PVRS Pioneering Stewardship Plan / Full Edition by John Lepore

Full Edition

P ioneering S tewardship P lan An Action Inspired Design

Pioneer Valley Regional School

Northfield, MA

September 2013

P ioneering S tewardship P lan is

E ndorsed

“P erhaps

a creature of so much ingenuity and

deep memory is almost bound to grow alienated from his world , his fellows , and the objects around him .

suffers from a nostalgia for

which there is no remedy upon earth except as it is to be found in the enlightenment of the spirit -- some ability to have a perceptive rather than an exploitive relationship with his fellow creatures .”

L oren E iseley

An early 1700’s foundation on the south end of PVRS property reminds us of the landscape’s long, rich agricultural past.

Dedication To Pioneer Valley Regional School students of the past, present and future. May you continue to learn Nature’s Ways.

“E verybody

needs beauty as well as bread , places to play

in and pray in , where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul .”

― J ohn M uir

© 2013 FUTURE LANDS, LLC No portion of the publication may be reproduced without written permission from the designer, EXCEPT for educational purposes by the staff and students at Pioneer Valley Regional School. Additional copies available from www.lulu.com/PVRS_PSP or download at the PVRS website

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Contents Forward

Executive Summary

Preface

Introduction

Inset: What Is BioMap?

Goals

Community Process

Context

History

Existing Conditions

Inset: Adopt-a-Habitat

Site Analysis Overview

Site Analysis: Water Resources

Site Analysis: Surficial Geology

Site Analysis: Soils 38 Site Analysis: Topography & Drainage

Site Analysis: Vegetation & Cover

Inset: Invasive Species

Site Analysis: Wildlife & Natural Heritage

Site Analysis: Land Use

Site Analysis: Existing Access & Circulation

Case Study: Art Unites Outdoor Uses...This Could Be Pioneer!

Site Analysis Summary I: Sustainable Land Use

Site Analysis Summary II: Engaging Destinations & Functions 58 ďťż

Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of individuals who contributed myriad hours of advice, guidance and information. Their help kept my vision alive. Many thanks to the community leaders who attended the stakeholder meetings, PVRS students who provided invaluable ideas and motivation, the four towns in the district, Bernardston, Leyden, Northfield and Warwick, the Massachusetts Department of Recreations and Conservation, the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Northfield Open Space Committee, the Greater Northfield Watershed Association, Silvio Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and the PVRS staff. I am most grateful to Christine Johnston as editor, mentor, fellow teacher and friend; Bill Lattrell, ecologist, friend and mentor; and Peter Monro, Landscape Architect, mentor and fellow Conway alumnus. Most of all, I have the deepest gratitude to my wife and lifelong partner, Carolyn, who has spent countless hours offering support and guidance in the most unique ways.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Action Inspired Design Images

Designs: Preferred & Alternatives Overview

Preferred Design: Resilience 64 Alternative Design I: Stewardship 66 Alternative Design II: Open-Air 68 Getting Started

Resources, Grants & Partnerships

Appendix A: Building Resilient Communities

Appendix B: Community Input

Appendix C: Historic Details

Appendix B History

Appendix D: Soil Test Results

Appendix E: Ecosystem Services

Appendix F: Invasive Plants - Guidelines for Managers

Appendix G: Invasive Plants Details

Appendix H: Invasive Plant Locations & Replacements

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS

Appendix J: Endorsements 107 Appendix K: Forest Management Strategies

112

Appendix L: Photovoltaics - Buy or Lease?

115

Appendix M: Grants & Foundations

117

Appendix N: Developing A Trail System

120

Appendix O: Climate Change Report 2011

128

Appendix P: PSP’s Overlaps with Northfield’s OSRP

129

Bibliography

130

â&#x20AC;&#x153;W hether

one believes we are on the precipice

of a new environmental age or just continuing down the same road we humans have traveled for millennia , it is time for us to rethink and reorganize our human / environmental interconnectedness .

need a language and a

framework for living in a world of expanding need and limited resources .

T he

core concepts

of sustainability , resilience and stewardship can guide us in the right direction and give us hope for the future .â&#x20AC;?

W illiam W ehrli , P rincipal

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Forward

hen I became principal of Pioneer Valley Regional School in 2007, John Lepore and I began a conversation about what sustainability means in a public secondary school. It is a word that has been part of the Pioneer mission for many years, but it has had varying degrees of impact on our actions.

While we enjoyed our discussions, John is also a man of action. During my first year, John helped found a composting and recycling effort that has reduced our waste stream by 85%. He used this waste as a project in his classrooms by examining what we were sending to landfill. He also used the natural habitat around the school as his classroom by taking his students into the wetlands to conduct primary watershed research. John and I share some fundamental beliefs about learning and education. We agree that the most meaningful learning is constructed by the learner, rather than imparted by the “sage on the stage.” We also share a deep concern about the future of our environment and of our youth. Three years ago John retired from teaching and moved on to pursue a degree in ecological landscape design. During that time, we continued to talk about the central issues of sustainability, resilience, stewardship and the challenges of changing our relationship to the world around us. When he completed his rigorous graduate program, John approached me with a proposal – that we develop a land management plan for Pioneer based on the principles of stewardship, sustainability and resilience with the goal of supporting Pioneer’s educational mission. Coincidentally, the school was in the process of reviewing and revising its mission statement into a statement of core values and learning expectations. In it stewardship and sustainability

continued to be central. In fact, one of our learning expectations reads: “Build environmental stewardship as a means to a sustainable future.” It seemed like a natural fit that we would put these words into action. Over the last two years John has shepherded this idea through a rigorous process. He has read and researched deeply into the core concepts of this document: sustainability, resilience and stewardship. He has researched the history of the land and environment around the school site. He has engaged the stakeholders including students, families, staff, the school committee, the community, as well as numerous public and private agencies in the area that have an interest in this effort. His is a plan designed to meet the needs of the entire community, while at the same time rousing/spurring us to action to change our practices and habits so that we can preserve opportunities for future generations of Pioneer students. Through John’s expertise and hard work, we now have a blueprint for the future to preserve and maintain the land and facilities at Pioneer while enhancing student (and adult) learning. Whether one believes we are on the precipice of a new environmental age or just continuing down the same road we humans have traveled for millennia, it is time for us to rethink and reorganize our human/environmental interconnectedness. We need a language and a framework for living in a world of expanding need and limited resources. The core concepts of sustainability, resilience and stewardship can guide us in the right direction and give us hope for the future. This document is a practical application of this hope. It gives us concrete and meaningful steps we can take to move towards a more sustainable future. It is without reservation that I endorse the Pioneering Stewardship Plan. William Wehrli, Principal March 4, 2012

Forward 9

“I f I

had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside

over the christening of all children

should ask that her gift

to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life , as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years , the sterile preoccupation with things artificial , the alienation from the sources of our strength .”

― R achel C arson , T he S ense

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

W onder

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Executive Summary

he major goal of the Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) is to provide opportunities for students to become immersed in environmental stewardship while employing ecologically sustainable management of the school’s highly diverse landscape. The PSP must complement existing programs and offerings; outside funding and a sustainability coordinator would ensure successful implementation. To address community interests and to gather valuable input, several stakeholder meetings were held with students, teachers, and community members in order to achieve the following:

kkEstablish objectives and specific actions; and kkIdentify key ecological concerns and identify potential open-air destinations and features.

To better understand site conditions, a number of professionals and state agencies acted as resources, state-of-the-art scientific references provided up-to-date information, and extensive site analyses provided the key information listed below:

kkPioneer Valley Regional School has the largest public school land holding in Massachusetts;

kkPVRS borders highly-valued BioMap2 Core Habitats and Critical Natural Landscapes;

kkEcosystem services perform functions at little

expense but are threatened by a lack sustainable management;

kkExotic invasive plants have taken advantage of the

site’s landscape and threaten biodiversity as well as the future of ecosystem services;

kkThe school contains several “priority habitats” in need of protection and management to improve resilience during climate change;

kkMuch of the land is unprotected from sale and subdivision;

kkRefuge and a “sense of place” in Nature have

become less and less available in the recent past;

kkLand donated on the west side of property lacks clear boundaries for neighbors who continue to use it;

kkAccess and circulation around the school is safe and

efficient; several trails cut across contour lines and into ecologically sensitive areas, causing damaging erosion;

kkNine engaging destinations and features fit within the framework of sustainability and ecologic functionality;

kkSustainable land use practices would recapture

ecological health and become an educational model; and

kkThree designs offer a number of options in addressing the plans goals and actions.

The PSP details the rationale behind these important efforts throughout the core of the plan while the activities since the soil quickly drains surface water Appendix provides valuable management strategies. vertically into a regional aquifer; Meeting the program goals will involve commitment and involvement by concerned and informed Highly permeable soils allow the accumulation of citizens. By being prudent now, we can preserve the organic debris in certain forests while fire beauty and viability of our local environment and a suppression increases the risk of uncontrollable stewardship-centered educational setting. conditions;

kkClean drinking water is dependent on land use kk

kkExcessive runoff from impervious surfaces drains directly into important habitats;

Executive Summary 11

people lose knowledge , sympathy and understanding of

the natural world , they ’ re going to mistreat it and will not ask their politicians to care for it .”

― D avid A ttenborough

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Preface

he first time I explored the Pioneer landscape, from wetland to mature pine forest to the giant oaks overlooking the school and Connecticut Valley, I recognized it as a treasure On a later outdoor classroom adventure, students and I trekked to the flat area just below the site’s high point where I introduced the fact that Glacial Lake Hitchcock covered all the school grounds except this higher ground where we stood This area’s 10,000 year history is truly amazing and deserves our investigation and understanding. Nature as a classroom has been essential and exciting. For example, one insightful seventh grader asked if this could have been a native American campsite. Why not! The southeast facing site had tremendous refuge and strong appeal. Such interest in open-air experiences fueled many educational insights all over the property. We learned more about its natural history, where to find a particular plant or bird, what the soils underfoot revealed about the history and where to avoid the poison ivy! In short, it became our classroom. More importantly, it forged a bond with Nature for many youngsters. In 2000-1, I realized the clock was ticking on my tenure at PVRS. I felt a deep obligation to the “silent stakeholders,” all the plants and animals that make a home here. Who would protect their future? In a moment of insight, I introduced the idea of environmental stewardship to my colleagues. To my surprise, it became a part of the school’s mission statement’s Core Values. Twelve years later, the PVRS Core Values remains posted in every classroom along with a powerful list of other important expectations. Unfortunately, however, the expectation “stewardship” has become relegated to classroom study.

My goal in this document is to advance our relationship with the environment and to move it to the forefront of teaching and learning. Educators have a moral obligation to help young people respect and value Nature. Given the diversity of Pioneer’s landscape and opportunities to create engaging open-air destinations, we are in a very unique position to foster environmental stewardship through all disciplines and serve as a model for other school systems. The Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) explores many previously unknown and/or undocumented events, while connecting them in a very unique fashion. It serves as a comprehensive analysis covering context, history, geology, etc., while making connections among the various players in its systems, including biophysical, social, and economic affects. The PSP contains many useful resources for students, teachers, landscape personnel and others. I have included appendices covering trail design, plants and animals at risk, and much more. Ultimately, this plan encourages its users to better understand and apply life-long environmental stewardship. Call it a legacy or an obsession, the passion to create the “Pioneering Stewardship Plan” emerged from a love for a land that has touched thousands of student’s lives. It shaped them into the adults they are today, many of whom still stay in regular contact and openly express how our outdoor experiences shaped their adult lives. May the PSP play an active role in shaping a renewed direction in environmental stewardship.

John Lepore, Ecological Designer July 15, 2013

Preface 13

Introduction

ince the 1700’s, regional people have benefited from our generous landscape; it continually provides healthy food, clean water and robust shelters. Today, unprecedented disturbances affect this natural asset causing unpredictable changes.

exotic ornamentals (i.e., burning bush) around the campus decades ago. Today these ‘invasives’ have become aggressive intruders jeopardizing indigenous growth. Several aggressive species originating at PVRS have spread into neighboring properties suppressing and eliminating native plants and animals.

Land management has been defined socially by appearance, while, like a forgotten child, neglecting essential ecological functionality. Without this, undesirable, and irreversible social and economic change will continue (Diamond, 2007). The Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) revitalizes a respect for Pioneer Valley Regional School’s unique and rich landscape and uses it as a tool practicing environmental stewardship, a Core Value. Its primary purpose focuses on educating young people through restoration and creation of a healthy environment on the PVRS campus. It connects students to their locale through direct, open-air experiences. Introduced as a PVRS Core Value during the New England Accreditation of Schools and Colleges 2000-2001 self-evaluation, stewardship’s place persists (NEAS&C, 2012). In the early part of this decade, implementation initially focused on reduction practices through composting and recycling. The next logical step moves this value to a higher, more robust definition - resilient practice. This practice enables us to discover how our use and management decisions travel beyond the property lines, even beyond our region (McHarg, 1992). Consider the innocent introduction of low maintenance

The Pioneer Nature Trail was visited by the sender town’s elementary schools, maintained by the students, and provided numerous stewardship opportunities. (Greenfield Recorder, May 1974)

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Other decisions have had even larger consequences. For example, the school’s water management decision made sixty years ago negatively affects other regions. Today, over 9,000,000 gallons of heated and contaminated water run off the school’s impervious surfaces into the home of Natural Heritage Endangered Species at Bennett Meadows, a BioMap2 Critical Landscape (BioMap2, 2010). Such practices impact water quality down the Connecticut River to Long Island Sound. Today, our global environmental quality continues to decline at an alarming rate with uncertain consequences (MEEOE, 2011). In the name of progress air, water and soil quality standards have deteriorated. The PSP extends the meaning of stewardship as a way to make our lives healthier by investing in natural and social capital, globally recognized ingredients in sustainable economic growth (TEEB, 2012). More than ever, site development needs to consider the effects of short and long term disturbances, such as climate change, while making serious efforts at remediation and restoration of past practices Once used as a low maintenance highway planting, autumn (Suarer, 1996). During the last 10 years, the school, through a deep commitment by students, has developed a recycling and composing program, reducing the waste stream by 75%.

olive has invaded many disturbed areas at Pioneer.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

The PSP encourages teachers, administrators, and school committee members to make informed decisions regarding sustaining the PVRS environment. Adaptive management challenges us to be students of ongoing experimentation, seeking balances, identifying specific goals and adjusting strategies as needed (Walker, 2012). (Please refer to Appendix A: Building Resilient Communities.) The PSP provides professionals who hope to influence positive change a powerful toolbox for the classroom. It works into any curriculum. Teachers and students may find specific portions helpful in actively

Athletics play a huge role in student life at Pioneer. As maintenance costs continue to spiral upward, low impact strategies offer savings and improved resilience to climate change.

engaging in “essential next steps” such as verifying rare, endangered, threatened and declining species on the Pioneer campus. Grant writers will find it an invaluable resource; it contains a list of potential inspirations and designs. People working with the land directly (foresters, landscape professionals, for example) can use the specific documentation herein saving hours and even days of effort that often stall positive forward movement. Ultimately, to make this plan a success, a stewardship coordinator will be necessary to assist teachers with innovative curriculum integration, facilitation of grant writing, and educating landscaping crews in utilizing “best practices.”

Inset: What Is BioMap? BioMap2 is designed to guide strategic biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts over the next decade by focusing land protection and stewardship on the areas that are most critical for ensuring the long-term persistence of rare and other native species and their habitats, exemplary natural communities, and a diversity of ecosystems. The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) and The Nature Conservancy’s Massachusetts Program developed BioMap2 to protect the state’s biodiversity in the context of projected effects of climate change. It incorporates concepts of ecosystem resilience to address the anticipated impact of climate change. Protection and stewardship of BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape is essential to safeguard the diversity of species and their habitats, intact ecosystems, and resilient natural landscapes across Massachusetts. It includes: • Habitats for rare, vulnerable, or uncommon mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, invertebrate, and plant species; • Priority Natural Communities; • High-quality wetland, vernal pool, aquatic, and coastal habitats; and • Intact forest ecosystems. Excerpted from BioMap2 Executive Summary

Ultimately, two beneficiaries will evolve from the PSP; students will gain a clear understanding of how environmental stewardship fits into their life-long learning, and Pioneer’s fresh air, clean water, and vibrant forests will attain a healthier balance.

Introduction 15

Goals

hrough the community process described in the next chapter, two major goals evolved for the Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP):

kkIdentify open-air educational and recreational opportunities; and

kkDevelop sustainable land use practices.

Core Values The PSP supports three PVRS Core Values (PVRS website, 2012):

C i v ic E x p e c tat i o n

k k “Build environmental stewardship as a

To address these two goals, the Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) recommends the following:

kkInvolve students in Pioneer’s landscape management

to instill environmental stewardship through a wide variety of activities including local food production education, engaging open space destinations, ongoing habitat assessment to identify the school’s biodiversity and a community service component including managing the landscape over a period of time;

means to a sustainable future identified by PVRS.”

L if e l o n g L e a r n i n g & C a r e e r E x p e c tat i o n s

kk “Obtain and interpret available health

information and services to make health and safety decisions;” and

kk“Evaluate changing roles, job responsibilities and priorities in complex 21st century life and work environments.”

kkCreate ways to mitigate excessive water runoff via

rain gardens near drains, reduction in mowing in prescribed areas, rain ‘catchment’ from rooftops and redirecting trails more appropriately; and

kkIncrease natural biodiversity through a realistic

plan that assesses exotic invasive plant management priorities, protection of priority habitats, and a forest management plan that considers the variety of needs for each habitat.

Specific actions identified in meeting these goals include the following:

kkIncorporating educational destinations;

kkRaising water runoff

The PSP emphasizes the development of lifelong understanding for environmental stewardship through direct experiences with on-site management, interdisciplinary learning activities and recreational experiences. Such opportunities lend themselves to healthier lifestyles and informed decision-making related to the environment and the quality of students’ future lives. By having direct contact with their surroundings, students develop values for their natural community. Meeting professionals related to the project’s implementation and management may open doors to careers such as forestry, landscape architecture and sustainable landscape development. Others may find part-time employment helping to manage the landscape through jobs like cord wood production, mushroom cultivation, berry and fruit harvesting and more (Donohue, 1995). Making wise use of Pioneer ’s rich landscape creates endless possibilities!

quality;

kkFostering a thriving biodiversity; and

kkLocalizing food security education.

“Last Child in the Woods” explores “what the author coins as “nature deficit disorder” since a large proportion of today’s youth spend little time exploring nature in open-ended settings.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Pioneer Stewardship Plan

d n Use P a L e l b r a act n i a ice t s u

Localize Food Security

Incorporate Engaging Destinations Raise Runoff Water Quality

ir E ducation & R

Foster Thriving Biodiversity

GOALS & ACTIONS

e r ec

i t a

Goals 17

Community Process Beginnings

Student Input

An essential ingredient for landscape stewardship should involve stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds (Walker, 2012). To date, numerous interactions with school administrators, teachers, students, maintenance personnel and community members have occurred. Ecologists, a wetland scientist, a sustainable landscape architect, local land trust administrators, and numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations have already visited the PVRS site and offered supportive recommendations.

In January 2012, PVRS juniors and seniors viewed two possible project designs in a class assembly. The designs purposely presented two opposing ideas: “Stewardship” emphasized the area directly around the building and also the effects of water runoff. “Open-Air,” the second design, created destinations throughout the property such as a wetland viewing platform, a high point viewscape and a photovoltaic array on the northeast end of the property. During their next weekly advisor/advisee meeting, pairs of students reviewed printouts of each design including their pros and cons. One hundred fourteen students discussed their ideas, priorities, and concerns before completing input sheets either individually or in pairs. Their interests showed a high priority for a confidence/ leadership ropes course along with trails, rain gardens, distinct destinations, photovoltaics, and permaculture gardens. Ideas for an outdoor classroom came from the students themselves!

Over 200 individuals provided input during the development of the project’s goals and design features. Further communication by direct email, phone calls, and meetings with organizations like the Mount Grace Land Trust, the Northfield Open Space and Recreation Committee, and the Silvio

Later that same month a similar process was held for the community with about 25 attendees. People felt strongly about similar features but emphasized the need for a pollinator habitat and stronger invasive plant management. Concerns over blacklegged ticks, the primary vector in transmitting Lyme disease, took precedence over having pollinator habitats, however.

Principal Bill Wehrli,on right, was actively involved in supporting the community input process.

