from Guildford, Connecticut to Belchertown, Massachusetts. The trail crosses the range near South Hadley, offering spectacular views of the river and valley. • In addition, the New England National Scenic Trail incorporates parts of the regional MetacometMonadnock Trail, which runs through the Mount Tom State Reservation, Joseph Allen Skinner State Park, and Mount Holyoke Range State Park. These parks offer amenities which attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. • Local trails on the range include Dry Brook, Black Rock and Lithia Springs, which at times cross through private property on their way to the Summit House and other points. Together, these trails provide a recreational corridor for hiking, camping, wildlife watching and more. • In addition to these trails, the Town owns and manages passive recreational areas, several of which contain hiking trails. The largest of these is the 284-acre Bachelor Brook-Stony Brook Resource Conservation Area, situated near the Mount Holyoke College boathouse along Ferry Street and Hadley Street. • Other conservation properties with trails include the Bagg Conservation Area, Black Stevens, and Bynan Conservation Area. Holyoke Gas & Electric developed a short Riverwalk, open seasonally to the public, along the Connecticut River in South Hadley Falls at Texon Mill Park.
Establishing connectivity between these trails could be the first step in meeting the Town’s goals to develop
greenways and improve walkability. The Conservation Commission might work with the Hikes & Trails project to improve connections between all of these trails.
Riparian and wildlife corridors: Stream corridors are important wildlife habitat. Protecting and enhancing natural river corridors would not only help protect water quality, but also help protect biodiversity and ecological integrity.
Improvements to Existing Infrastructure Other types of corridors already exist and can be explored to further increase connectivity. These include: • stretches of power lines • paved and non-paved paths at the municipal golf course
Supporting the 2010 Master Plan and next Open Space and Recreation Plan The majorty (95%) of South Hadley residents considered recreation and open space resources “very important” or “important,” in the 2010 Master Plan. The community felt that investments should be made in many areas, including creating walking and hiking trails. The scattered nature of the town’s conservation areas, parks and waterways emerged as a limitation on the open space and recreation experiences available in town. The ideas, tools and methodologies provided here offer recommendations for the next generation of the Open Space and Recreation Plan to come, as well as a conservation strategy for South Hadley that preserves its rural character, promotes its natural resources, and protects its water quality for generations to come.
• horseback riding trails (there are extensive equestrian facilities in South Hadley, both public and at the college)
Transit and traffic corridors • Traffic corridors, such as Routes 47 , 202, 116, are designed for vehicles and are the least likely to be used by pedestrians. However, they provide regional connectivity. Route 47, which runs northsouth through South Hadley, is a designated Scenic Byway and offers direct access to the Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Natural Resource Area. • Transit corridors are also regional. This includes I-91, the Amtrak train line that runs along the river, and the bridges (including Route 202) that connect Holyoke and South Hadley, one of which includes a walking/bike path. Route 202 runs east-west and connects South Hadley with Holyoke.
Five College Consortium • Finally, there is the so-called “knowledge corridor,” a reference to the five colleges in the region where over 110,000 students attend 26 colleges and universities (MP).
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GREENWAY RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MAP
1 mile
Bachelor Brook/ Stony Brook Conservation Area
Newton Street
South Hadley Falls Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
Conservation Land Forest Cover Streams/Brooks Unprotected & predominantly undeveloped parecels parcels Parcels of greatest ecological value by watershed Smart Growth Districts
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Located along the Mount Holyoke Range and the Connecticut River, South Hadley, Massachusetts, is a post-agricultural town rich in natural resources and biodiversity. Like many rural towns in New England, South Hadley is undergoing a swift transition to suburban development. In this report, the Conway School offers the South Hadley Conservation Commission a vision for land protection and conservation of the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural resources and water quality of its three major brooks.