02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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III. Ecological Surveys of Foxborough's Conservation Areas From April through July 2005, CCES ecologists conducted spring and early summer surveys of the Foxborough Conservation Development site. Although the surveys were conducted throughout the entire 51 -acre development site, CCES focused the surveys on those portions of the site that will be incorporated into future conservation areas. Figure 4 illustrates the location of the conservation area outlots in relation to the overall residential site plan, and the location and alignment of the trail easement within the conservation area outlots. Existing natural community remnants, semi - natural areas, and non - native dominated landscape types were assessed for their extent and relative quality, and restoration opportunities and needs were defined, on a conceptual basis, for these areas. Based on the results of the initial 2005 surveys and review of the site plan, CCES deyeloped a concept restoration and management plan for Foxborough's permanent conservation areas. CCES ecologists identified, mapped, and surveyed several moderate to low quality natural community remnants and semi - natural vegetation types within the designated conservation areas of the Foxborough Conservation Development. The vegetation and ecological habitats of the conservation areas at the time of the 2005 surveys were comprised of oak forest remnants, aspen woodlands, lowland hardwood forest, wet meadows, mixed emergent marshes, and non - native upland old fields and pastures. The location and extent of these natural community remnants and semi - natural areas are depicted in Figure 5, and descriptions of these areas are provided in the text below. Major Vegetation Types Oak Forest The northeast corner of the Foxborough site contains an oak forest remnant that grades between mesic and dry oak forest. The oak forest is of moderate quality, with am intact canopy comprised predominantly of Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis), White Oak (Quercus alba), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), and occasional Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) Red Maple (Acer rubrum), and Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). Furthermore, this oak forest has small inclusions of lowland hardwood forest within poorly drained areas and low -lying areas of the forest, with the canopy comprised mostly of Red Maple, Hackberry, Green Ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica), Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) and Box Elder (Acer negundo). Portions of the oak forest are of moderate ecological quality, with a relatively species -rich native shrub layer and herbaceous layer. Such intact forest areas will require fewer initial restoration resources than degraded forest remnants, but all forests on the site will require restoration, monitoring, and management through time. Other areas of the oak forest of the Foxborough site have been more severely degraded by past land use practices (such as grazing), and will require considerable initial restoration resources and management in the short term to return these, areas to natural communities that are comprised of representative tree, shrub, and herbaceous species. Problematic invasive species that require removal, treatment, and management within Foxborough's oak forest remnants include: Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea; along forest/wetland edges and into adjacent uplands), Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 6