Conte US Fish and Wildlife Center have been productive. The PVRS Building and Grounds Subcommittee strongly supported and approved this pro bono project at their September 2011 meeting. The project’s first publicized community meeting drew about 24 people in early December 2011. Initial goals with existing conditions kicked off an active discussion within small groups. Participants defined the initial project innovations. Meeting results were summarized in a bulletin that was distributed to every student’s household in the January Principal’s Newsletter, posted on the school’s website and emailed to numerous community members.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

In February, the Building and Grounds Subcommittee learned how the students and community felt about the two designs. They, too, felt the cost and management for the plan might

Ideas from students and interested community member were gathered and included in project planning.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

be prohibitive. Members had little time to provide additional ideas but supported the plan’s direction. The most desirable design features from each meeting were combined and further refined. The resultant focus became ‘Resilience.’ This design prompted the need for more detailed site assessment. The Massachusetts Department of

incorporate into existing curricula. Overall, the faculty expressed a desire for additional outdoor classrooms, loved the idea of pollinator habitat and distinct destinations to engage students. They considered a trail system with kiosks, pollinator habitats and a confidence ropes course as invaluable teaching tools. Although concerns over management and cost emerged, the faculty provided very positive support for the potential opportunities the plan could offer students in their existing curricula.

A g e n ci e s a n d o t h e r Professionals

At public meetings, community members generated a wide range of valued ideas through an active processes.

Conservation and Recreation (DCR) made a site assessment along with two independent ecologists, one being a certified wetland scientist. Each provided invaluable site management input, further enriching the latest design. Two property tours gave community members the opportunity to envision the proposed design features. A total of fourteen people attended including members from the Greater Northfield Watershed Association and the Northfield Conservation Commission. Additionally, a certified landscape architect (Monro, 2012) reviewed the site’s preferred design, walked the entire site and made additional helpful recommendations. In April, the project was displayed at Northfield Mount Hermon’s ‘First Farmers Teach-in’ where more than 300 people learned about Pioneer’s endeavors.

F a c u lt y

and

During the summer months of 2012, further site assessments were conducted with DCR and the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) who manage the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program (NHESP). With their support, specific management zones were identified; these became known as ‘habitat and destination areas.’ Potential rare, endangered, threatened and declining population species were also identified. Finally, they offered important habitat management suggestions including site restoration, safety and legal considerations. Numerous professionals and community stakeholders have provided invaluable input into this endeavor. Both human use and habitat needs repeatedly surface as concerns. Many site visits revealed important details previously unknown to anyone and outstanding site opportunities became evident. Preferred design details, influenced by a wide range of inputs and perspectives, reflect a new understanding of this vibrant and diverse landscape. Please refer to “Appendix B Community Input” for additional information on priorities.

S ta ff

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Pioneer faculty reviewed the preferred design in May. All departments responded to specific areas they could

Community Process 19

Context

n Northfield, MA, just a few miles from the Vermont and New Hampshire borders, the Pioneer Valley Regional School sits to the west of the Connecticut River in the Pioneer Valley. Bernardston, Leyden, Warwick and Northfield comprise the school district, and since the early 1980’s, many students from Vernon, VT, have paid tuition to attend PVRS. Because the school system has maintained a positive status in the county as a prime “school choice” institution, students often apply for enrollment from out-of-district schools. The result has been a stable population at PVRS.

A Vision

for this

Landscape

Although the school’s ninety-acre property has not received the status of protection in perpetuity, it is surrounded by protected open space. Northfield has a long history of maintaining its “rural feel” and continues to plan ways to foster this with the 2012 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). Although PVRS was previously overlooked in the 2005 OSRP, the Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) has received acknowledgement and is strongly supported by the present OSRP committee. It reflects many of the interests and goals of the new OSRP by emphasizing practical strategies for engaging students in environmental stewardship of the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the town while supporting the impacts of land use and development, the economic viability of agriculture, and an informed process of forest management. A trail system with kiosks, natural monitoring stations, interpretive signs and handicap accessibility remain high priorities with community members, teachers and students. Outdoor classrooms made from sitesourced materials and living green roofs would bring students to natural areas for learning, recreational activities and a confidence-building ropes course.

The PSP also incorporates leadership for resilient and sustainable land use into the educational process. Since many of the school’s graduates choose to settle in this area, a solid education in sustaining the environment will foster their becoming active supporters of future OSRP efforts. The school’s acreage can be divided into three major areas: the west side consists of 38 acres of various forest types and wetlands; the middle 35 acres includes athletic fields, roadways, parking and building infrastructure; and the east side of mixed forest and pasture pine includes about 16 acres.

A S u p p o r t i v e C o mm u n i t y

The PSP also aims to improve water quality runoff and to make serious efforts in addressing the future of quality drinking water. These values are also a high priority in the 2012 OSRP. The former will be accomplished by the addition of pollinator habitats that reduce runoff and encourage infiltration. Rain gardens and roof water catchment will redirect heated and contaminated drainage away from BioMap 2 Critical Landscape where the school presently drains about 9,000,000 gallons per year. To attain these management changes, the school has worked with UMass Environmental Conservation Department, Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program (NHESP), the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Greater Northfield Watershed Association, the Northfield Conservation Commission and Silvio Conte US Fish and Wildlife, numerous ecologists and conservationists and the Mt. Grace Land Trust.

Bennett Meadows, the site of about half of PVRS runoff, has been designated as Core Habitat in BioMap2.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

CT River Watershed

Northfield

CT River

Northfield is located in a very rural area of Massachusetts, where open space continues to be a high priority. (CT River Watershed Source: USGS)

NORTHFIELD

BERNARDSTON

Legend Connecticut River PVRS Core Habitat

Critical Natural Landscape Major Roads

ute

il Ra

Railroad

0.5

Miles 1

Pioneer Valley Regional School (PVRS) is surrounded by BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape, open space, and wetlands making it home for many plants and animals critical to the resiliency under the uncertain effects of climate change.

Be t et

High Point

GILL

Br ad

Biology Pond

Low Point

F. Su m ne

oad er R rn Tu

r Be

s rd

Feet 0

250

500

PVRS is about 65% forested. One of the wetlands is a potential vernal pool, while other site qualities might be homes to several rare and endangered species.

Context 21

ÂŻ

oad

il R

Ro ute

14 2

nn Be t et

High Point

Br k

oo ad Ro

Biology Pond

Low Point

ad r Ro ne r u rT

F. Su m ne

d ar

A’

Feet 0

250

500

Pioneer Valley Regional School’s diverse landscape includes a huge range of elevation. The dashed line with the A and A’ shows the location of the cross section below.

A’

Route 142 Railroad High Point

150’ 100’ 50’ 0’

Vertical Scale - Feet

200’

Athletic Fields

PVRS Building

Old Bernardston Road Low Point 0’

100’

200’

300’

Horizontal - Feet From High Scale to Low Points the elevation changes about 200’ to the east. This quality shows why water movement to the eastward direction plays such a important role in the site’s ecology and management practices.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

History

he mainly forested PVRS landscape has an interesting and engaging history beginning after the last glacier created Lake Hitchcock 10,000 years ago. Pioneer rests near the lake’s edge beside an island to the west of the soccer fields. From its recent geologic formation to its more than two hundred years as productive farmland, today’s landscape reflects many influences by a wide range of human-related activities (Little, 1984).

S o l i d A g r ic u lt u r a l P a s t

The range of uses by local farm families can still be seen today across the landscape:

kkBarbed wire found imbedded in trees at two different locations suggests that it was pasture land where livestock once grazed;

kkA “wolf tree” with low hanging branches indicates a

cleared pasture where this tree was left standing for shade during hot summer days;

kkLarge oak stumps near the east base of the

property’s high point with the logs remaining close by may have been a cleared viewscape;

kkPine trees typically germinate in taller grass edges of declining pasture. These cover a large portion of the east and west woods;

kkA loading dock on the east side near the former Barbed wire from the late 1800’s embedded in a maple tree suggests livestock grazing.

The most recent Ice Age greatly impacted the land’s topography and soil conditions. The glacier dropped well-drained soils (USDA, 1961) making hay and fruit farming possible by Pioneer’s previous owners, Horace and Dorothy Bolton. During the family’s early ownership, most of the flatter areas were clear-cut, some areas were fenced for livestock grazing and other areas became apple orchards. The Bolton family farmed this land for three generations until 1953 when it was sold to PVRS (Franklin County Registry of Deeds, 1954).

Bernardston Road surrounded by an array of aged, low-limbed oaks and maples suggests use by a truck farming operation in the early part of the 20th century; and

kkA foundation from the early 1700’s exists along the south boundary indicates a former homestead.

A cement footing likely made at the beginning of the 20th century when an apple orchard existed on the parcel could have been used to load produce onto trucks parked on the old Bernardston Road.

History

Two major stands of ‘pasture pines’ have established in pasture during the last 70 to 100 years. Historic records from the 1930’s indicate hay and apples were grown.

The Birth School

Pioneer Valley Regional

After many years of effort led by then Superintendent of Schools, F. Sumner Turner, Pioneer Valley Regional School opened in 1957, inadvertently resulting in many significant alterations to the landscape. Until the mid-1970s when the Franklin County Technical School opened its doors, Pioneer’s program included vocational agriculture, perhaps explaining why the campus is far larger than any non-vocational public high school in Massachusetts. Remnant rows of spruce trees still flourish on the southeast corner of the property, possibly grown by the school for Christmas tree sales. Soil pits dug in a two hundred foot long series of furrows along rows of red pine and European larch reveal the removal of rich topsoil for

“...the new building’s design overlooked the opportunity to continue a long history that linked students to the unique landscape at PVRS. The cafeteria, for example, lacks access to the outside, and the refuge of a patio off the library disappeared.” use in other areas of the land. An excavation pit also exists near the path to the biology pond. In other words, the natural landscape of the property was altered to accommodate the needs of the school. In the 1960’s a greater effort to make educational use of Pioneer’s landscape reaped positive results. A biology pond was dug in the early 1960’s with a grant from the National Defense Fund. Later, nature trails covered the campus and became an attraction for the district’s elementary schools. Classes of students identified and labeled trees while using the biology pond and nature trails for research and enjoyment. Northfield Sand and Gravel, later known as Lane Construction, created the track in exchange for gravel procured at the site; this track continues to be used to this day.

The Building Project

Undersized for current educational needs, the school underwent a major renovation in 2000-1 that doubled the school’s square footage, brought the best in technology to the school, and afforded teachers renewed opportunities to advance student learning. However, the new building’s design overlooked the opportunity to continue a long history that linked students to the unique landscape at PVRS. The cafeteria, for example, lacks direct access to an outside play area, and the refuge of a patio off the library disappeared. Two other negative effects on the Pioneer landscape because of the new construction deserve attention. Topsoil removed from the building site has never been replaced (Shearer, Personal Conversation, 2012), and a type of low-maintenance exotic plant, now an illegal invasive, covers many areas of the landscape.

Landscape Changes: Drivers & Trends

By using our knowledge and understanding of how the Pioneer landscape developed over the years, we can form a more resilient landscape. Many actions led to the existing conditions, some occurring quickly and others over time and becoming almost imperceptible. An historic profile helps reveal these drivers and trends. What are drivers? Drivers cause change in controlling variables. For example, clearing vegetation influences the depth of ground water. Such a disturbance is considered a biophysical driver, since it involves plants, animals, soils and water. Reduction in capital expenditures due to tax reduction mandates is an economic driver. And, finally, state mandated standardized testing as a graduation requirement is a social driver since expecting students to prepare for pencil/paper tests detracts from open-air interdisciplinary curricula enrichment. These three drivers

Aging Infrastructure

Unfortunately Proposition 2 1/2 created a property tax cap, which limited the school’s primary source of revenue necessary for improvements to the landscape and the school itself. By the late 1980’s, unfunded capitol improvements became serious issues. The wellhead collapsed from lack of routine maintenance, the roof began to leak, pipes embedded in the concrete floors began to leak, and the boiler became more and more unreliable. Landscape maintenance fell to two people with a ‘loaner’ mowing tractor. Trails became overgrown, except for those maintained by the athletic department for cross-country purposes and a bond covering minimal improvements included some leveling and expansion of the athletic field into the oak forest to the west. 24

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Burning Bush, promoted by nurseries as a low maintenance ornamental, was planted in front of the school’s entrance. Today, its aggressive reproduction has spread it across the area’s landscape, displacing native vegetation needed to support ecological resilience during climate change.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

An air photo from 1972 looking northward, reveals how the 15 year old school parcel was much more open. Note the three athletic areas, small trees to the east (left) and the number of un-mowed areas along the field edges.

A recent PVRS air photo shows gradual changes in vegetation, especially along the field edges, while imperious services, such as parking lots and rooftop have almost tripled.

History 25

Shaping

L a n d s c a p e : -10,000

1980’ s

PVRS Buil

Glacial Lake Hitchcock

Farm Foundation

Wolf Tree

Lun Ar

Old Bernardston Road

b d

King Phillip Boundary Marker 10,000 Years Ago

1700’s

1800’s

1900’s

1957

Time line NTS

directly or indirectly affect what we see occurring on the landscape today (Walker, 2012).

B i o p h y s ic a l , S o ci a l a n d E c o n o mic I n f l u e n c e s : t h e i r o n y o f s m a l l d e ci s i o n s On a time line, drivers (biophysical, social and economic) reveal ecological trends. For example, water management runoff from the building’s impervious surfaces onto the east side created a gully over a twenty-year period (Greenfield Recorder, 1974). This led to excessive topsoil loss into the wetland habitat below, reducing water quality (biophysical) and demanding costly remediation (economic). Such trends verify the need to make changes across systems. Decisions that we make are often blind to their effects on Nature.

Drivers Symbol

Influence Biophysical Social Economic

Please refer to “Appendix C: Historic Details” for additional information. 26

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

lding Rendering Nature Trail

Erosion Gully

nchtime Outdoor Play rea

Red Pine Forest

Limit on Assessment Increases

Failed Well House

Biology Pond

1970’s

1965

1980’s

d j

c i

f e a

b Feet 0

250

500

History 27

Shaping

L a n d s c a p e : 1990’ s

Vernon chooses to send tuition students to PVRS

T o d ay

PVRS building project doubles school’s footprint

Students initiate environmental action team

State learning standards iniated

Environmental ethic added to school’s mission

Underground forest fire ladders up trees Lunchtime access to outside limited

Envirothon begins competing statewide

1999-2001 Time line NTS

Drivers Symbol

Influence Biophysical Social Economic

Introduced in 2000 as low maintenance hedges, burning bush has spread into much of the campus woodlands, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

H b

Students commit to Source to Sea Cleanup

Land donated to school

Highly invasive burning bush added

School wide composting and recycling fully supported

Enrollment climbs from school choice

Highly invasive stiltgrass discovered on snow mobile trail

New maintenance practices remove forest-lawn transitions 2005

2011-12

2008

d j

c i

f e a

b Feet 0

250

500

History 29

Existing Conditions

ioneer’s 90 acres includes valuable, protected open space, but the school’s property remains open to subdivision and sale. In the near future, a logical step would be to market the development rights to an interested conservation organization or to donate the land to the Northfield Conservation Commission to protect it in perpetuity. Selling these rights might, in fact, provide

At least three spring seeps offer habitat for rare and threatened species and should be appropriately managed and inventoried.

financial resources to support Pioneer’s sustainable land management practices. Such a move could also make the school much more eligible for numerous types of grants (Rasku, 2012).

area wetlands, ponds, and trails. The neighborhood also possesses valuable assets that complement the school. For example, a local private conservationist established the Annie Wheeler Ravine Conservation Area within easy

“Pioneer’s 90 acres include valuable, protected open space, but the school’s property remains open to subdivision and sale. In the near future, a logical step would be to market the development rights to an interested conservation organization or to donate the land to the Northfield Conservation Commission to protect it in perpetuity.” walking distance of the school and with a positive history of encouraging its use. The site contains an historic view of the devastation caused from the 1938 hurricane. We need to include these types of neighbors in our plans.

People in this area of western Massachusetts support significant conservation efforts. For example, neighbors have a long-standing arrangement with Pioneer to share

Neighbor’s use of a shallow well raises concerns about property boundaries that should be resolved. Here a pipe heater installed by a neighbor keeps water from freezing.

A family of foxes inhabits the east ravine, evidence that they find living in close proximity to PVRS beneficial.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

To the north, south, east and west of the PVRS property are other notable situations, some positive and others negative! At the end of Old Bernardston Road, for example, a trail to King Phillips Hill honors our close connection to the rich history we share with the Connecticut River. To the west lies DCR’s 5,000 acres of forest land, FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

stretching into neighboring Bernardston and protecting the area’s watershed. To the north of the school lie two active gravel quarries. Concerns about the management of one quarry have surfaced, and area citizens have challenged

Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Inset: Adopt-a-Habitat The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (The Refuge), Adopt-a-Habitat initiative is an opportunity for schools, organizations and groups to partner with the Refuge to manage local habitats. It involves choosing an outdoor place, assembling volunteers, and as partners, fostering healthy habitat for plants, animals, and people. Basic techniques, strategies, and opportunities to influence the environment through strategic land management actions to promote healthy habitat and quality outdoor recreation will be learned along the way.

The existing cross country trail bridge needs replacement or, better yet, rerouting. Additionally, it traverses land just above BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape resulting in heavy erosion along its steep banks.

the legality of some of their practices. Fears of aquifer contamination also remain unresolved (Tufts, 2011). To date, the legal costs to challenge this quarry’s questionable past practices remain formidable for Northfield. Let us build on the positives and help to resolve the negatives!

The Refuge is able to help schools, organizations, and groups with technical assistance, grant writing, and resources to accomplish Adopt-a-Habitat objectives. Refuge staff can help with:

kkHabitat assessment; kkLand, water, and public access management plans; kkCurriculum integration; and kkApplying for funding, and other technical assistance. Unregulated access by ATV’s has caused heavy damage to a valuable spring on the west side and was the likely source of the highly invasive Japanese stiltgrass discovered in 2010 on school property.

Schools interested in the Adopt-a-Habitat program or who want more detailed information about the program should contact: Artie McCollum, Silvio O. Conte Refuge, Private Lands Biologist, at 413-548-8002 x119. Excerpted from Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Literature

Existing Conditions 31

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Site Analysis Overview

W at e r Resources

Soils

S u r fici a l Geology

Topography & Drainage

V e g e tat i o n & Cover

Land Use

A cc e s s & C i r c u l at i o n

Site Analysis Overview 33

Site Analysis: Water Resources

ioneer Valley Regional School resides in the Connecticut River Watershed. Pertinent information includes the following:

kkIt is the largest river ecosystem in New England with a maximum length of approximately 280 miles and a maximum width of about 60 miles;

kkIts total drainage area is approximately 11,250 square miles;

kkIt spans four states, including Vermont, New

Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut; and

kkProtective forestland maintains the long-term

integrity of wildlife habitats and water quality within the watershed’s surface and groundwater. (NOSRP, 2005)

Pertinent Facts kkA deep aquifer just outside the northeast boundary feeds the school’s well and receives recharge water from a wetland to the west;

kkIn the recent past, land use practices by a

neighboring business over the aquifer have threatened water quality;

kkThe well head protection zone (WPZ) extends 368 feet from the well in all directions reaching the school’s west boundary and into the south student parking lot;

Imperious surfaces, such as rooftops, pavement, and walkways, impact water resources in numerous ways.

I m p l ic at i o n s kkThe parking lot within Zone 2 needs a sign informing the public of the WPZ;

kkAll future activities, such as gardening, must occur outside of the WPZ; and

kkRoutine efforts should be made by the school to

monitor neighborhood activities around the wetland including the following: mowing, excavation, water use, and anything else that might jeopardize water quality and violate wetland regulations.

kkThe WPZ legally limits the types of activities that

can occur including fertilizer application, herbicide use, and construction of “permanent” structures; and

kkThe state’s regulating agency, the Massachusetts

Department of Environment Quality (DEQ), allows passive recreation use such as trails and an outdoor classroom. They must be informed of any planned changes in use. (Sarafinas, MDEQ, 2012)

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

W at e r R e s o u r c e s

Sources: MassGIS & DEP

Site Analysis: Water Resources 35

Site Analysis: Surficial Geology

he last glacier, ending about 20,000 years ago, impacted the features we experience today, not just the landforms left behind, but the soils that determine vegetation as well. Several important conditions include the following facts:

Pertinent Facts kkAs the glacier retreated, it left mostly coarse till on the upper areas and finer material in lower regions;

kkThe two hundred mile long Glacial Lake Hitchcock formed about 18,000 years ago filling the Connecticut Valley Basin;

kkOnly a portion of the PVRS property stood above water as an island during this time; and

kkToday, the name Hitchcock Island Forest honors this ancient island.

(Little,1984)

I m p l ic at i o n s kkCourse glacial tills enable rapid drainage and well

recharge and dry conditions on Hitchcock Island Forest (HIF), the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high point; and

Except for the high point, named Hitchcock Island Forest (HIF) by the designer, Glacial Lake Hitchcock covered the campus until about 10,000 years ago. Archeologists suggest HIF could have been a prime camp site for Native Americans.

kkThe geology of HIF encourages buildup of

vegetative fuel that encourages forest fires(Hawthorn, DFW, 2012).

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

S u r fici a l G e o l o g y

Hitchcock Island Forest

Site Analysis: Surficial Geology 37

Site Analysis: Soils

he last glacier deposited a range of soils. These types of soil determine the area’s vegetation more than any other single factor. Most of the school’s landscape has well-drained, drought-prone soils, creating vegetation types similar to the rare scrub oak-pine barrens typically found on Cape Cod. The high point of the school’s property, Hitchcock Island Forest, is arid and ideal for oaks and low bush blueberries. Such locations are dependent on regenerative fires for vegetative health.

Pertinent Facts I m p l ic at i o n s kkThe majority of soils are excessively drained; kkThe excessively drained soil on Hitchcock Island Forest kkQuick drainage facilitates rapid aquifer recharge; and (Hollis-Chatfield complex) creates a public safety fire hazard due to the buildup of fuel on the forest floor. kkThe water table for most of the site remains well A controlled burn should occur every few years to below the surface.

(NRCS, 2012)

Soil Tests

Soil samples were collected from the baseball and soccer fields, the track, court yard and woods edges on west and east sides. These were tested by the University of Massachusetts. In general, most were low in nitrogen and phosphorus and all soils were acidic except the track where the use of limestone keeps the pH nearly neutral. Please refer to “Appendix C: Soil Test Results” for details and further recommendations.

avoid uncontrolled forest fires (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkDue to excessive drainage of soils, lawn

management should be carefully timed to encourage infiltration during heavy summer rains when the fields receive little use;

kkUnused areas would benefit from a reduced cutting

schedule every two to four years to foster aquifer recharge and wildlife habitat (Saurer, 1998);

kkReduced mowing along the steep banking on the

building’s east side would improve infiltration and create valuable wildlife habitat while reducing movement of invasive plant seeds from the field into the forest and the BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape (Lattrelle, 2012); and

kkConsideration should be given to replacing heavy,

water-dependent grasses with arid tolerant native grass mixes on the athletic fields (Woodall, 2011).

The rocky soils on Hitchcock Island Forest, the site’s high point, have high drainage causing organic debris buildup from years of fire suppression. This creates a forest fire public safety issue for the school and community (Hawthorne, DCR, 2012).

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Soils oad

R ail

Ro ute

et nn Be ro tB

High PointHigh

Point

Biology Pond

Low Low Point Point

oad er R rn u rT

F. Su m ne

d Ol

S y mb o l

d ar

Feet 250

500

Soil Name

Slope

Drainage Class

W at e r Table

Scarboro mucky sandy loam

0 to 2 %

Very poor

0 to 2”

Raynham silt loam

0 to 3 %

Very poor

0 to 4”

Chatfield-Hollis complex, rocky

3 to 15 %

Well drained

+80”

Hollis-Chatfield complex, very rocky

8 to 15%

Excessively drained

+80”

Excessively drained

+80”

0 to 15%

Excessively drained

+80”

Udorthents, smoothed Warwick channery fine sandy loam

Site Analysis: Soils 39

Site Analysis: Topography & Drainage

VRS topography has several important features:

I m p l ic at i o n s Pertinent Facts kkAbout one third of the landscape slopes to the south- kkSurface water from the school’s impervious surfaces west, largely delineated by the school’s high point, Hitchcock Island Forest;

kkLand from the flatter soccer and baseball fields

generally slopes eastward toward the school’s low point;

kkNumerous catchment drains around the building, parking lots and athletic fields channel water eastward to the school’s low point;

kkPortions of the building’s rain drainage gutters also drain and concentrate water flow eastward;

kkThe impervious surfaces annually drain about

9,000,000 gallons of water eastward toward the low point (Save-the-rain.com, 2012);

kkThe low point empties into BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape; and

kkRoughly 40% of the surface water for the entire

property drains westward and toward the wetland.

and much of the lawn carries particles and toxic materials, such as motor oil, antifreeze and gasoline, into BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape, stressing wildlife and degrading water quality;

kkWater becomes heated on impervious surfaces

causing thermal shock and even death to wetland wildlife;

kkInvasive plants’ seeds move with water from lawn

edges into the woods and down the ravine into the low point (Lattrell, 2012);

kkRoutine storm catchment basin cleaning around

the campus remains critical and should be actively monitored;

kkReduction in mowing and increasing pollinator habitat will substantially increase aquifer recharge, reduce run off, and improve wildlife habitat (Saurer, 1998);

kkAddition of rain gardens and diverting water from rain gutters into storage for irrigation will substantially reduce run off (EPA 2011); and

kk Posting signs indicating the well-head protection zone

will increase community awareness (Sarafinas, MDEP, 2012).

Impervious surfaces force heated and often contaminated in sensitive areas.

Ideal location for a mitigating rain gardens.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Drainpipe from impervious surfaces to Critical Natural Landscape.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Topography & Drainage oad

R ail

Ro ute 1

e nn Be tt

High Point

Br ad

Biology Pond

Low Point

oad er R n ur rT

F. Su m ne

d Ol

~ 10 Foot Contours

BioMap2 Critical Landscape

Away from Critical Landscape

r na

Feet 250

500

Toward Critical Natural Landscape

Site Analysis: Topography & Drainage 41

Site Analysis: Vegetation & Cover

o better understand the diversity of habitats at Pioneer, the following designations with brief descriptions should prove helpful in understanding site analysis, designs and management.

Since the 2000-01 construction project, mowing practices have removed important forest-field transition zones. Opportunistic invasive plants thrive in these conditions.

Pertinent Facts

D ry O a k -H e m l o c k F o r e s t

The property’s high point has features rare in Massachusetts. Thin till soils on bedrock result in excessive drainage.

Pasture Pine Forests Pasture Pines Forest on property’s west side are prime for timber harvest. The eastern forest has not reached harvest size.

B l u e b e r ry W e t l a n d This is a shrub wetland priority habitat with unusual highbush blueberry stand (MFW, 2012).

E a r ly W o o d l a n d An early successional flat woodland sits near the school’s power lines.

Red Pine Forest With declining red pines the site has become heavily overrun with invasive plants.

H e av y I n va s i v e P l a n t s Six heavily disturbed areas have low soil fertility and poorly developed trees competing with invasive plants.

Shrub Wetlands This rare, valuable habitat has been influenced by heavy beaver activity making it important to wildlife and plants (Lattrell, 2012).

Spruce Forest A small area comprised of non-native trees planted in the 1960’s, interfaces with the wetland area and shows decline due to invasive plants along its edges.

I m p l ic at i o n s Site is prone to forest fires. The view and location offer an attractive place for an outdoor classroom (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012). The eastern Mature Pasture Pines is an optimal site for an outdoor leadership course (Paulson, 2012). The site is a potential vernal pool in need of NHESP assessment (French, NHESP, 2012). Its flatness and early growth make it a prime location for 2.5 acre photovoltaic array (Hahn, 2011). Existing pines could be used to build an outdoor classroom with minimal clearing (Johnson, 2012). Some areas lie within wellhead protection zone (WPZ) and could not be legally managed with herbicides without permitting (Sarafinas, MDEP, 2012). This may be a prime location for a wetland walkway and viewing platform (Monro, 2012). It offers valuable wildlife cover and the evergreen shade offers passive invasive plant control (Johnson, 2012).

Meadow This site is a valuable habitat for two species of NHESP turtles. Upon restoration this site would be similar to their summertime nesting needs (MFW, 2012).

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Meadow restoration could easily be accomplished by not mowing ( Lattrelle, 2012, Motzkin, 2011).

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

oad

R ail

ute

Be ok

High Point

Biology Pond

Low Point

F. Su m ne

oad er R n r Tu

r Be

s rd

Feet 0

250

Dry Oak Hemlock

Early Woodland

Shrub Wetland

Pasture Pine Forest

Red Pine Forest

Spruce Planting

Blueberry Wetland

Heavy Invasive Plants

Meadow

500

Site Analysis: Vegetation & Cover 43

I nset : Invasive Species Approximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered Species are at risk primarily due to invasive species. Human health and economies are also at risk from invasive species. The impacts of invasive species on our natural ecosystems and economy cost billions of dollars each year. Many of our commercial, agricultural, and recreational activities depend on healthy native ecosystems.

W h at

m a k e s a s p e ci e s i n va s i v e ?

Species that grow and reproduce quickly, and spread aggressively, with potential to cause harm, are given the label of “invasive”. An invasive species can be any kind of living organism—an amphibian, plant, insect, fish, fungus, bacteria, or even an organism’s seeds or eggs.

How

d o i n va s i v e s p e ci e s s p r e a d ?

Why

d o i n va s i v e s p e ci e s p o s e s u c h a t h r e at ?

Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities.

Invasive species cause harm to wildlife in many ways. When a new and aggressive species is introduced into an ecosystem, it might not have any natural predators or controls. It can breed and spread quickly. Native wildlife may not have evolved defenses against the invader or they cannot compete with a species that has no predators. The direct threats of invasive species:

• • • • W h at

Preying on native species; Out-competing native species for food or other resources; Causing or carrying disease; and Preventing native species from reproducing or killing their young.

a r e t h e i n d i r e c t t h r e at s o f i n va s i v e s p e ci e s : Changing food webs: Invasive species can change the food web in an ecosystem by destroying or replacing native food sources. The invasive species may provide little to no food value for wildlife;

Decreasing biodiversity: Invasive species can alter the abundance or diversity of species that are important habitat for native wildlife; aggressive plant species like multiflora rose can quickly replace a diverse ecosystem; and Altering ecosystem conditions: Some invasive species, like garlic mustard, are capable of changing the conditions in an ecosystem, such as changing soil chemistry or the intensity of wildfires. I n va s i v e s p e ci e s a n d g l o b a l C l im at e C h a n g e Higher average temperatures and changes in rain and snow patterns caused by global warming will enable some invasive plant species—such as garlic mustard and purple loosestrife—to move into new areas. From National Wildlife Federation

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

o f i n va s i v e s p e ci e s at

Pioneer

Bush Honeysuckles http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cylo1.htm

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cylo1.htm

Barberry

Multiflora Rose

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/invasiveplants/

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cylo1.htm

Garlic Mustard

Buckthorn

Oriental Bittersweet

Russian Olive

Japanese Stiltgrass

For specific PVRS best management practices please see:

Appendix F: Invasive Plants - Guidelines for Managers;

Appendix G: Invasive Plants Details; and

Appendix H Invasive Plant Locations & Replacements.

Inset: Invasive Species 45

Can J Plant Sci 85 243-263 -2005

Black Swallowwort http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cylo1.htm

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/invasiveplants/

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cylo1.htm

Examples

Site Analysis: Wildlife & Natural Heritage

ioneer’s diverse habitats offer unique opportunities for wildlife (Lattrell, 2012). Habitats include the following: rich open wetlands; a wooded area with mature hardwood; and softwood forests with younger woodlands surrounding meadows. The property’s high point offers unusual habitat beneath towering white and red oaks. A small portion of land on the school’s eastern low point has been designated BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape that acts as a buffer protecting BioMap2 Priority Habitat, home for rare and endangered species in Bennett Meadows.

meadow habitats. Perhaps this could account for the absence of grassland loving killdeer each spring. Prior to this, native wildflowers edged the fields as a forest buffer running the property’s entire perimeter. Sweet fern, sensitive fern, and similar low plants gave refuge to an abundance of wildlife. Three large areas presently reduced by mowing to the forest edge could offer an important field-forest transitions zones and dramatically improve biodiversity. Loss of a single species frequently creates a chain of losses affecting the overall habitat health. Meadow removal promotes the growth of unfavorable, exotic invasive species and can drastically alter breeding and migration Red Eft in East Pine Forest patterns that have inconspicuously used the site for eons (Sauer, 1996).

P i o n e e r ’ s I m p o r ta n t R e g i o n a l E c o l o g ic a l Role Hawk or owl’s nest on Hitchcock Island Forest

W h at

lives here?

Because the extent of wildlife sharing this landscape remains largely a mystery, educational opportunities abound. Learning about the plants and animals living on the Pioneer property would provide a valuable experiential opportunity to students. A few scattered photographs suggest that the first signs of beaver activity began in the mid-1980s, a time when it was common to hear killdeer in the area’s meadows during spring breeding. Likewise, records of wildflowers were crudely recorded during this time. A more formal approach would be beneficial educationally and in supporting potential grant proposals.

The Pioneer property also serves as an important green way allowing many species to find refuge during migration and breeding (Hellmund, 2006).

C h a n g i n g M a n a g e m e n t P r a c t ic e s

Changes in management activities since the 20002001 building project have impacted important 46

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Eastern woodcock feeding in West Pine Forest

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

P r i o r i t y H a bi tat s oad

R ail

Ro ute

14 2

Be ok

et nn

High Point

Biology Pond

Low Point

F. Su m ne

ad r Ro ne r u rT

d Ol

r na

Feet 250

500

Habitats P r i oPriority rity H a bi tat s Meadows

Spring Seeps

Woodlands

Wetlands

Site Analysis: Wildlife & Natural Heritage 47

Such migrations can be as subtle as a turtle’s annually visiting a meadow during the summer months from the low wetland or as bold as the monarch butterflies’ relying on milkweed for their egg laying. Today, many of these quiet processes are ignored by most humans, but they play a critical role in the ecosystem services(TEEB, 2012). (See Appendix E: Ecosystem Services)

www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/89540879

PVRS could be the home of over fifty plants and animals considered rare, endangered, or species of concern and declining populations as classified by the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program (NHESP).

Please see “Appendix I NHESP Management at PVRS” The PSP focuses on identifying important locations where these populations still exist. Unfortunately these precious places continue to shrink resulting in a major disruption to many other species’ survival (Scanlon, DCR, 2012).

“Rare, threatened, endangered, and species in decline should be verified as part of the school’s on-going land management plan to ensure that habitat needs are being met appropriately.” Pioneer could play a major role in verifying potential species by hosting a ‘BioBlitz’ where area experts visit a site with volunteers to perform an assessment during critical breeding and migration times (Rasku, 2012). A BioBlitz also offers countless benefits to the school community by increasing conservation efforts, introducing students to career opportunities and fostering a deeper respect for our rich habitats. A BioBlitz would be a wise step prior to seeking outside funding in support of the PSP!

Animals, such as this rare spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), require both wetlands and meadows for successful reproduction.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

“W hat ’ s

really interesting is the mystery .

you seek

the mystery instead of the answer , you ’ ll always be seeking .

I’ ve

never seen anybody really find the

answer , but they think they have . thinking .

B ut

they stop

the job is to seek mystery , evoke mystery ,

plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom .

T he

need for mystery is greater than

the need for an answer .”

-- K en K esey

Site Analysis: Wildlife & Natural Heritage 49

Site Analysis: Land Use

ioneer Valley Regional School is the third largest public school landholder in Massachusetts. At one time, an extensive trail system and managed areas, like the “biology pond,” were engaging destinations for students. Under the direction of a skilled teacher/woodsman, students cut trees, hand-hued them into planks, built bridges, marked nature trails, and labeled trees. They took pride in hosting elementary school tours, and most importantly their work supported a strong “sense of place.” Today many of the original trails through the forests, making up about 65% of the site, have become overgrown due to a lack of upkeep. Landscape maintenance focuses on the grounds around the school and the athletic fields are primarily aesthetic. Relatively little use of other spaces occurs. Except for the cross- country trail system and the occasional neighbor walking through the rich landscape, the majority of the forest and wetlands remain unused by humans (Mauri, 2013).

Pertinent Facts I m p l ic at i o n s kkThe Pioneer campus has strong curb appeal. Lawns kkOptimizing land use in addition to athletics and traffic are maintained, shrubs trimmed, and the parking lots are neat and orderly (Monro, 2012);

will improve the school community’s “sense of place” (Monro, 2012);

kkLow maintenance burning bush (Euonymus alata), no

kkCreating places of sanctuary around the school will

kkFour acres of land on the property’s western border

kkMillions of burning bush seeds are annually dispersed

longer legal for sale in Massachusetts, continues to be cultivated and manicured near the building; were donated to Pioneer in 2011, thereby adding a valuable wetland habitat;

kkTwo abutting neighbors seem unclear about the recent

facilitate more use by students and teachers (Monro, 2012);

across the landscape; the resulting overgrowth interferes with land use, biodiversity and accessibility (Tallamy, 2007);

kkUnused fields, mowed to the forest edge, are no longer

land transfer and continue to use it as their own. Areas show mowing, excavation, use of an old, shallow well, animal pens; and

valuable transition habitats for wildlife (Tallamy, 2007);

kk From this

kkClarifying the boundaries of the Pioneer property will

donation, part of the school’s land now extends to Route 142 to the west.

eliminate conflicts with abutting neighbors;

kkAccess from Route 142 could make an ideal trail head for community access; and

kkSince utility poles to the old pump house have been

removed by the utility company that once held a legal right of way, this land may be available for the school’s use once boundaries have been clarified.

Boundaries from recently donated land remain unclear to well intentioned neighbors. Here an old dump site within a wetland resource is being excavated for old treasures.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Land Use oad

R ail

ute 1

Be ok

High Point

Biology Pond

Low Point

ad r Ro ne r u rT

F. Su m ne

Recreation

Forest

Feet 0

Education

sto

d ar

250

500

Donated land

Site Analysis: Land Use 51

Site Analysis: Existing Access & Circulation

eachers who incorporate the Pioneer landscape into the school’s Core Values will enhance students’ environmental stewardship. At the same time access to engaging destinations is dramatically limited (Teacher Survey, 2013).

P ertinent F acts General access and circulation concerns discussed at faculty, community and student meetings include the following:

I m p l ic at i o n s kkIdentifying ways to encourage use of the school’s

beautiful landscape will require safe sitting areas;

kkStudents and visitors lack clear destinations around the

kkDeveloping clear destinations by using kiosks and

kkAreas with prospect and refuge that include safe

kkAdding places to sit and outdoor classrooms made

property and miss out on valuable open-air opportunities (Public Meetings, 2012);

seating do not exist (Monro, 2012);

kkAside from the building and athletic fields,

destinations into woodlands and wetlands has overgrown and lack signs (Monro, 2012);

kkThe snow mobile trail enables uncontrolled access for ATVs into fragile wetland areas (Blake, 2012);

kkA portion of the snowmobile trail cut along a

wooded wetland embankment during the early 1980’s continues to erode precious habitat (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkUnsanctioned trail use by the snowmobile club places the school at high liability (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkErosion along trails exposes dangerous roots; this is

the result of overuse of leaf blowers in an attempt to improve safety for cross country runners (Lattrell, 2012);

signs will welcome visitors and help eliminate illegal use;

from site-source materials will foster learning (PVRS Student Survey, 2012);

kkEnabling safe access to the biology pond will require routine suppression management of the poison ivy;

kkDeveloping a written agreement with the local snowmobile association that meets state requirements will eliminate liability issues (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkRerouting the snowmobile club away from the

wooded wetland and remediate the damage will improve valuable wetland habitat;

kkActively involving local authorities in restricting

access of ATV’s onto school grounds, especially the wetland areas, will be essential; and

kkUsing site-sourced wood chips to cover tree roots will reduce erosion and improve the cross country trails (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkSeveral of the cross country routes cut across

gradients, causing excessive erosion from water streaming down trails (Lattrell, 2012);

kkTrail use to the cross country bridge causes excessive erosion along banks threatening the ecological integrity of Critical Natural Landscape (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012); and

kk Student express concerns over Lyme disease in natural areas.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

The area outside the cafeteria is suitable for a small group of students to sit, although it lacks prospect and refuge for children to play, socialize and eat outside.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

E x i s t i n g A cc e s s & C i r c u l at i o n

R il

High Point

Low Point

Biology Pond

Major Building Entrances/Exits Snowmobile Trail Snowmobile Trail Changes Needed

Foot Trails Foot Trails Needing Re-routing

a rn

R on

Feet 0

250

500

Heaviest Traffic Lighter Traffic

Site Analysis: Existing Access & Circulation 53

kkRemoving the bridge and rerouting the trail to

eliminate travel across contours will eliminate liability and improve habitat (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012);

kkDeveloping specialized destinations such as a raised

platform/ observation blind overlooking the wetland, and an outdoor classroom on the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high point will support student learning;

kkCreating engaging places near the school

for students to sit or become involved in their environment including rain gardens, edible landscapes and vegetable gardens, will allow Pioneer to make use of its natural resources; and

kkEducating faculty and students on strategies to guard

Heavy illegal ATV use on the west has eroded protected wetland resources.

against Lyme disease will decrease fears and foster use of open-air opportunities.

From establishing environmental stewardship to a deep and poetic appreciation of all that nature has to offer, teachers will be the key to engaging students in the many opportunities offered by this outstanding landscape.

Removal of native meadows by mowing eliminates valuable habitat, reducing ecological resilience.

Forest understory has been altered by trails running perpendicular to contours. This causes excessive erosion into sensitive areas and promotes invasive plants.

teacher who wants to use

the

P ioneer

landscapes for

experiential learning faces multiple challenges .â&#x20AC;?

(T eacher S urvey , 2013) Efforts to expose dangerous roots to runners by leaf blowing jeopardize forest health and increases erosion.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

C ase S tudy : A rt U nites O utdoor U ses ...T his C ould B e P ioneer ! ‘The Bird Blind’

near

Troutdale

achieves a greater good

Published: March 19, 2010 By Allan Brettman, The Oregonian TROUTDALE -- It started as a work of art crafted by a world-renowned designer, but it morphed into a grassroots incubator for cooperation and change. “The Bird Blind,” as it was named by designer Maya Lin, fulfilled her vision of placing an homage to the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s Corps of Discovery at the mouth of the Sandy River. That was two years ago. Today, however, the art project has a more far-reaching impact than providing a good naturewalk destination and a bit of culture. Lin and the people who supported her work couldn’t have predicted that dog owners, equestrians, hunters, bird watchers, mountain-bike riders and hikers would seize the opportunity to use her artwork to achieve an even greater good at a 1,500 - acre U.S. Forest Service-owned tract near Troutdale and north of Interstate 84’s Exit 18. There, they have come together, overcoming individual suspicions that the art project would be a roadblock to continued use of the site. They got assurances their favored plot of land wouldn’t be taken away, and gave something back: working together as volunteers to pick up trash, plan trails, clear brush and even mow the grass. And they help the Forest Service, the Oregon Department of Transportation and other agencies plan the area’s future uses. When the blind was dedicated in August 2008, it became the third completed project. An Troutdale community members used an innovative bird blind art installation to build support from hikers, dog walkers, bird watching enthusiasts, equestrians and more. elliptical-shaped platform features towering wood slats enshrouding the visitor. Several slats are embossed with the names of the more than 130 animal species that the Lewis and Clark journals say the Corps of Discovery encountered on their expedition. The survival status of several species also is embossed on the wood. Some 200 years after the Corps’ journey, three species are extinct and several others are either endangered, threatened or a “species of concern.” When Greg Cox first heard about the Confluence Project plan for “The Bird Blind,” he remembers thinking, “You want to do what?” [After countless hours of research and planning to accommodate dog walkers, equestrians, hunters, bird watchers, and others], U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., directed $1 million toward the interstate exit project (enable safer access), for which the firm David Evans and Associates donated engineering work to the Transportation Department, Kristen Stallman, Oregon Department of Transportation coordinator for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area said. Some of the money was used to build a 110 - space gravel parking lot. The Oregon Army National Guard helped build the parking lot and the trail leading to “The Bird Blind.” Now, once a month, volunteers with Friends of the Gorge conduct trash pickup events. They often set up information tables about appropriate uses of the area. The husband of Adams, the equestrian, uses his own tractor to mow parts of the area. Says ODOT’s Stallman: “It’s only going to get more popular.”

Case Study: Art Unites Outdoor Uses...This Could Be Pioneer! 55

Site Analysis Summary I: Sustainable Land Use

VRS has some of the most bio-diverse habitat areas in Massachusetts (Lattrell, 2012). Unfortunately many of these areas face a variety of threats including bank erosion near wetlands, increasing dominance by exotic, invasive species, and rapid, heated rain runoff. The absence of habitat management will eventually lead to reduction in biodiversity and decreasing resilience as climate change brings new and unpredictable challenges. The summary table below identifies specific concerns and solutions.

Concerns

Solutions

The Potential Vernal Pool is most likely the home of Natural Heritage Species.

Certification would secure permanent protection and increase the value of a conservation restriction (French, NHESP, 2012; Rasku, 2012).

Four Unsustainable Trails cut too close to spring seeps cause bank erosion and threaten priority habitat. These trails also enable illegal and damaging use by ATVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Re-route up and over the bank to reduces erosion; old trails should be remediated after consulting with the Northfield Conservation Commission(Hawthorne, DFW, 2012).

Runoff from Impervious Surfaces flows into Critical Natural Landscape and eventually into Core Habitat (Savetherain.com, 2013).

Rain gardens coupled with different mowing practices would significantly reduce this problem (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012).

Thin Till Bedrock on the high point allows accumulation of dry plant material, making it prone to forest fire and creating a safety threat to students and the community.

Routine prescribed burns would reduce fuel loads and improve the oak stand with a healthier forest edge and floor (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012).

The decrease in forest-field transition meadows from Heavy Invasive Plants diminishes important habitat and biodiversity as well as opportunities for aquifer recharge (Sauer 1998).

An initial clear mowing and herbicide application would stimulate the area (Deely, 2011).

The East Pasture Pine Forest offer safe, accessible, and inviting recreational and educational opportunities; the West Pasture Pine Forest has reached maturity.

The East Pasture Pine Forest would be an ideal location for a ropes course. Harvesting West Pasture Pine Forest would supply materials for outdoor classrooms and release an understory of oaks (Johnson, DCR, 2012; Paulson, 2012).

The Red Pine Planting Forest is old and being overtaken by exotic invasive plants.

The area should be cleared for an outdoor classroom constructed with harvested trees from this site (Johnson, DCR, 2012).

Only one Meadow remains and is a valuable nesting and feeding habitat for many native species.

Meadows should be reinstated in several locations because they offer valuable ecological resilience during climate change and slow water movement during violent storms, while improving infiltration (Walker, 2012).

The Flat Early Woodland extends over three acres away from priority habitat areas and has good southern exposure.

This hidden area would provide needed space for photovoltaics to power the school.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

S u s ta i n a b l e L a n d U s e il Ra

Ro u

S i t e A n a ly s i s S u mm a ry I :

B t et nn Be k

High Point

A A A

Biology Pond

F. Su m ne

ad r Ro ne r Tu

Spring Seeps

Potential Vernal Pool

BioMap2 Critical Lanscape Unsustainable Trail Impervious Surface Runoff

d Ol

d ar

Low Point

Feet 250

500

Thin Till Bedrock Heavy Invasive Plants Pasture Pine Forest Red Pine Planting Forest Meadow Early Woodland

Site Analysis Summary I: Sustainable Land Use 57

Site Analysis Summary II: Engaging Destinations & Functions

ngaging destinations are places for students, teachers and community members to experience authentic educational environment and recreational opportunities. Some can be accessed near the building (rain gardens, for example), while others will need trails that are clearly marked with informational signs. Their use will be defined by their location and natural resources while considering minimal negative impact to each siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecology. A few destinations will require radical changes; the photovoltaic array location, for example, will require forest removal to create an uninterrupted southern exposure.

D e s t i n at i o n /F u n c t i o n s

Outdoor Classroom Sites

Three locations: High Point, Red Pine Planting and School Side.

18 t h C e n t u ry F o u n d at i o n Offers a glimpse of our relevant agricultural heritage.

F i e l d /F o r e s t T r a n s i t i o n Z o n e s Provide water runoff mitigation and important forestfield transition habitat for many birds and other important wildlife.

L o c at i o n R at i o n a l e High Point offers shed of Connecticut Valley and school. Red Pine Planting provides site sourced materials in desperate need of management; School Side provides quick access (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012). Very unique, one-of-a-kind site for cross-disciplinary curricula connects the role of agriculture to our daily lives. Reduces mowing and helps management of invasive plants with native plant competition; re-establishes important habitat for students to investigate and value (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012).

W e t l a n d /W i l d l if e V i e wi n g A r e a

Creates an engaging destination for interdisciplinary A raised viewing platform and walkway in a very rich activities and wildlife observation in a very unique location (Lattrelle, 2012). and diverse wetland.

Trail

head

Kiosks

Three locations; near south entry way, close to parking lot and off Route 142.

Student Gardens Give students an opportunity to raise food and create links to a healthy lifestyle.

Rain Garden Areas Reduce runoff and provide valuable pollinator habitat and visitor seating around the school building.

Engage visitors by offering information and direction while providing visual accessibility (Monro, 2012). Located near the building for easy access to open courtyard near middle school and senior lobby for high school. Sited close to building for easy accessibility for while offering functionality where runoff can be most dramatic.

C o n fi d e n c e R o p e s C o u r s e

Provides a safe, readily-accessible location for students Develops leadership, cooperation and team problem in an area that requires little management and has privacy for multiple stations (Paulson, 2012). solving in a noncompetitive setting.

P h o to v o lta ic A r r ay Generates enough electricity to fully power the school, save money, and reduce dependency on unsustainable resources.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Location is large enough to create full electrical support while being out of major viewing areas; highly accessible for management and near power lines for interconnection needs (Hawthorne, DFW, 2012).

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

E n g a g i n g D e s t i n at i o n s & F u n c t i o n s

S i t e A n a ly s i s S u mm a ry II:

Ro ute 14 2

il Ra

e nn Be

High 1 Point

Br ad

Biology Pond

Low Point

6 5

ad r Ro ne r u rT

F. Su m ne

d Ol

Outdoor Classrooms

Student Gardens

18th Century Farm Foundation

Rain Gardens

Field-Forest Transitions

Conﬁdence Ropes Course

“Wild View” Wetland Viewing

Photovoltaic Array

Trail Head Kiosks

r na

Feet 250

500

Site Analysis Summary II: Engaging Destinations & Functions 59

Goals, Actions, & Design Inspirations Pioneer Stewardship Plan

Land Use Pr able act n i ice ta s u

Foster Thriving Biodiversity

Incorporate Engaging Destinations

ir E ducation & R

e ecr

Biod

ving

Raise Runoff Water Quality

i Thr

Localize Food Security

GOALS & ACTIONS

Re-establish Healthy Habitats

e liz

Food Sec

Permaculture

Student Gardens

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

S c o t t H o wa r d D e s i g n s

Well Designed Trails

High 5 Adventures

a r o

Engaging De s

Confidence & Leadership

Outdoor Classrooms

W at e r

of un

Address Climate Change

Observation Areas

Native Plant Rain Gardens

Green Roof Water Catchment

Goals, Actions, & Design Inspirations 61

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Designs: Preferred & Alternatives Overview

uilding environmental stewardship as a means to a sustainable future is an important Core Value.

One preferred and two alternative designs have been developed through a community process, professional consultation, and extensive â&#x20AC;&#x153;best practicesâ&#x20AC;? research from the most recent scientific resources. Each design identifies a more resilient landscape through sustainable land use practices. Open-air education and recreation provide students with places to study and observe Nature.

D e s i g n O v e rv i e w

Preferred Design

Resilience

Alternative Design I

Alternative Design II

S t e wa r d s h i p

O p e n -A i r

l Roa

ute

High Point

ett

ute

oad

il R

Rai

142

oad

Biology Pond

Low Point

F. Su m ne

ner ur rT

Feet 0

250

Road

ton

rds

rna

d Be

500

Be ok

High Point

Biology Pond

F. Su m ne

Feet 0

Provides Engaging

D e s t i n at i o n s Raises R u n o ff Quality L o c a l iz e s Food Security Fosters Thriving Biodiversity

250

Low Point

ad r Ro ne ur rT

F. Su m ne

ad r Ro ne ur rT

Biology Pond

Low Point

Feet 0

500

250

500

High

Moderate

High

Moderate

None

High

None

High

Moderate

Uses / manages entire site; well balanced

Emphasis close to building for quick access

Destinations for education and recreation away from building

Designs: Preferred & Alternatives Overview 63

Preferred Design: Resilience This design addresses an important Core Value and Student Expectation to build environmental stewardship in a variety of practical ways. It clearly addresses climate change by improving water run off, renewable energy sources, biodiversity and local food security while providing engaging destinations for student use.

Pros kkTrail re-routing away from steep slopes reduces erosion and siltation;

kkTrail Kiosks welcome visitors and provide clear direction;

kkOutdoor Classrooms with green roofs create structured places for lessons;

kkWetland Wild View encourages ecologically sound access to the wetlands for research and creative activities;

kkPrescribed Burn would reduces the risk of unmanaged forest fires;

kkUniversal Access Trail encourages access to a wider range of visitors;

kkField-Forest Transition Zones reduce mowing, decrease water runoff, increase edge habitat, and further protects the WPZ;

kkRegenerative Forestry improves forest health and provides educational tree-to-lumber processing skills;

kkPhotovoltaic Array reduces the growing utility bill

Cons kkTrails can interfere with some animal migration

patterns, hindering the search for food, and reducing genetic diversity by restricting breeding;

kkConstruction of a Wetland Wild View within wetland resource areas require special permits;

kkField-Forest Transition Zones need pathways mowed to control black-legged ticks;

kkTime frame for exotic invasive plant control in Field- Forest Transition Zones is not in sync with the school calendar;

kkClearing for ground mounted Photovoltaic Array

would eliminate habitat and could interfere with athletic practice area;

kkCommunity support will be required to maintain summer Student Gardens;

kkAddition of Native Planting requires careful planning for snow management; and

kkNewly cleared and disturbed areas create

opportunities for exotic invasive plant colonization and require routine management.

and carbon footprint;

kkNative Planting creates natural habitat which

encourages local species, creates aesthetic additions from hard building lines and eliminates exotic invasive plants;

kkLeadership Ropes Course develops student confidence and cohesion;

kkStudent Gardens encourage healthier eating, could involve community support, and extend conventional thinking about local food production;

kkLiving Green Roof provides irrigation for gardens, improves water quality and significantly reduces heating and cooling costs; and

kkRain Gardens reduce rapid drainage, improve aquifer recharge, and provide native plant pollinator vegetation.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Preferred Design: Resilience ad

Ro u

te 1

il Ra

n Be tt

High Point

o Br ad

Biology Pond

oad er R rn u rT

F. Su m ne

Feet 0

Low Point

250

n er

500

Trails

Universal Access Trail

Leadership Ropes Course

Kiosks

Field-Forest Transition

Student Gardens

Outdoor Classrooms

Regenerative Forestry

Living Green Roof

Wetland Wild View

Photovoltaic Array

Rain Gardens

Prescribed Burn

Native Planting

Preferred Design: Resilience 65

Alternative Design I: Stewardship The Stewardship design offers opportunities near the school building for engaging students in activities to improve runoff water quality and biodiversity. It encourages students to develop natural landscape sculptures, to create community based gardens and to work cooperatively at managing the landscape during their six years at Pioneer.

Pros

Cons

kkOutdoor Classrooms with green roofs create structured places for lessons;

kkField-Forest Transition Zones reduce mowing, decrease water runoff, increase edge habitat, further protects the WPZ;

kkField-Forest Transition Zones need pathways mowed to control black-legged ticks;

kkTime frame for exotic invasive plant control in Field- Wood Transition Zones are not in sync with

the school calendar;

kkPhotovoltaic Array reduces the growing utility bill

kkCommunity support will be required to maintain

kkNative Planting creates natural habitat which

kkAddition of Native Planting requires careful

and carbon footprint;

encourages local species, creates aesthetic additions from hard building lines and eliminates exotic invasive plants;

summer Student Gardens;

planning for snow management; and

kkThe Living Green Roof may require structural upgrading to support the additional load.

kkLeadership Ropes Course develops student confidence and cohesion;

kkLiving Green Roof reduces rain water runoff, decreases building heating and cooling requirements and provides valuable habitat;

kkStudent Gardens encourage healthier eating, could involve community support, and extend

conventional thinking about local food production; and

kkRain Gardens reduce rapid drainage, improve aquifer recharge, and provide native plant pollinator vegetation.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

A lt e r n at i v e D e s i g n : S t e wa r d s h i p oad

il R

ut e1 42

Be et nn

High Point

tB ok ro d oa

Biology Pond

Road ner ur rT

F. Su m ne

Feet 0

Low Point

250

d Ol

500

Outdoor Classrooms

Leadership Ropes Course

Field-forest Transitions

Living Green Roof

Photovoltaic Array

Student Gardens

Native Planting

Rain Gardens

Alternative Design I: Stewardship 67

Alternative Design II: Open-Air The Open Air design provides access to many previously unused areas. It focuses on engaging destinations and adds a renewable energy source. Students would have places to sit, observe, and create. Activities occurring in the Wetland Wild View, Leadership Ropes Course and Outdoor Classrooms would provide interdisciplinary, experiential opportunities.

Pros kkTrail system introduces the walker to landforms,

Cons kkOpen-Air does little to mitigate excessive run off,

kkTrail Kiosks welcome visitors and provide clear

kkRoutine management could prove challenging; kkNew Trails will create opportunities for exotic

forest systems and unique plants along guided pathways;

direction;

kkOutdoor Classrooms with green roofs create structured places for lessons;

kkWetland Wild View encourages ecologically sound access to the wetlands for research and creative activities while instilling the value of wetlands;

kkUniversal Access Trail increases access for a greater range of participants;

kkPhotovoltaic Array reduces the growing utility bill and the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint;

biodiversity or local food security;

invasive plant colonization and will require routine management;

kkTrails can interfere with some animal migration

patterns, hindering the search for food, and reducing genetic diversity by restricting breeding;

kkConstruction of Wetland Wild View within wetland resource areas require special permits;

kkView Scape will require periodic tree removal; and kkClearing for ground mounted Photovoltaic Array

would eliminate habitat and could interfere with the athletic practice area.

kkView Scape provides a unique cross-disciplinary

opportunity for aesthetic, historic and geological uses; and

kkLeadership Ropes Course develops student confidence and cohesion.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

A lt e r n at i v e D e s i g n II: O p e n -A i r oad

R ail

Ro ute

Be ok

tB et nn

High Point

Biology Pond

ad r Ro ne r u rT

Feet 250

d Ol

F. Su m ne

Low Point

r na

500

Trails

Universal Access

Kiosks

Photovoltaic Array

Outdoor Classroom

View Scape

Wetland Wild View

Leadership Ropes Course

Alternative Design II: Open-Air 69

Getting Started

uch of the PSP can be implemented with little expense once the school has formally adopted the identified concepts and strategies into management practices and incorporated them into the curricula as a sustainable vision for the future. The District will need to seek funding from public and private agencies. These grants should become much more accessible once a grant application schedule has been established. The PSP has been endorsed by several key people and organizations. Please refer to Appendix J: Endorsements.

Step 1 - The Key

S u cc e s s

A key component to project adoption will be a full or parttime Sustainability Coordinator who oversees the plan’s forward movement. The job description should include, but not be limited to, grant writing, training management staff, working hand-in-hand with teachers on curricula, and scheduling community events.

Step 2 - Invest in Low Cost/ N o C o s t P r o j e c t s kkRedirect and design trails to run parallel or diagonally to contour lines instead of perpendicular;

kkApply for Northfield’s Community Preservation Act

the use of this money must be used for open space preservation;

kkCertify the Potential Vernal Pool on the west side

certified; see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/ vernal_pools/vernal_pool_cert.htm; and

kk Implement the forest management plan developed in 2013.

See Appendix K: Forest Management Strategies. Reduce mowing to establish healthy field to forest transitions and improve pollinator habitat areas with managed native plants. Manage woody invasive exotics by pulling and re-planting with eco-regional natives and/or cut and paint with herbicides after prioritizing and carefully reviewing the best practices associated with invasive plant management;

kkContact the Northfield Planning Board about the

steps necessary for becoming part of the town’s Solar Overlay District for the photovoltaic array;

kkBegin the process of acquiring a leased, full-

photovoltaic system or budgeting for direct ownership to reduce electrical costs. Savings will be between 40 to 60% (~ $60,000) per year. If leasing, negotiate an agreement to purchase the system for $1 after 15 - 20 years;

Please see “Appendix L: Photovoltaics- Lease or Buy?

kkReduce siltation into drains by keeping plow piles away from drains.

monies (over $90,000) by November. One-third of

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

kkReplace the use of road salt on sidewalks; kkRemove parking lot sweepings from winter sand

accumulations from drains and clean storm drains annually;

kkConsult a forest fire management professional for

details on reducing fire risk on Hitchcock Island Forest; and

kkCollaborate with a local land trust in obtaining

assistance from an AmeriCorp volunteer to assist the Coordinator.

S t e p 3 - A p p ly ($1000

for

Grants

and up)

Many of the items listed below are eligible for grants now that the school has the PSP.

kkEstablish raised - bed garden plots for the

community with easy access to ample water; purchase the necessary gardening tools and provide a storage shed;

kkRemove managed burning bush shrubs from the

four areas on the school grounds and replace with native plants;

kkDesign water mitigating ‘rain gardens’ at strategic locations around the school;

kkEstablish habitat monitoring stations; kkProtect the vernal pool;

kkMonitor and protect wetland; kkMonitor and protect pollinator habitats; and kkMonitor and protect turtle nesting areas. kkOffer teachers curriculum development stipends to integrate the PSP into existing curricula;

kkDesign outdoor classrooms and wildlife viewing

areas using site source materials and hiring students during the summer to work with a logger, forester, sawyer, and contractor; and

kkDevelop an entrepreneur program with middle

school students that utilizes site resources (e.g. cord wood harvesting, mushroom cultivation, and production gardens).

A f t e r y o u g e t t h i s fa r ... Go for Long Term Capitol Improvements kkReplace impervious asphalt with pervious pavers;

research at UNH proves that the long term cost provides significant savings; Install a rain catchment system that reserves water for irrigation of fields; and Replace existing roofs with ‘green roof’ to reduce heating and cooling costs while significantly reducing runoff.

kk kk

Getting Started 71

Resources, Grants & Partnerships C o n s e rvat i o n R e s t r ic t i o n

Jay Rasku, North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership suggested several options and recommendations for preserving the PVRS landscape. The most logical strategy would be to protect the property in perpetuity through a conservation restriction (CR). This would stop any possible development, while the Pioneer district decides which portion(s) of the property to place under the restriction and which part(s) to keep open for future expansion and development. A conservation restriction keeps the ownership of the land with PVRSD but permanently protects natural resources in the area under the restriction – i.e., no development can occur there. A qualified independent appraiser determines the monetary value of the CR. He/she determines the full development value and the least development value. The difference between these two values is the CR’s value. It will cost $4000-$6000 for a CR appraisal, but the process often identifies potential funding source(s) for purchasing it. There would be fees to monitor the restriction, including legal holdings to cover liability, baseline assessment and an annual assessment to monitor CR compliance. In short, the sale value of the conservation restriction is determined by the appraisal score. It is possible to strengthen the CR’s scoring, thus increasing its sale value. Locating and verifying the existence of rare species on site and having a management plan focusing on educational use will increase its value. Yet another way to increase the value is increasing the parcel size by combining a contiguous property with PVRS, especially if it holds waterfront along the Connecticut River. The key to success is finding the right funding source for a conservation restriction appraisal. The restriction could be purchased by the town through the Community

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Preservation Act (CPA) money through a town vote. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a grant program to help municipalities conserve land. Known as the LAND (Land Acquisition Natural Diversity) grant program, it reimburses the town up to 60% of the cost of the CR. The CPA would assume the remaining costs. Another option to protect the landscape in perpetuity would involve donating the development rights to the Conservation Commission. The associated fees would be the town’s responsibility. In any case, insuring that this beautiful landscape is preserved would be a great gift to future generations.

Federal Government The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems. www.nrcs. usda.gov/ The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plants Database. plants.usda.gov/java/ The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides grants that fund state environmental programs, non-profits, educational institutions, and others. The grant money is used for a wide variety of projects to achieve the EPA’s overall mission to protect human health and the environment. www.epa.gov

S tat e G o v e r n m e n t The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission’s mission is education of and support for

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Conservation Commissions. In addition, MACC works for strong, workable, science-based laws and regulations regarding wetlands, other water resources, open space, and biological resources. maccweb.org The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife/ Natural Heritage and Endangered Species is responsible for the conservation and protection of hundreds of species that are not hunted, fished, trapped, or commercially harvested in the state. www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhesp The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ overall mission is to safeguard public health from environmental threats and to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Commonwealth. www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeahomepage&L=1&L0=Home &sid=Eoeea The MassGIS is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office of Geographic Information, a statewide resource for geospatial technology and data. www.mass.gov/mgis/

N o n -G o v e r n m e n ta l O r g a n iz at i o n s (NGO s ) The Massachusetts Audubon Society works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. The organization cares for 34,000 acres of conservation land, provides educational programs for children and adults, and advocates for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels. www.massaudubon.org The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks and recreation opportunities. www.nrpa.org/

The mission of the Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Local Fire Management Specialist-Plymouth, MA – Alex Belote, Abelote@tnc.org. The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) is today recognized as a leader in conserving working forests, educating the public about forestry, and assisting landowners in the long-term protection and sustainable management of their properties. www.newenglandforestry. org/ The Trustees of Reservations has properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value for public use and enjoyment in Massachusetts. www.thetrustees.org/ The Lady Byrd Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, Native Plant Database is yet another resource. www.wildflower.org/plants

Individuals Austin Paulson, GCC Outdoor Leadership Professor, has offered to assist with planning confidence courses for a limited time/and is available for the short term only. Jere Nelson, Northfield resident and timber harvester, has offered services to the school once the forest management plan has been completed. Please refer to “Appendix M: Grants and Foundations” for additional information.

Resources, Grants & Partnerships 73

Appendix A: Building Resilient Communities

esilience science is not new, but its practice is. Defined by Brian Walker and David Salt in Resilience Practice , resilience systems “build the capacity to absorb disturbances and maintain function.” Our landscapes function to provide a multitude of natural capitol services, such as clean water, climate control, recreation, etc., thus ensuring quality life support. (TEEB, 2010). [Refer to the Natural Capitol Services in Table 2 for additional information.] Disturbances, either quick and often catastrophic or long and barely noticeable, often require a system to reorganize and adjust. A system without sufficient resilience will likely be pushed over its threshold into a different functionality or realm. Over-fishing or destruction of a coral reef from pollution are common examples. When a system enters a new realm, it has new qualities. Its functionality has changed and will require huge input to return to its previous purpose. For example, restoring fish populations worth harvesting may take decades or longer to recover. When a system fails, less prominent organisms become dominant, often serving no economic or natural value to the environment! Not all disturbances have a negative outcome, however; in fact, many ensure healthy systems. For instance, forest fires release valuable nutrients for regeneration of younger growth and may be necessary for certain seeds to germinate or severe tropical storm’s high water flushes marshes removing valuable nutrients needed in ocean habitats for regeneration. Walker and Salt’s definition can be applied to social, biological and economic systems. The ongoing, longterm success of any system depends on its ability to change as the world around it shifts. For example, Kodak Corporation developed digital imagery decades ago but ignored creating digital cameras until it was too late, leading to corporate collapse. As the conditions around a natural or human made system change, adaptive cycles become more critical. The greater the redundancy within that system, these adaptive cycles support resilience. ‘Efficient’ systems, on the contrary, become highly specialized at performing specific functions eliminating what is

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

perceived as unnecessary. When an unexpected change occurs, the system fails (Diamond, 2007). In its wisdom, Nature has built-in redundancies to protect its resilience. For example, many insects perform pollination; in the event of a population failure with one, other species continue the task. In the past, traditional landscape management was static, never changing or adapting to new conditions. We now know differently, and our effort to transform landscapes requires an adaptive approach. Building resilient communities in and around PVRS requires input from community members, site analysis data, professional consultations, and more. In order to create healthy landscapes, participants must link the biophysical, social and economic influences as they arise. Adaptive land management is critical. Adaptive management creates resilient communities through a very specific, open-ended process. It requires interventions, specific goals, and a willingness to experiment. Assessment tools to measure successes and failures are also critical. For example, eliminating all invasives on the PVRS campus is impossible. But assessing where the greatest benefit could be gained might be a wise starting point. This necessitates planning, forethought, and effort with a willingness to revise a plan if necessary. High performance, ecologically stable landscapes have the following qualities:

kkProductive - low inputs, high outputs; kkDiversified and connected - ecologically resilient;

kkClimate change responsive; and kkMultifunction systems - provide a range of ecological services.

Around the world, this innovative, new science is proving successful and worthwhile at securing natural resilience while helping communities to prosper socially and economically. Adaptive management has been successful in restoring regions where fishing was virtually destroyed and where dairy farming practices have destroyed the soil through over-irrigation. It is transforming communities that face ongoing disturbances from abrupt and slow disruptions. We humans can successfully play the resilience game by using Nature’s guidebook. FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Collaborative

Adaptive L and Management Adaptive Land Management Adapt to Unpredictable

• Drought • Extreme Rain Events • Unseasonable Temperatures • Nuisance Pests and Plants • Species Shifts

Conceptualization Desired Outcomes Implement Evaluate Monitor

• Meet Regulations/Needs • Utilize Grant & Tax Incentives • Decrease Operational Costs • Optimize Community Recognition • Naturalize Out-of-Play Areas

NRCS

Owner/s Site Manager

Environmental Engineer Wetland Scientist

Non Government Organization

Action Plan Refine Goals Strategies & Actions Appendix A: Building Resilient Communities 75

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Appendix B: Community Input

he effectiveness of project innovations at meeting program goals from approximately 225 community members, faculty and students. Participants considered available resources, ecological impact and cost.

S t e wa rd s h ip Prio rit ie s Regenerates Forests & Native Habitat

Improves Water Quality

Builds Diversity

Preserves Natural Resources

Offers Educational Opportunities

Offers Recreational Opportunities

Field-Forest Transition Zones

•

Rain Gardens

•

Permaculture Garden Design

•

Trails, signs, map

•

Managed Forests

•

Project

Innovations

Photovoltaic System

•

Outdoor Classrooms

•

Green Roof

•

Invasive management Gray-water system

• •

Campus High Point Destination

•

Ropes Course

•

Appendix B: Community Input 77

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

AA ppendix ppendix C: BHistoric History Details

any factors have shaped the Pioneer landscape, some from natural causes, but most have anthropocentric origins. This time line attempts to identify significant biophysical, social and / or economic events that shaped the landscape to what we experience today. Knowing the causes will further our understanding in making better informed adaptive management decisions.

Relevance on Today’s Landscape

Major Driver/s

Year

Event/s

-10,000

Last glacier creates well-drained till and 120 long mile Lake Hitchcock, which covers all of site except Hitchcock Island; forest west of the soccer field contains very distinct lake bottom sediments

Creates soil conditions and geographical features that sculpture the vegetative cover, wildlife habitats and human uses

Biophysical

1800’s

Land is farmed for hay, livestock and fruit; little known foundation from 1800’s on south end still exists today; last remnants of a “wolf tree” on the east side also indicate open field; barbed wire has been found deeply embedded into old oak trees

Landscape markers today provide clear evidence of agricultural use that spanned more than 200 years; former hay fields ecologically succeeded to towering white pine forest on east and west property portions

Biophysical

1957

After years of planning led by F. Sumner Turner, Pioneer Valley Regional School opens exotic ornamentals (barberry and honeysuckle) planted

Declining farmland becomes perfect site for highly managed athletic fields, parking and building infrastructure; students have outdoor areas for play at lunchtime and woodlands for learning

1960

Today this same-age forest is quickly deteriorating Topsoil removal occurs from west and undergoing significant side where red pine, European change open to undesirable larch and spruce were planted decline in valuable biodiversity

All

Biophysical

Appendix C: Historic Details 79

Major Driver/s

Year

Event/s

1960

Grant-funded construction of the "biology pond" on the south end of the property takes place

Provides first valuable destination and access to outdoor educational / recreational opportunities

Biophysical/ social

Teachers and students open Pioneer Nature Trail

Provides outdoor skills and environmental stewardship opportunities to students; further provides access to meaningful outdoor destinations

Biophysical/ Social

1974

Drainage from buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rooftop and parking impervious surfaces erodes into deep gully on east side

Unpredicted topsoil loss into wetlands deteriorates habitat decreasing biodiversity; aquifer recharge diminishes; area greatly disrupted remedied with drainage piping and cover cropping

Biophysical/ Economic

1981

Proposition 2 1/2 limits property tax increases and limiting school budget increases

Aging infrastructure shows need for major capitol investments; tough decisions pit important needs against one another

Economic

1985

Well fails from lack of maintenance and flooding caused by beaver damming and is eventually relocated to field edge; a bond funds expansion of athletic fields and well; snow mobile trail opens along the west property boundary

Well protection zone shifts eastward toward school infrastructure; forest edge pushed back while athletic fields expand creating border disturbances; snow mobile trail provides unique community access including undesirable off-road motorized vehicle use

All

Vernon students tuition to PVRS as an alternative to attending Brattleboro High

Provides additional economic resources to the school while increasing demand for more facilities and staffing; curricula adjusted to meet expanded backgrounds

Social/ Economic

1972

1990

Relevance on Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landscape

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Relevance on Today’s Landscape

Major Driver/s

Fire in West Forest

A small ground fire was stopped after beginning to Ladder up tree trunk, where it could have escalated and become a serious safety threat to the community

Biophysical

First efforts to recycle paper made by S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence to the Earth)

Student-initiated effort shows concern beyond school building; awareness of declining environment comes into the school community

Social

State mandates MCAS standards and testing initiatives

Educational focus changes to meet state’s high stakes testing requirements; curricula moves away from open-air education; use of school grounds declines; use is primarily for athletics and community

Social/ Economic

Envirothon team begins

Envirothon teams focus on a different current issue for statewide competition. They address these ways relevant to ecological assessment and management of the PVRS landscape and present their findings

Social

2000

Major building and grounds renovation and expansion begins; school develops forest management plan; topsoil removed by contractor from site and not used on athletic fields

Unhealthy forest conditions continue to develop in many other locations; new landscape includes low maintenance exotic plants and high waterrequiring lawns; impervious surfaces double increasing runoff; lunchtime play area removed

All

2001

School’s Mission Statement includes environmental stewardship, cooperation and heterogenous grouping

Teachers create awareness and efforts to meet new ideals; school focuses its stewardship on resource reduction through recycling

Social

Year

~1991

1994

1995

1996

Event/s

Appendix B History 81

Year

Major Driver/s

Biophysical/ Economic

2002

Local landscape company wins contract for land management

Landscaper initiates many new practices: elimination of all meadows, mowing to field tree line creating disruptions and enabling the expansion of exotic invasive plants

2005

Administration supports full recycling and composting program run by students and staff

Adds leverage for whole school support; decreases waste stream to about 75%

Social/ Economic

2008

School choice for out-of-district students increases to 25%

Increases financial resources for school and stabilizes declining enrollment while challenging educational needs; increases out-of-district transportation needs and demands for facilities

Social/ Economic

2011

This highly invasive plant has totally degraded many ecosystems across the US; access from Highly invasive Japanese community use of PVRS stiltgrass is identified and treated snow mobile trail by ATVs by community volunteers; total may have unknowingly exotic invasive plant list reaches introduced it from southern thirteen locations; seven year seed viability means ongoing management necessary to control and eliminate over time

2011

Event/s

Relevance on Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landscape

A neighbor west of PVRS donates 4.75 acres of wetland property expanding the site to nearly 90 acres

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This provides valuable access to Route 142 for potential snowmobile and trail head use and adds valuable wooded wetland where rare, declining and endangered species may live

All

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Appendix D: Soil Test Results Date of testing: October 21, 2011

L o c at i o n

Soil pH

L im e B u ff e r N e e d s pH / 1000

ppm

ft2

F e r t i l iz e r Needs

Lab N u mb e r

Most are within well-head S1111018protection zone. Not allowed 201

Athletic Fields

5.9

6.9

#25

Track

6.8

7.5

20-3-12 @ #5/100 ft 2

S111018202

Courtyard

5.0

6.5

#150

10-10-10 @ #3/100ft 2

S111018203

5-10-10 @ #3/ 100ft 2 ; due to the nutrient loving invasive plants down slope from the area, limestone and fertilizer is NOT recommended until issue is completely mitigated with routine monitoring practices

S111018205â&#x20AC;&#x2018;â&#x20AC;&#x2018;

East of Building

6.5

#150

Visit www.umass.edu/soiltest for further information

Appendix D: Soil Test Results 83

Appendix E: Ecosystem Services

magine an endless supply of clean water and air, plants that provide valuable medicines to cure every disease, an abundant food and energy supply, and natural beauty beyond our greatest dreams. These ecosystem services were available at no cost, but this is no longer the case. Diminishing resources, contamination of natural systems and accelerating extinctions force us to become less assuming about the their availability. How do economists assign a price to ecosystem services? Some are sold as commodities in the open market; carbon sequestration by keeping vast reserves of forest untouched is one example. But a more developed

R e g u l at i n g

Local Climate

Biological Control

Pollination

Waste Water

Erosion & Fertility

Extreme Events

Carbon Banking

kk Local climate and air quality regulation (trees provide shade and remove pollutants from the atmosphere and forests to influence rainfall); kk Biological control of pests to control vector-borne diseases; kk Pollination (87 out of the 115 leading global food crops, including important cash crops) depend upon animal pollination; kk Waste-water treatment (micro-organisms in soil and in wetlands decompose human and animal waste as well as many pollutants); kk Erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility; kk Moderation of extreme events (ecosystems and living organisms create buffers against natural hazards such as floods, storms, and landslides); and kk Carbon banking (as trees and plants grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and effectively lock it away in their tissues).

Provisioning

Food

Raw Materials

Fresh Water

Medicines

Ecosystems that provide the conditions for growing food; kk Raw materials for construction and fuel; kk Fresh water (both surface and groundwater sources); and kk Plants that provide medicinal information for the pharmaceutical industry. kk

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

answer to this perplexing question is unknown. Concerns over recognizing the value of these services grows as they become more and more threatened. To help us better understand the role of ecosystem services, economists, ecologists, social scientists, and politicians throughout the world have created the four major service categories explained below. Regardless of our political beliefs about management of the environment, these services form the backbone of our economy and our life support systems.

Source: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature,â&#x20AC;? The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, 2010.

C u lt u r a l

Spiritual

Aesthetics

Tourism

Recreation

Spiritual experience and a sense of place (Nature is a common element in all major religions; natural landscapes also form local identity and a sense of belonging; kk Aesthetic appreciation and inspiration for culture, art and design; kk Tourism to provide considerable economic benefit and provide a vital source of income for many countries; and kk Recreation and mental and physical health. kk

H a bi tat & S u p p o r t

Species Diversity

Genetic Diversity

Habitats for species that provide everything that an individual plant or animal needs to survive. Migratory species need habitats along their migrating routes; and kk Maintenance of genetic diversity to distinguish different breeds or races, providing the basis for locally, well-adapted varieties and a gene pool for further developing commercial crops and livestock.

Appendix E: Ecosystem Services 85

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Appendix F: Invasive Plants Guidelines for Managers From: Invasive Plant Management: Guidelines Julie Richburg, PhD. The Trustees of Reservations September 29, 2008

Overview

from the

for

Managers

Executive Summary

In the Northeast, invasive species have invaded a variety of habitats from grasslands to intact forests. Invasive species threaten our native biodiversity by directly competing with native species, altering ecosystem processes, changing hydrological characteristics, and degrading gene pools through hybridization with native species. Furthermore, invasive species can degrade the productivity of agricultural lands and compromise significant cultural landscapes (e.g., historic gardens). Due to the characteristics of invasives (e.g., high seed production, rapid growth), they may be better adapted to colonizing disturbed landscapes and respond more quickly than native species to changes that result from global warming.

General Principles

in Invasive

Plant Management

kk· Prevention kk· Early Detection and Rapid Response kk· Control and Management kk· Education and Public Awareness Prioritization

of Invasive

Plant Management

Prioritization of our control efforts is essential to maximizing our ability to protect biodiversity with the limited financial, staff and volunteer resources available. Control efforts will focus on those species that are threatening rare species or priority community types, or are known to compromise the ecological integrity of habitats beyond competition with native species (e.g., a species that changes soil chemistry or alters community structure). Control efforts on agricultural lands and designed landscapes will take into account any potential economic and cultural impacts resulting from invasives.

Guideline

for

Prioritization:

kk· Identify significant and important resources to protect. kk· Inventory properties to identify invasive species population sizes and locations. kk· Prioritize populations for management based on the significance of the resource, the existence of effective control methods, the invasiveness of the species, and the potential for long-term control.

kk· Implement control and document our successes/failures. kk· Reevaluate priorities based on our experiences with control and as we learn about new information and control methods. The full document is available at: http://www.sib.gov.ar/archivos/Richburg2008_InvasivesPlantGuidelines.pdf

Appendix F: Invasive Plants - Guidelines for Managers 87

Appendix G: Invasive Plants Details Table 1: PVRS Invasive Plant Description, Management

and

Threats

Over a dozen exotic invasive plants can be found at PVRS. This table assists with recognition, management and the ecological threats posed from their spread while a Table 2, “Invasive Plants Locations and Replacements at PVRS,” complements the information necessary to begin developing

Photograph

Common Name Scientific Name

Description

Japanese Stilt Grass Annual grass has a sprawling habit; germinates in spring, reaching 2 Microstegium vimineum to 3.5 feet; leaves have paler mid-strip.

Black Swallow-wort Cynanchum louiseae

Twining herbaceous vine has oval leaves 3-4’ long; produces small, deep purple-black flowers; pods are long and slender in mid-July.

Russian Olive Elaeagnus angustifolia

Small thorny shrub or tree grows up to 30 feet in height; leaves, buds and stems have a dense silvery covering; leaves are eggshaped; flowers are yellow, highly aromatic in June/July; they produce clusters of silvery fruits.

Winged Euonymus Euonymus alatus

Shrub grows up to 20’ in height; four corky ridges appear along the length of young stems; opposite leaves < 2 in. long are smooth and rounded; plant turns a bright crimson in fall.

Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

Woody perennial has climbing vine and a trailing shrub; glossy, roundish and finely- toothed leaves alternate; red-orange fruit is fleshy.

Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata

Cool season biennial herb has stalked, triangular, coarsely-toothed leaves; crushing produces garlic odor; first year rosettes remain green through the winter and develop into large, mature plants the next spring.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

a strategy for prioritizing as summarized in Appendix D, â&#x20AC;&#x153; Management Prioritization of Invasive Plant.â&#x20AC;?

Management

Mow in July after flowers bloom but before seeds form.

Threat Displaces native species unable to compete in open to shady areas; forms extensive patches while changing soil chemistry; deer help its invasion by feeding on native plants.

Pull seed pods and destroy by burning or secure disposal; Patches crowd out native vegetation; negatively impacts cut close to ground prior to spraying with triclopyr to reduce the monarch butterfly whose larvae do not survive in this drift. environment.

Cut and mow annually; avoid native vegetation.

Out-competes native vegetation; interferes with natural plant succession and nutrient cycling; taxes water reserves; accumulates nitrogen in its roots to facilitate rapid growth; lowers species richness along streams.

Hand pull when less than 2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tall and when soil is moist; dig out larger plants with a spading fork; trim off all flowers to prevent spread; paint freshly cut stumps with glyphosate.

Out-competes native species; adapts to various environmental conditions; tolerates full shade; invades moist, forested sites creating dense thickets that can shade out native herbs and shrubs.

Cut or pull every fall/winter; apply herbicide triclopyr to rooted, live-cut surfaces immediately.

Smothers vegetation by shading or breakage; displaces native American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) through competition and hybridization.

Prevent seed production until seed bank is exhausted (up to five years); cut flowers at ground level preventing seed production; bag and remove; apply herbicide glyphosate at any time of year.

Threatens native plants and animals in forest communities; Out-competes native plants by aggressively monopolizing light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space; is toxic to rare West Virginia white butterfly (Pieris virginiensis).

Appendix G: Invasive Plants Details 89

Table 1: PVRS Invasive Plant Description, Management Photograph

Common Name Scientific Name

and

Threats, continued

Description

Spiny shrub grows 2 to 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122; in height; brown branches bear a single, Japanese Barberry and very sharp spine at each node;leaves are small, oval to spatulaCommon Barberry shaped; flowers in mid-April to May; fruits are bright red berries Berberis about 1/3 in. long, mature during late season, and persist through winter.

Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

Thorny shrub have arching stems; leaves consist of five to eleven sharply-toothed leaflets; leaflet base bears fringed leaf stems; showy, white-pink flowers appear in May or June; they develop during summer, persisting through winter.

Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica

Shrub or small tree can grow to 22 feet in height; bark is gray to brown with rough texture when mature; leaves are broadly oval, rounded or pointed at the tip, without hairs and with jagged, toothed margins; heartwood is pink to orange; twigs are often tipped with a spine.

Glossy Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula

Similar to Common Buckthorn but does not have a spine at twig tips; leaves are not toothed, and the undersides of the leaves are hairy; seeds remain viable for 2 -3 years; bark is gray or brown with prominent, closely spaced, often elongated, light-colored lenticels.

Exotic Bush Honeysuckles Lancer spp.

Shrubs grow 6 -15â&#x20AC;&#x2122; in height; leaves are opposite and egg-shaped; older stems are often hollow while most native shrubs have solid stems; flowers are small, paired, fragrant, tubular and creamy white to pink or crimson; fruits are red to orange. .

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

Erect perennial herb has a square, woody stem; opposite lanceshaped leaves have stalkless and heart-shaped base; plants grow 4 -10 feet tall; magenta flowers grow on a spike.

This woody, perennial vine resembles native grapes; Porcelain-berry stem pith is white; bark does not peel; leaves alternate and are Ampelopsis brevipedun- broadly oval, with a heart-shaped base; coarsely toothed margins culata are conspicuous; sometime confused with native species A. arborea and A. cordata.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Management

Threat

Alters soil pH, soil nitrogen levels, and biological activity in soil; displaces native plants and reduces wildlife habitat Pull shallow root system when soil is damp/moist; remove and forage; Deer avoid browsing barberry, preferring to entire root system; mow or cut in late summer prior to seed feed on native plants, giving barberry a competitive advanproduction. tage; presents as a major habitat for Lyme disease carrying black-legged ticks.

Cut individual plants 3-6 times/growing season; apply glyphosate to freshly cut stumps; repeat process often because of persisting seed bank.

Multiflora rose is extremely prolific and can form impenetrable thickets that exclude native plant species; readily invades open woodlands, forest edges, and successional fields that have experienced land disturbance.

Pull out, but take care to avoid excessive soil disturbance which can release stored seeds; apply triclopyr herbicide to cut stumps during the growing season (late May to October); mix glyphosate with 5 parts water and apply immediately to cut stumps using a hand sprayer.

Competes with local woody and herbaceous flora; discourages germination and survival of desirable tree species; nitrogen-rich leaf litter produced by buckthorn rapidly decomposes disrupting healthier regenerative burning cycles.

Pull before fruits appear; burn large seeding populations; treat freshly cut stumps with glyphosate or triclopyr.

Similar to Common Buckthorn

Pull small plants without disrupting soil; clip repeatedly to ground level in shaded forest habitats; apply triclopyr herbicide to cut stems with a sponge.

Rapidly invades and overtakes a site, forming a dense shrub layer that crowds and shades out native plant species; may release toxic chemicals that prevent other plant species from growing in the vicinity; fruits do not offer migrating birds the high-fat, nutrient-rich food sources needed for long flights.

Hand pull small infestations; spot treat with glyphosate, apOut-competes and replaces native vegetation; provides plied late in season before seed set; biological control by lower quality food source for insects and birds. root mining or leaf eating insects is also an option.

Hand pull vines in fall or spring to prevent flower formation; follow-up regularly as seeds are viable for several years; bag and burn large vines cut near the ground; either treat cut stems with systemic herbicide or repeat cutting of regrowth as needed.

Invades open and wooded habitats; grows and spreads quickly in areas with high to moderate light; climbs over shrubs and other vegetation, shading out native plants and consuming habitat.

Appendix G: Invasive Plants Details 91

Appendix H: Invasive Plant Locations & Replacements Table 2: Primary Invasive Plant Locations with Replacement Options Using data from the New England Wildflower Association, identified exotic invasive plants including prime locations with replacement native plants options are listed below.. Zones with priority habitats should dictate initial management.

Name

Vegetation Zones

Japanese Stilt Grass, Microstegium vimineum

WTL

Cool season native grasses

Black Swallow-wort, Cynanchum louiseae

FFZ

Cool season native grasses

Russian Olive Elaeagnus angustifolia Winged Euonymus, Euonymus alatus Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus sempervirens Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata

EPF, FFZ, FND, HIF, MSD, RCL, RPF HIF, FFZ, MSD, RCL, RPF, WTL, EPF, FFZ, FND, RCL, RPF, MSD RCL, WS

Japanese and Common Barberry Berberis Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

MSD, WTL

Replacement Plants

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Cool season native grasses False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), red osier dogwood, Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), shrubby cinquefoil, fragrant sumac, highbush blueberry, deerberry, maple leaf viburnum (V. acerifolium), arrowwood, nannyberry, with-rod (V. nudum var cassinoides), black haw

EPF, FFZ, FND, MSD, RCL, RPF, WTL

Steeple-bush (Spiraea tomentosa), meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)

Common Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica

MSD, WTL,

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea and A. laevis), chokeberry, paw-paw, silky dogwood (Cornus ammonum), witch-hazel, spicebush, ninebark, choke-cherry (Prunus virginiana), common elder (Sambucus Canadensis), arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Glossy Buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula

MSD, WTL,

Same as common buckthorn

Exotic Bush Honeysuckles, Lancer spp.

FFZ, FND, MSD, RPF, WTL

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

WTL

Porcelain-berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

MSD

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Serviceberry, chokeberry, summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), alternate leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), American hazelnut, (Corylus Americana), witch-hazel, spicebush, ninebark, shining sumac (Rhus copalina),

Cool season native grasses FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Vegetation Zones & Priority Habitats ad

Ro ute

il Ra

FFZ

SWL PVP

WPF HIF

High Point

MSD

WS RPF

EPF

FFZ

WTL

FFZ

MSD Biology Pond

RCL

Low Point

MSD MSD

WTL oad er R rn u rT

F. Su m ne

d Ol 0

MSD

d ar

Feet 250

500

Vegetation Zones EPF

East Pine Forest

RPF

Red Pine Forest

FFZ

Field-forest zone

SWL

Shrub Wetland

HIF

Hitchcock Island Forest

WTL

Wetland

MSD

Mixed Successional Disturbed

WPF

West Pine Forest

PVP

Potential Vernal Pool

RCL

Ravine to Critical Landscape

Priority Habitats Meadows

Spring Seeps

Woodlands

Wetlands

Wetland Spring

Priority Habitats closest to Vegetation Zones with invasive plants have the greatest management needs. Appendix H: Invasive Plant Locations & Replacements 93

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS Table 1: Wildlife and Plants Potentially Natural Heritage Endangered Species

PVRS Priority Habitats Based

D i s c o v e r i n g W h at L i v e s H e r e

To facilitate a better knowledge of the species inhabiting the PVRS landscape, fourteen habitat types have been identified and mapped in this plan using information provided by the “Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy” of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Fish and Game, and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Descriptions of three medium-scale habitats and four small-scale habitats form the basis for this list. This approach received strong support from the

Common, Scientific Name

State Status/Threats

Animals

Water Shrew (Sorex plasters)

State Special Concern: fragmentation of suitable habitat; warming and siltation of headwater streams; loss of wetland habitat; and the potential introduction of new predators such as bass.

King Rail (Rallus elegant)

State Threatened: migrate nocturnally; illuminated obstructions cause mortality.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

No State Status: declining population; habitat fragmentation primary threat.

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

No State Status: declining population; loss of suitable habitat from forest succession and development; seriously impacted by severe storms and other climatic events during migration and nesting periods.

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

State Rarity: nests predated by snakes, domestic cats, and other birds; threatened largely by the conversion of preferred habitat to late-successional woodlands.

Blue-winged Warbler, (Vermivora pinus)

No State Status: declining population; threat to suitable habitat due to landscape conversion and succession; frequent host of the brown-headed cowbird.

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia condenses)

No State Status: declining population; habitat fragmentation primary threat; considered highly area-sensitive; active forest management can be compatible with sustaining populations.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

No State Status: declining population; loss of suitable breeding habitat due to development and succession toward more mature forests.

Field Sparrow (Spizella pupil)

No State Status: declining population; threatened largely by conversion of preferred habitat by development to later-successional woodlands.

Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

No State Status: declining population; continued fragmentation of landscape by roads and development hinders re-colonization.

Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

State Threatened: removal of adults and juveniles from the wild; significant and repeated losses of eggs and hatchlings lead to population decline; require high survival rates to balance low reproductive rate with long life span.

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

State Special Concern: alteration of wetlands and destruction of upland habitats; nest predation by skunks, raccoons, and foxes.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (Scanlon, DCR, 2012). Rare, threatened, endangered, and species in decline should be verified as part of the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-going land management plan to ensure that habitat needs are being met appropriately. Additionally, decisions regarding trail location and design, structures and major landscape alterations must be informed using research data. An aggressive and well-planned invasive plant management program is essential.

Habitats Vernal Pools, forested and open wetlands. Primarily in shallow water areas; nest in shallow marshes, sedges or grasses. Require large tracts of continuous forest; hunt from perches often located at the forest edge or in openings. Singing grounds/roost sites in forest openings; nests found close by in young, open woodlands; daytime feeding habitat includes wet areas and second-growth hardwoods mixed with aspen, birch and alder, with rich, moist soils.

Inhabit brushy, early-successional areas, such as old fields and other disturbed areas.

Nest in early to mid-successional habitat, typically saplings at forest edge of clearings comprised of dense shrubby thickets.

Swampy hardwood and mixed hardwood/conifer forests with dense undergrowth; eats insects and spiders captured by hawking, hovering, and gleaning low in the understory; nests well-concealed near ground in dense vegetation. Coniferous and mixed forests, especially with low, dense vegetation; nest sites generally on or near the ground under dense vegetation along the edge of a clearing; found in coniferous and mixed forests. Inhabit edges of woods; prefer areas of grass interspersed with shrubs or small trees; tend to avoid both grasslands devoid of woody vegetation and wooded areas without significant grassy openings. Open hummock marshes, shrub swamps, and margins of streams and ponds; appear to thrive in wetlands habitats offering abundance of small amphibians, small fish and insects. Adults may be found in ponds, rivers, marshes, vernal pools, shrub swamps, forested swamps, and streams; juveniles tend to choose shallower and more thickly vegetated areas; spend much of the active season on land. Wetland habitats including forested and non-forested wetlands, and upland* areas; found in woodland vernal pools; require soft soil and prefer areas with aquatic vegetation; hide in mud and detritus when disturbed; nest in sunny, well-drained soil in open meadows, fields; often travel long distances to reach suitable nesting areas.

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 95

Table 1: Wildlife and Plants Potentially at PVRS Priority Habitats Based Natural Heritage Endangered Species, continued Common, Scientific Name

State Status/Threats

Animals

Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

State Threatened: populations are very small and localized; for unknown reasons, many vernal pools do not support them; loss of wetland habitat major threat.

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

State Special Concern: greatest threat is timber harvesting in and around forested wetlands; suitable nesting substrate.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pippins)

No State Status: declining population from habitat destruction, succession to closed-canopy woodlands, over-collecting; specific threats not well-known

Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

State Special Concern: some population decline may be attributed to foot traffic and overcollection.

Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)

State Special Concern: loss of wetland breeding habitat; protection of vernal pools (the breeding habitat) alone not sufficient to insure survival, as they live mostly in surrounding uplands*.

Two-striped Snout Moth (Macrochilo bivittata)

No State Status: declining population; loss of wetland habitat and disruption; pesticide spraying.

Appalachian Coronet Butterfly (Hadena ecotype)

No State Status: declining population; loss and degradation of habitat.

Eastern Veined White Butterfly (Pieris oleracea)

State Threatened: habitat loss and degradation; garlic-mustard (Alliaria petiolata), is either lethal to larvae or causes them to develop too slowly.

Attenuated Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma daeckii )

State Special Concern: threats include disturbance from human recreational activities and destruction of habitat for residential and other uses.

New England Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma laterale)

State Special Concern: destruction of breeding habitat via high-impact recreational use, such as ATVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emerald Damselfly (Somatochlora kennedyi)

State Endangered: exact needs not known; vulnerable to habitat alteration from salt and other run-off from roadways.

Ski-tailed Emerald Damselfly (Somatochlora elongate)

State Endangered: exact needs not known; vulnerable to habitat alteration from salt and other run-off from roadways

Spatterdock Darner (Aeshna mutata)

State Special Concern: greatest threat likely the destruction or degradation of wetlands.

Vernal Physa Snail (Physa vernalis)

No State Status: loss of wetland habitat due to draining.

Intricate Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus intricate)

State Special Concern: loss of ephemeral ponds due to development, forest cutting and excavations of basins containing vernal pools.

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Habitats Largely terrestrial and generally occur in deciduous to mixed woods dominated by oak and hickory species with white pine; can live in a variety of habitats including moist, sandy areas and dry hillsides; hide beneath surface materials such as logs, bark, boards, stones, and drift that piles up along the margins of streams; wooded vernal pools or shallow depressions are required for breeding sites. Breeding habitat wetlands of grasses and sedges; species breeds in swamps dominated by red maple and vernal pools; adults terrestrial; generally found in forested areas near their breeding habitat; take refuge in wet moss, under fallen logs and other objects, in rotting wood, under stones or in leaf litter. Semi-terrestrial; spend summer months in open fields, marshes, and damp wooded habitats before returning to permanent water bodies to hibernate and breed the following spring; over-winters in wetland submerged under substrate debris or in hibernation pits Require moist, vernal (temporary) ponds necessary for breeding and egg laying in moderately shaded environments; favor northern hardwood/hemlock forests occurring in glaciated areas having depressions available for seasonal flooding. Require well-drained, upland* deciduous or mixed forest of alder, red maple, buttonbush, and dogwood within 250 to 1600 yards of a small vernal pool or pond; hide beneath leaf litter, loose soil, and stones, or in rotting logs, rodent burrows, or subterranean burrows which they excavate. Inhabit open wetlands, marshes, and wet meadows; larval host(s) is/are undocumented, but are likely grasses and/or sedges.

Inhabit forest openings and edges with campions (Silene spp.), upon which larvae feed. Inhabit undisturbed, mesic (moderate moisture), deciduous or mixed deciduous/coniferous forest with sunny, wet openings; larvae feed on two-leaved toothwort (Dentaria diphylla), Cardamine spp., Arabis spp., etc. Most numerous swamps and vegetated stream backwaters; nymphs aquatic and live among aquatic and emergent vegetation and debris. Found in still-water habitats; nymphs aquatic and live among aquatic vegetation and debris; spend a period of several days or more away from water to mature, thus important to maintain natural upland habitats near the ponds; adults inhabit emergent vegetation in wetlands and also fields and forest nearby. Inhabit small streams and red maple swamps; sometimes associated with streams flowing through open habitats, such as marshes and bogs. Streams with moderate or very sluggish flow and dense or little emergent vegetation; found patrolling and ovipositing at the swelling of streams created in part by beaver dams; also inhabit highly vegetated ponds in near-flowing waters Found in more ephemeral wetlands; nymphs are aquatic, living among aquatic vegetation and debris ponds; adults inhabit wooded uplands and clearings. Declining population; found in ponds, ditches, temporary pools, small brooks.

Inhabit vernal ponds; found in deeper, less temporary, and more bowl-shaped pools.

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 97

Table 1: Wildlife and Plants Potentially at PVRS Priority Habitats Based Natural Heritage Endangered Species, continued Common, Scientific Name

State Status/Threats

Plants

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Endangered: tree growth causing light reduction contributes to mortality; threatened by deer browsing; as the existing populations are small, reproduction failure contributes to population decline.

Smooth Rock-cress (Boechera levitate)

Special Concern: threatened by invasion of exotic plant species, heavy recreational uses, such as hiking, and ATV use damage plants; compaction or erosion of the soil.

Green Rock-cress (Boechera missouriensis)

Threatened: often over-shaded when habitat sites succeed to closed-canopy forest due to an absence of natural light or human-cause disturbances; invasive exotic shrubs and vines may over-shade or out-compete.

Bailey’s Sedge (Carex baileyi)

Threatened: drastic alteration of soils, hydrology or the forest canopy may have negative impacts on a population.

Nodding Chickweed (Cerastium nutans)

Endangered: excessive shading due to canopy closure and competition from exotic invasive or aggressive native plants are potential threats.

Hemlock Parsley (Conioselinum chinense)

Special Concern: grow best in delicate environments, such as cold swamps and wet forests; any disturbance of these habitats, or change in the moisture regime or particular habitat, negatively impacts populations.

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Endangered: disturbance can spawn establishment of invasive exotic plant species that can out-compete native plants for nutrients and light; invasive plants of concern are oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Threatened: appear to need increased light from canopy opening or forest clearing; invasive

Adder’s Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum pusillum)

Ginseng (Panax cinquefoils)

Downy Arrow-wood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

species impinge on populations; removal of invasive plants would leave space and less shade for the fern.

Special Concern: threatened because of harvesting of the root and habitat destruction.

Endangered: browsing by deer and feeding by the non-native Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) could be detrimental.

* The term “upland”, used frequently in this context refers to land 200’ or more above the wetland’s high water mark.

Source: Mass Fish and Wildlife Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/mesa_list/mesa_list.htm

Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Habitats An early to mid-successional species, usually found on dry oak-pine woods and woodland borders; facultative wetland species; have been found along scrubby, lake shores and in vernal pools. Inhabit rich, open to shaded sites on dry to moist soils, rocky deciduous woods, rich rocky hillsides, ledges, rocky slopes, and floodplain thickets and woodlands; associated species are numerous and diverse depending on the habitat type, but may include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), white ash (Fraxinus americana), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), ostrich fern (Mattueccia struthiopteris), and marginal wood-fern (Dryopteris marginalis) in the understory. Inhabit non-acidic ledges in rocky woods and hills with full to filtered light exposure, and moist to dry soil; associated vegetation may include red oak (Quercus rubra), hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), polypody fern (Polypodium virginianum), pale corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens), and pussytoes (Antennaria spp). Found in swampy areas, including sedge meadows and shrub wetlands; specific habitats include wooded swamp and wet, shrubby woodland; herbaceous species observed in association include mannagrass (Glyceria spp.), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), whorled wood aster (Eurybia divaricata), turtlehead (Chelone glabra), Joe-pye-weed (Eupatorium maculatum) and rough bedstraw (Galium asprellum); woody species include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), black birch (Betula lenta), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and several species of willow (Salix spp.). Inhabit rock outcrops, rocky slopes, and rocky woods; soil moisture ranges from dry to moist; all occurrences are in forests or woodlands with at least a partially open canopy; never recorded east of the Connecticut River. Usually found in swamps, wet meadows, and marshy forests; can tolerate shady environments and wet, acidic soils, although it is usually found in less acidic (near neutral to limy) wetlands; often found in association with eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), red maple (Acer rubrum), and red oak (Quercus rubra). Inhabit wetlands and transitional habitats (wet meadows, swamps, stream sides, moist woodland borders, and thicket edges of fields); plants generally favor open areas or those with light shade, but have also been found in small openings of wooded areas or in shrub thickets; commonly encountered with calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), and late goldenrod (Solidago gigantea); wetter habitats (such as stream sides) plants include spotted Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum), orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), and fowl meadow-grass (Glyceria striata). Borders of marshes and moist woodland clearings provide suitable open and sunny habitat; vegetation composed predominantly of common grasses, bulrushes (Scirpus), sedges (Carex), and broadleaved herbs including small purple fringed, and white fringed orchis (Platanthera lacera, P. psycodes, and P. blephariglottis), and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Favor cool, well-drained soils of rich, moist deciduous woods; can be found on rocky slopes, including the tops of ledges, along a creek at the base of a ferncovered slopes, and various rich mesic forest habitats; associated species include sugar maple (Acer saccharum), white ash (Fraxinus americana), Jack-inthe-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), wild leek (Allium tricoccum), showy orchis (Orchis spectabilis), butternut (Juglans cinerea), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), Deweyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sedge (Carex deweyana), wake-robin (Trillium erectum), and a variety of ferns (including Dryopteris spinulosa, Dryopteris goldiana, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Adiantum pedantum) . Found on open rocky ridgelines, lightly wooded summits, and dry rocky slopes; associated canopy species include red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Q. alba), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and white ash (Fraxinus americanus); vines may include poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) .

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 99

Table 2: Management

Wildlife

and

Plants

PVRS Priority Locations

Based upon existing habitat conditions at Pioneer, this table, based upon the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program (NHESP), includes animals and plants that fit any one of the following categories: rare, threatened, endangered, or populations in decline. It has been adjusted to include only PVRS locations based on consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife (French, 2012). Before management implementation begins in the priority habitats, a comprehensive NHESP assessment should occur.

Common Scientific Name

Management Considerations

Animals

Potential Vegetation Zones

Water Shrew (Sorex plasters)

Protect vernal areas and areas around wooded wetlands and springs.

King Rail (Rallus elegant)

Protect wetlands from invasive plants.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Keep snags and other perching vegetation in woods and wetlands.

EPF, HIF, SWL, WPF, WTL

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Encourage native woody species by managing invasives; increase population via small clear-cuts during timber operations; maintain early successional areas adjacent to wetlands.

MSD, RPF, WTL

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Encourage growth of native shrubs with more robust forest-lawn transition zones.

FFZ , MSD

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus)

Promote even, structural diversity, especially those composed of a mosaic of shrub, herb and woody vegetation (less than 15â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tall).

HIF, MSD, WPF,

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia condenses)

Promote increased understory vegetation density and reduce deer density.

SWL, PVP, WS, WTL,

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Protect areas of second growth, such as beaver meadows, forests affected by insects, and areas of low, dense trees near tree line.

EPF, HIF,

Field Sparrow (Spizella pupil)

Encourage growth of native shrubs with more robust forest-lawn transition zones.

Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

Carefully design trails and walkways to eliminate fragmenting habitat.

Blandingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

WTL

Protect edges adjacent to wetlands with pollinator habitat from mowing Carefully consider trail design and location around vernal pools in upland forests or timing of their use during extremely hot periods; leave slash piles after forest cutting.

100 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

PVP, SWL, WS, WTL

WS, WTL

MSD, WPF FFZ, HIF PVP, SWL WS, WTL, EPF, HIF, PVP, RCL, SWL, WPF, WS EPF, HIF, PVP, SWL, WPF, WS,WTL

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Upon completion of this, “active management of rare plant populations (including invasive species removal) is subject to review under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, and should be planned in close consultation with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP).”

Vegetation Zones & Priority Habitats ad

ute

il Ra

FFZ SWL

PVP

WPF HIF

High Point

MSD

WS RPF

EPF

FFZ

WTL

FFZ

MSD Biology Pond

RCL

Low Point

MSD MSD

WTL

F. Su m ne

ad r Ro ne r Tu

d Ol

MSD

d ar

Feet 250

500

Vegetation Zones EPF

East Pine Forest

RPF

Red Pine Forest

FFZ

Field-forest zone

SWL

Shrub Wetland

HIF

Hitchcock Island Forest

WTL

Wetland

MSD

Mixed Successional Disturbed

WPF

West Pine Forest

PVP

Potential Vernal Pool

RCL

Ravine to Critical Landscape

Priority Habitats Meadows

Spring Seeps

Woodlands

Wetlands

Wetland Spring

Priority Habitats closest to Vegetation Zones with invasive plants have the greatest management needs. Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 101

Table 2: Management

Wildlife

Common Scientific Name Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

and

Plants

PVRS Priority Locations,

Management Considerations

continued

Potential Vegetation Zones

Protect vernal pools and surrounding upland habitats as this species needs both for survival.

Animals Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

Carefully consider trail design and location around vernal pools in upland forests.

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pippins)

Protect wooded wetlands from excessive traffic, especially over wet areas; perhaps build bridges over wet areas to allow migration.

HIF, PVP, SWL

Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

Carefully consider trail design and location around vernal pools in upland forests.

HIF, WS, WTL

Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)

Go beyond vernal pool preservation; reduce glossy buckthorn in wetland that is suppressing speckled alder; carefully consider trail design and location around vernal pools in upland forests.

WTL

Two-striped Snout Moth (Macrochilo bivittata)

Reduce invasives that limit grasses and sedges in wetlands.

HIF, FFZ, OPF,

Appalachian Coronet Butterfly (Hadena ecotype)

Plant Silene in rain garden and pollinator habitats.

FFZ, HIF,

Eastern Veined White Butterfly (Pieris oleracea)

Eliminate/suppress garlic mustard; plant two-leaved toothwort (Dentaria diphylla), Cardamine spp., Arabis spp. in pollinator and rain gardens.

PVP, SWL WS, WTL,

Attenuated Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma daeckii)

Focus on maintaining water quality, protecting wetlands and adjoining upland buffers (crucial to maturing adults), installing rain gardens and pollinator habitats to clean water.

New England Bluet Damselfly (Enallagma laterale)

Construct rain gardens to improve run-off quality; restrict ATV use in wetland areas; reduce mowing along edges adjacent to wetlands.

Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emerald Damselfly (Somatochlora kennedyi)

Manage road salt carefully.

Ski-tailed Emerald Damselfly (Somatochlora elongate)

Construct rain gardens to improve run-off quality.

SWL, WS, WTL,

Spatterdock Darner (Aeshna mutata)

Construct rain gardens to improve run-off quality.

HIF, WS, WTL

Vernal Physa Snail (Physa vernalis) 102 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

PVP, SWL, WS, WTL

PVP, SWL, WS, WTL SWL, WTL, WS,

PVP , WTP FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Vegetation Zones & Priority Habitats ad

Ro ute

14 2

il Ra

FFZ

SWL PVP

WPF HIF

Be nn et tB

High Point

ro ad

MSD

WS RPF

EPF

FFZ

WTL

FFZ

MSD Biology Pond

RCL

Low Point

MSD MSD

WTL ad r Ro ne r u rT

F. Su m ne

Feet 0

MSD

s rd

250

500

Vegetation Zones EPF

East Pine Forest

RPF

Red Pine Forest

FFZ

Field-forest zone

SWL

Shrub Wetland

HIF

Hitchcock Island Forest

WTL

Wetland

MSD

Mixed Successional Disturbed

WPF

West Pine Forest

PVP

Potential Vernal Pool

RCL

Ravine to Critical Landscape

Priority Habitats Meadows

Spring Seeps

Woodlands

Wetlands

Wetland Spring

Priority Habitats closest to Vegetation Zones with invasive plants have the greatest management needs. Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 103

Table 2: Management

Wildlife

Common Scientific Name Intricate Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus intricate)

and

Plants

PVRS Priority Locations,

Management Considerations Consider forest management practices around vernal pools.

continued

Potential Vegetation Zones PVP, SWL

Plants Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Protect from succession, erosion, and recreation.

MSD

Monitor sites for invasions of exotic plants, such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), and common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

HIF, RCL

Green Rock-cress (Boechera missouriensis)

Monitor sites for over-shading caused by forest succession and for invasive plant species; manage sites that do not receive enough light by canopy thinning or prescribed burning.

HIF

Bailey’s Sedge (Carex baileyi)

Selectively thin the forest canopy to prevent excess shading to improve the health of populations; monitor results of such manipulations closely.

Nodding Chickweed (Cerastium nutans)

Thin the canopy or other vegetation control may be warranted as not much is really known about this species

HIF

Hemlock Parsley (Conioselinum chinense)

Protect wetlands such as swamps from disturbance; maintain undeveloped buffer habitat; avoid trail access to population areas; minimize trampling impacts.

SWL, WTL

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Maintain habitat quality; maintain open areas of vigorous populations from any disturbance.

WTL, WS

Adder’s Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum pusillum)

Mow field habitats once a year during the spring.

WTL, WS

Ginseng (Panax cinquefoils)

Leave forest canopies undisturbed, because ginseng does not grow in open sun; Required rich woods are not widespread so there are limited areas available for the species to do well; fragmented condition of the forest habitat may interfere with natural reestablishment; impede access to ginseng areas to avoid trampling; reroute paths or fencing; publish growth locations.

HIF

Downy Arrow-wood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Monitor sites for deer browsing or defoliation by the Viburnum Leaf Beetle protect sensitive, open, rocky woods and summits from recreational overuse; buffer known locations from activities that cause direct impacts to populations or alter light or moisture conditions. (Invasion by non-native plants such as Buckthorn (Rhamnus sp.) has been identified at one site.)

HIF

Smooth Rock-cress (Boechera levitate)

104 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

SWL , WTL

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Vegetation Zones & Priority Habitats ad

Ro ute

14 2

il Ra

FFZ

SWL PVP

WPF HIF

Be nn et tB

High Point

ro ok a Ro

MSD

RPF EPF

FFZ

WTL

FFZ

MSD Biology Pond

RCL

Low Point

MSD MSD

WTL oad er R n ur rT

F. Su m ne

d Ol

MSD

sto

d ar

Feet 250

500

Vegetation Zones EPF

East Pine Forest

RPF

Red Pine Forest

FFZ

Field-forest zone

SWL

Shrub Wetland

HIF

Hitchcock Island Forest

WTL

Wetland

MSD

Mixed Successional Disturbed

WPF

West Pine Forest

PVP

Potential Vernal Pool

RCL

Ravine to Critical Landscape

Priority Habitats Meadows

Spring Seeps

Woodlands

Wetlands

Wetland Spring

Priority Habitats closest to Vegetation Zones with invasive plants have the greatest management needs.

Appendix I: NHESP Management at PVRS 105

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Appendix J: Endorsements

Appendix J: Endorsements 107

69 Main Street, Northfield, MA 01360 2013 February 3 To:

Ms. Dayle Doiron, Superintendent of Schools Pioneer Valley regional School District 97 F. Sumner Turner Rd. Northfield, MA 01360

From:

Jerry Wagener, Chair, Open Space Committee

Subject:

Pioneer Valley Regional Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pioneering Stewardship Plan

The Northfield Open Space Committee (OSC) has coordinated with John Lepore on development of the Pioneer Valley Regional Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PVRS Plan) and has included continuing such coordination in the newly revised Northfield Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). The PVRS Plan is consistent with the objectives of the OSRP. In particular, action item OS2.6 of the OSRP states: Support the development of a Pioneer Valley Regional School Land Management Plan that encourages open-air educational options and recreation on the school's 90-acre parcel. The PVRS Plan deserves your support as well. It has the potential for positively preparing our youth for the many environmental challenges they will face in the future. Issues around resource depletion, climate change, loss of valuable ecosystem services, and localizing food systems are addressed in the PVRS Plan, with practical local suggestions/solutions. It can serve as a model for other schools to follow in designing place-based environmental stewardship initiatives with specific site assessments and positive adaptive actions. We encourage you to support and implement the PVRS Plan.

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Appendix J: Endorsements 109

110 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

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Appendix J: Endorsements 111

Appendix K: Forest Management Strategies Excerpted from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regeneration Handbookâ&#x20AC;?

Management Type

Plan View

Section View

Silviculture clear-cutting: To many people's amazement this forest management strategy, when properly planned and executed, is a legitimate and indispensable regeneration method. Certain species, such an white birch and aspen develop under full light conditions. The methods works more effectively when the forest stand has been badly damaged by insects, diseases or invasive exotics where complete removal and restart would be most effective. Produces an important stage called early succession. Advantages: easiest method to mark and harvest, high diversity of grasses and forbs necessary until crown closure. Provides early successional habitat needs for many local species, such as woodcock. Disadvantages: Aesthetically less desirable for the general public. Susceptible to soil erosion and invasive exotics if not property managed. Shelterwood: this method regenerates new forest under the shelter of older trees by mimicking disturbances in which only the healthiest tree survive. The best growing, most desirable trees in the stand remain during the initial harvest. These overstory trees provide a seed source and cover for the regenerating forest. Simultaneously, extra growth will be gained on the best stems, increasing stand value. The new forest will be essentially even-aged. The regeneration method can be applied in one, two or three harvesting stages, depending on the biological, physical and economic conditions. This method dovetails well with recreational and habitat objectives. Advantages: Aesthetically, it produces park-like tableau of large canopied trees with and understory over a carpet of new regeneration and wildflower. Tree like oak that can grow in moderate light, benefit from the strategy where more light reaches the forest floor supporting their growth. Additionally, since larger trees remain, the genetics from selective cutting and harvesting for size becomes amplified, thereby increasing long term timber productivity. Disadvantages: this strategy require a high skill level for several reasons. A market for smaller trees must be found. From the exposure to different wind patterns, remaining trees can become damaged and water sprout form, reducing the tree's market value. And if debris from cutting it not removed or chipped, emerging tree could be damaged. Reserve tree/seed tree: Similar to clearcut, although more aesthetically pleasing since not all of the large over story tree are removed. Similar to the shelterwood method, a few seed tree get left scattered throughout the stand. The best and healthiest tree remain, while everything else is cleared one time. Since it leaves a fewer number of tree species, habitat enrichment by additional planting of other species may be necessary. Advantages: more appealing to look at than clearcut while providing conditions similar to clearcut, making it easier to manage invasive plant routines. Provides hunting roost for raptors and other birds. Reserve trees can serve as food seed source for wildlife. Disadvantages: Forest become susceptible to 'wind-throw', where trees are uprooted or broken by wind and lightning damage. Tree tops or crowns from reserve trees can break and damage the next harvesting operation.

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Management Type

Plan View

Coppice with standards: Originally developed in Europe to provide fuel and timber, it could prove useful for small accessible tracts. Also know as 'crop trees,' standards are favored for producing high quality timber and veneers. Reserve trees are kept to obtain maximum size, provide mast (e.g. acorns, beechnuts) for wildlife, and aesthetic reasons. A great method for a forest managed for firewood. This method requires about 55 standards (potential crops trees) per acre.

(Does Not Apply)

Section View

Advantages: maintains continuous forest cover with minimal impact visually. Provides regeneration conditions favoring 'mid-tolerant' species, like oak, that favor middle light conditions for regeneration. Disadvantages: Requires a high skill level for success. Higher costs for inventory, marketing and harvesting. Lower yield at each harvest and large crowns may damage other tree when harvested. High grading / diameter limit: Often disguised as 'selective' harvesting where the most profitable trees are removed with little or no consideration given to future conditions. This has a negative long-term impact on the economic value and the forest's health. In even aged stands, it's the poorly growing trees that should be harvested releasing the larger more productive trees to fill out. Poor trees can be girdled to support habitats for a wide range of wildlife. Advantages: harvesting can produce short term income requiring minimal skill and cost. Increases heterogeneity in forest as trees grow. Disadvantages: Long term loss of productivity and harvest intervals. Remaining culls and slow growing trees require extra management. Area trees can be damaged during harvesting with loss of mid tolerant species like oak. Detrimental to wildlife species requiring early stage (successional) habitat. Group Selection/ Patch Cutting: A hybrid incorporating features from selection and silviculture clear-cutting methods. This process removes groups of trees within a predefined area scattered throughout the stand, leaving undisturbed forest in between similar conditions created by a severe microburst wind event. It enhances certain types of habitat and can create multiple aged conditions within a parcel. Multiple aged stands provide a greater diversity of regeneration species giving a healthy success of growth. Advantages: allows regeneration of shade intolerant species without clear-cutting while providing the owner periodic income. Also makes a range of habitats from early to late successional (stage) forests. Disadvantages: Patchwork forestry increases management costs. Patches must be large enough to accommodate for mid-light and low-light species need more light. Deer can concentrate feeding in the recent patches while residual trees near the edges may be susceptible to damage.

Appendix K: Forest Management Strategies 113

Management Type

Plan View

Section View

Unmanaged Forest/ Forest Preserve: Where the vegetation goes unmanaged by any human intervention, slow changes accumulate gradually through natural mortality of individual trees. The opposite scenario is as likely to occurs as well: suddenly and catastrophically through the action of fire, weather or rampart disease a disruption occurs entirely changing the forestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s functions. Responsible stewardship requires that all forests have a management plan with a detailed map. Where hiking trails are present, safety considerations for hazard trees should be included. The plan should also include strategies for monitoring and controlling exotic invasive species such as burning bush and honeysuckle, that threaten the integrity of native populations. Advantages: Easy to implement, maintains a shady forest cover, higher number of habitat trees left standing, favors shed tolerant species like hemlock, beech and maple. Disadvantages: No income, unplanned and uncontrolled changes happen. Prone to disease and infestations, lower diversity over time. Selection Method: Used to create uneven or multiage forest stands. Individual trees of mature or declining health get harvested in a way that minimizes disturbance to the residual stand. The openings created for regeneration, however, tend to provide favorable conditions for slower goring shade-tolerant species. The method is not the same as selective cutting also known high grading, which has no scientific forestry practice. Advantages: Maintains continuous forest cover with low visual impact while providing some income. Able to remove declining trees. Harvest schedule can be adjusted to market conditions. Disadvantages: High skill requirement for successful implementation More expensive to manage, mark for inventory and harvest. May result in lower output of marketable wood. Leads to long term loss of diversity. Higher potential for damage to residual trees.

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Appendix L: Photovoltaics - Buy or Lease? Pioneer Valley Regional School: Pioneering Stewardship Plan Solar Energy Generation Analysis Prepared by PV Squared - 18 March 2013 Solar electric technology, or photovoltaics, provides an opportunity for site based generation of electricity from a clean, renewable source, representing a great value to facilities with large physical plants and high utility demand. In the current Massachusetts market, grid interconnected solar projects see a savings on their utility bill via a net metering credit with the utility, and also earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits, or SRECs, which are a market based incentive that represents a cash income stream to the owner. Entities that are tax exempt or otherwise cannot utilize tax based incentives will typically see attractive savings over the term of a project that they own, even without the tax savings as part of the modeled payback. Such entities might also look to third-party ownership of a solar energy project, one example of which might be a lease. In this scenario, the third party would own the project and be able to access the tax credit, and the tax exempt entity would work out an agreement to have the right to the project’s electrical energy generation. Either scenario should offer cost savings over time when compared to paying the utility for power. The land management plan prepared by Future Lands Design shows an approximately 2.5 acre area to the north of the school reserved for a photovoltaic array for solar energy generation. A wide range of factors including site conditions, mounting equipment used, and efficiency of the solar equipment will impact amount of energy produced. Below are some general comments about what a ground mounted solar energy project at Pioneer Valley Regional School could look like:     

Depending on the equipment chosen and the mounting pattern, typically between 500-1500 solar panels can be installed per acre, or 1250-3750 over a 2.5 acre area. Depending on the nameplate kw capacity and the efficiency of the solar panels, this could represent a solar array with a nameplate capacity between 312.5 kw and 1226.25 kw. Annual energy production, in kWh of AC electricity, of this solar array could range between 381,453 kWh and 1,577,056 kWh, assuming ideal shading conditions. Annual electric savings, assuming a $0.10/kWh net metering credit from the utility, can range from $38,145 to $157,705. Income from SREC sales could range from $68,500 to $551,900 annually, during the qualified term in that market – currently an 8 year term.

Solar energy represents an excellent opportunity to control energy costs and offer budget savings on while raising the school’s profile in terms of promoting sustainability. Initial project costs for ownership are significant, but should represent savings and return on initial investment over time. Third party ownership typically allows a much lower initial investment, though having a third party involved may mean less savings over the life of the project. Both scenarios are worth exploring and are likely to offer great financial and environmental value to Pioneer Valley Regional School as part of planning for a resilient future.

PIONEER VALLEY PHOTOVOLTAICS COOPERATIVE 311 Wells Street, Suite B, Greenfield MA 01301 413.772.8788 413.772.8668 fax www.pvsquared.coop  info@pvsquared.coop MA Elec. Lic. A13764  MA HIC 140077

Appendix L: Photovoltaics - Buy or Lease? 115

This Could Be Pioneer!

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Appendix M: Grants & Foundations Source

Major Focus

Contact/Website

William P. Wharton Trust

Supports the study and conservation of nature in its broadest form on the local, national, and international scenes.

USDA - People’s Garden Grant Program

Facilitates the creation of produce, recreation, and/ or wildlife gardens in urban and rural areas, which will http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/ provide opportunities for peoplesgardengrantprogram. science-based informal cfm education. Successful applicants will provide microsubgrant support to smaller local projects.

http://www. williampwhartontrust.org/

Enables Audubon groups and their partners to engage TogetherGreen Innovation new and diverse audiences www.togethergreen.org/grants Program in conservation action and create healthier communities

Due

$$$

Open

Not Specified

August

Not Specified

May

$5,000 to $80,000

Roy A. Hunt Foundation Grants

Facilitates the protection and conservation of natural resources and healthy ecosystems by supporting sustainable solutions to root causes of environmental damage.

http://www.rahuntfdn.org/apply. shtml

August

Not Specified

Project Learning Tree’s GreenWorks! Grant Program

Blends service activities with an academic curriculum and addresses real community needs as action projects make a difference in young people’s sense of responsibility toward their communities and in their understanding of their relationship to the environment.

http://www.plt.org/ applyforagrant

Sept 30

$1,000

Orton Family Foundation Heart & Soul Community Planning Funds

Provides technical/ financial assistance that helps to unlock potential by identifying local values, building a vision from them, and prioritizing actions.

July

Cash/ In kind resources up to $25,000

http://www.orton.org/who/ heart_soul

Appendix M: Grants & Foundations 117

Source

Major Focus

Contact/Website

Due

$$$

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant proposals

Stimulates the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, 413-2534368; deb.johnson@ma.usda.gov.

March

Up to $75,000 for 3 years

North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership Small Grants Program

Provides funding for land protection transaction fees, including title reviews, appraisals, legal fees and other closing costs, registry fees, surveys, baseline reports, land protection estate planning, municipal circuit grant writers, and other related fees.

http://www.nqpartnership.org/ sgp.htm

May

Up to $4000/ cycle

National Grid

Supports educational opportunities that assist people of all ages and advances their opportunities http://www.nationalgridus.com/ for self-sufficiency. The commitment/d3-6_giving.asp Foundation seeks to develop partnerships with outstanding organizations that benefit the communities.

Rolling thru Oct 31

$5000 to $25,000

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Invasive Species Grant

Seeks proposals that will help control invasive plant species, mostly through the work of public/private partnerships such as cooperative weed management areas.

http://www.nfwf.org

6/30/2013

Not Specified

MA DCR Recreational Trails Grant Programs Environmental Trust

Supports a range of projects that benefit the waters of Massachusetts.

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/ stewardship/greenway/ regionalGrants.htm

October

Lowes Toolbox for Education Grants

Meets the goals and dreams of a school.

http://www.toolboxforeducation. com/index.html

Mid October

up to $5000

Norman Foundation

Strengthens the ability of communities to determine their own economic, environmental and social well-being and helps people control those forces that affect their lives.

http://normanfdn.org

Open

Not Specified

Copeland Family Foundation (no web site)

Provides grants to a large number of educational, health and environmental programs and organizations in Massachusetts.

Letters should be addressed to: Copeland Family Foundation, c/o Martha Verdone, 1183 Randolph Avenue, Milton, MA 02186.

Open

Not Specified

EASTER Foundation

Focuses on education, arts, sustainability, technology, environment and rights.

http://easterfoundation.org

Open

Not Specified

118 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Source

Major Focus

Contact/Website

Due

$$$

Mid February

Not Specified

Five Star Restoration Grant

Support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. Integrates meaningful environmental education into the restoration project either through community outreach, participation, and/or integration with K-12 environmental curriculum.

Fields Pond Foundation

Provides financial assistance to nature and land conservation organizations that are community-based and that serve to increase environmental awareness by http://www.fieldspond.org/index. involving local residents in htm conservation issues. Offers grants for trail making and other enhancement of public access to conservation lands, rivers, coastlines and other natural resources.

None

Not Specified

Offers a wide variety of Minnesota-based Cherbec environmental, educational Advancement Foundation and other charitable causes (no web site) in New England.

Requests for funding should be directed to: Charles A. Weyerhaeuser, President, 30 East Seventh St., Suite 2000, St. Paul, MN 55101-4930, (651) 228-0935.

Open

Not Specified

Provides grants to a number of environmental and educational organizations. Sharpe Family Requests for funding Foundation (no web page) should be in the form of a letter describing needs and interests.

Henry D. Sharpe Jr. c/o Amy E. Szostak, Northern Trust, 50 S. Lasalle St., Chicago, IL 60675, (312) 630-6000.

Open

Not Specified

http://www. communityfoundation.org/ nonprofits/criteria.html

August

Not Specified

http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/ programs/loa/cfp.shtml

Mid October

Not Specified

Community Foundation of Western MA Grant

Encourages creative and collaborative responses to existing or emerging problems or opportunities and projects that leverage additional support for programs from other private and public funding sources.

Helps communities and Community Forest and Indian tribes to manage Open Space Conservation forests, including recreation, Program income, and environmental education.

http://www.nfwf. org/AM/Template. cfm?Section=Charter_ Programs_List&TEMPLATE=/ CM/ContentDisplay. cfm&CONTENTID=18198

Appendix M: Grants & Foundations 119

Appendix N: Developing A Trail System Elements: Recognizing Problem Trails Several Problematic Trail Conditions Presented here are several problematic trail conditions. The next few sheets present potential solutions.

Deep Trenching A trenched trail makes a hiker feel as though they are traveling in the bottom of a half-pipe. Without maintenance, this situation worsens with every storm, as runoff cuts the trench deeper and increases the flow rate. A major threat to water quality from sedimentation, trenched trails require immediate attention.

Excessive Widening Trails can become widened from single or double tracks to a wide â&#x20AC;&#x153;freewayâ&#x20AC;? from poor trail design and lack of guidance along the trail, such as stones lining path edges. This common occurrence usually indicates a section that is plagued by poor drainage or some other condition users need to avoid, such as muddy areas.

Shortcuts

Excessive widening increases rapid runoff and sedimentation of waterways.

Frequently users will take the shortest distance between two points to avoid a wet spot, disregarding the designated trail, and a web of trails is created. This can create excessive and unnecessary erosion problems. To prevent this, trails should be clearly marked and properly maintained. Often this means adding barriers, such as rocks or brush to avoid cutting. When a steep grade demands a switchback, the trail should be wide or curved enough that the trail return remains invisible. Shortcuts should be closed and vegetated to prevent future user.

Saturated Soils Even small areas with wet soils can deteriorate quickly into muddy areas where users begin to widen the trail. This degrades natural resources such as water quality. Raising the tread crown can remedy the problem and provide a more positive user experience. Duplicate trails should be blocked and re-vegetated.

Trail Life Cycle

Stage 1: New trail

Stage 2: Lightly worn trail

Stage 3: Trail needing repair

Stage 4: Trail beyond repair

Karen | John C. Lepore | Susannah 120 Dunn Pioneering Stewardship Plan Spock

To prevent habitat degradation and for the convenience of users, trails cutting though wet areas either need crowning if seasonal, or a bridge or boardwalk.

FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design HILL RES CAROLINA The Conway School Spring 2011

Permitting Any disturbance to the natural environment has impacts, and trails are no exception. Trail construction or maintenance should make every effort to do no harm. Ideally trails should be routed to avoid sensitive resources such as streams and wetlands, rare species habitats, and sensitive cultural sites. However, trail development within or alongside of sensitive areas is often necessary and justifiable. Streams need to be crossed, steep slopes traversed, and unique features interpreted. Allowing controlled access to sensitive ecological or cultural areas may also be an integral part of educating the public about the value of protecting these resources. When sensitive areas cannot be avoided, trail builders have legal and ethical obligations to minimize impacts by going through the proper regulatory procedures. In Massachusetts, activities occurring within 100 feet of a coastal or inland wetland or within 200 feet of a perennial stream or river are governed by the Wetlands Protection Act. Among the many activities regulated by this act are changing run-off characteristics, diverting surface water, and the destruction of plant life – activities commonly associated with trail building and maintenance. If trail-building activities will occur within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of stream or river you must file a “Request for Determination of Applicability” (RDA) form (http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/ approvals/wpaform1.pdf) with the Marshfield conservation commission.

These excessively worn trails have degraded beyond realistic repair and should be closed by blocking with brush and rerouting.

Appendix N: Developing Trail System 121 SERVATION: A Framework forAConservation Land Management, MARSHFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION 19

Trail Erosion Solutions Cribbed Stairs Cribbed steps are ideal for steep slope remediation where walking and running are the primary uses. To prevent users from leaving the steps and causing erosion, “gargoyles” (boulders) should be positioned on either side of the structure. This structure must be posted as closed to bicycles and is not ADAaccessible. Note: Rot-resistant on-site white oak could be logged and milled with a portable mill to make any of these structures.

Boulders prevent shortcutting and degradation

Plan View

6” x 6” or 4” x 6” or equiv.

Backfill with gravel or crushed stone

Riser

5 1/2”

8” to 16” Tread

Elevation Two 1/2” x 16” rebar

approx. 6” from ends Cross Section

Cribbed stairs on a steep grade improve safety and reduce erosion.

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122 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Waterbars

Downslope Ditch

Waterbars divert water runoff away from a trail or road. They can be ridden over if buried correctly at 75% of diameter. These would be especially useful under the power line to help control erosion.

Trails across steep terrain of greater than 20% can improve drainage and reduce erosion while still allowing travel. Trails should have a cross slope draining to a down slope ditch. • Carefully remove all vegetation from the trail, using it in other locations where possible.

60o

Waterflow

• Cut a ditch along the lower edge of the trail and remove soil for use in another location as needed. The ditch should be at least 1 foot depending on the topography. Steeper slopes will need to be deeper, since runoff will be traveling faster. • The image below shows a retrofitted trail.

Top of Slope Plan View Plan View

Downhill side of trail

Frequency of installation increases with steepness

3/4 uried

l Trai Two 1/2” x 16” rebar approx 6” from ends

Cross Section` CrossSection Section` Cross

Trail Trail ditch cut min 1’-0”

Crowned Trail Trails on hilly terrain less than 20% grade can be crowned to improve drainage.

The east side of CHR under the utility lines would benefit greatly from a series of waterbars. CrossSection Cross Section`

Trail Crown

ERVATION: A Framework for Conservation Land Management, MARSHFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Appendix N: Developing A Trail System 123

Wet Areas, Drainage, & Accessibility Bridges For use over wet areas where minimal disturbance of the bottom sediment ensures healthy aquatic life and improves overall water quality. Footings should be dug with a posthole digger away from the water’s edge preferably during low levels.

Extend kick rail with logs or rocks for visibility

Rot resistant white oak could be harvested from CHR and milled on a portable band saw mill. 2”x 6”x 6’ white oak with 1/4” to 1/2” gaps

2”x 6” stringers 2” x”4 Kick rail on 4” x 4” blocks 3’ O.C.

Depth to below frost line

Cement filled 8-10” tubes dug 36” with a post hole digger during a dry time of year to minimize impact

Wet areas in lowlands where streams cross the trail need a bridge or boardwalk

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124 Pioneering Stewardship Plan

Bridges and walkways allow human activities with minimal habitat interferences.

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Traversing Trail Generally trails should travel with the land’s contours instead of cutting perpendicular up the steepest slope. This is especially important for universal access. Preferred Traversing Trail

Inaccessible & erosion prone trail

265’

255’

245’

Contour

ADA Accessibility – New Rulings In 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) revised rules went into effect allowing “other power-driven mobility devices” to be used by “individuals with mobility disabilities. This DOJ ruling applies to any place, indoors or outdoors, that is open to the public. Under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II this DOJ rule applies to trails on state or local government lands. The ADA Title III also applies to other “public accommodations” that would include trails open to the public on privately or commercially managed lands. (American Trails, 2011) Trails should be routed to avoid greater than a 5% slope.

Plan View

Trail Drains Trail drains should be installed at locations along the trails where normal cross slope will not allow adequate drainage. To protect trail, these should be placed every 25 to 50 feet.

Plan View Area added for runoff

ERVATION: A Framework for Conservation Land Management, MARSHFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Appendix N: Developing A Trail System 125

Trail Signs Why Strive for Consistent Signs? Appropriate trail signs and markings provide information, enhance safety, and contribute to a positive user experience. Trail signs are perhaps the most important form of communication with users, as signs are the message they see every time they visit. Consistent signs should enhance safety, create a positive trail identity, help meet user expectations, and contribute to the public’s support for trails. There are four basic types: • Trailhead signs and kiosks • Intersection directional signs

Naming Trails DCR recommends: “Trail names can be an important element of the outdoor experience and can help draw visitors onto the trail. The “Blue Heron Trail,” “Summit Trail,” or the “Round the Mountain Trail” convey to the user information about the wildlife, destination, or experience that lies ahead. Trails named for blaze colors, memorializing a trail advocate or designating a DCR management component may not be as appealing, functional or memorable for users. Whenever possible, utilize trail names that suggest an attractive destination, introduce the natural, cultural or historical context for the trail, or otherwise capture the imagination and experience of the intended user. Please keep in mind that not all trails need to be or should be named.” (DCR Trails Guidelines and Best Practices Manual)

• Reassurance markers and blazes • Interpretive displays It is important to consider the different purposes of each type of sign and use appropriately. For example, using reassurance blazes to indicate allowed trail uses is probably inappropriate because it may require more blazing, and is very difficult to change if the allowed uses change. On the other hand, using trailhead signs to designate allowed uses is simpler to implement, requires much less maintenance, and can be easily changed.

General Trail Sign Standards The following are general trail sign standards. • Signs within a site should be consistent with respect to colors, materials, and look. Ideally, adjacent facilities, such as picnic tables, will also be consistent. • According to DCR, the ideal trail sign standard should be routed brown signs (wood or plastic composite material) with white lettering. • Routed signs are aesthetically appealing and resistant to damage and vandalism. Aluminum trail signs are not recommended since they are easily vandalized. Consistent signs provide useful information, enhance safety, and contribute to the user’s positive experience.

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FUTURE LANDS - Ecological By Design

Trailhead Signs

Intersection Directional Signs

Trailhead kiosks or signs may come in different forms depending on the setting, complexity, and information needs.

Intersection directional signs are the most important source of information for users, and can serve to enhance safety, avoid bad user experiences, and increase use of underused sections of the trail. If someone knows that there is a waterfall, lake, or other attraction down the trail, they may be tempted to hike to it and thus increase visitation to that destination.

Kiosks at Bear Swamp entrances are attractive. Trail intersection signs help the user avoid confusion and enjoy the experience.

Directional Change Indicators Double blazes should be used in places that require extra user alertness (e.g. important turns, junctions with other trails, and other confusing locations). These should be used sparingly to avoid becoming meaningless or visually obtrusive. Blazes are unnecessary at gradual turns and welldefined trail locations such as switchbacks. A reassurance marker should be placed so that it can be seen from the direction indicator. Be sure to mark confusing areas to guide users coming from both (or all) directions. Avoid arrows since they can be confusing. Simple signs at the trailhead greet and give valuable information to the user.

This Way

Caution

Right Turn

The three types of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;reassurance markersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; used on state and national trails to clearly direct users. Selected sections edited and taken from DCR Trails Guidelines and Best Practices Manual, 2010 available at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/greenway/docs/DCR_guidelines.pdf

RESERVATION: A Framework for Conservation Land Management, MARSHFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Appendix O: Climate Change Report 2011 Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report 2011 Excerpts from the Executive Summary

Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of this generation with potentially profound effects on the economy, public health, water resources, infrastructure, coastal resources, energy demand, natural features, and recreation. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is committed to doing its part to mitigate and adapt to this challenge, recognizing the necessity of engaging in adaptation planning today by taking a close look at strategies that could help the state become more resilient and ready to adapt to climate change as it occurs. Predicted impacts of climate change on human health include the potential for increased heat stress; increased respiratory and heart diseases; elevated levels of ozone and particulate matter; higher pollen counts; increased vector-borne diseases; more outbreaks of water-borne diseases; and degraded surface water quality and increased shellfish pathogens. Extreme weather events can disrupt power, sanitary and health care services, and access to safe and nutritious food, while damaging homes and property. An analysis of natural resources and habitat identifies potential strategies to enable the four broad ecosystem types in Massachusettsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; forested, aquatic, coastal, and wetlandâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to adapt to climate change. These include protecting ecosystems of sufficient size and across a range of environmental settings; maintaining largescale ecosystem processes and preventing isolation; limiting ecosystem stressors; and maintaining ecosystem health and diversity. These also include using nature-based adaptation solutions, embracing adaptive management, and developing a unified vision for conservation of natural resources, which can be carried out on a collaborative basis. The time to address climate change is now. 128

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Appendix P: PSP’s Overlaps with Northfield’s OSRP The Pioneering Stewardship Plan (PSP) reflects many of the interests and goals of the 2013 Northfield Open Space and Recreational Plan* (NOSRP). These include the following:

kkEmphasizing practical strategies to

engage students in environmental stewardship of the area’s natural, cultural and recreational resources; kkSupporting the impacts of land use and development as well as the economic viability of agriculture and sustainable forestland management;

kkIncluding a trail system with kiosks,

natural monitoring stations, interpretive signs and handicap accessibility; kkIdentifying ideal places for outdoor classrooms made from site-sourced materials, living green roofs, and a confidence-building ropes course to bring students to natural areas for learning and recreational activities;

kk Encouraging leadership for resilient and sustainable land use in the educational process for many generations of the community;

kk Improving water quality runoff by adding pollinator habitats and rain gardens to reduce runoff and encourage infiltration; and

kkRedirecting heated and contaminated drainage away from BioMap 2 Critical Landscape where the school presently drains about eight millions gallons per year.

To reach these management changes, the ecological designer has worked with UMass Environmental Conservation Dept, Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Greater Northfield Watershed Association and US Fish and Wildlife along with numerous ecologists and conservationists and the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership. * At the time of this writing, the final 2013 NOSRP was in draft form

Appendix P: PSP’s Overlaps with Northfield’s OSRP 129

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