02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and Raspberry (Rubus spp.). Oak Woodlands /Savannas Portions of the site contain small, fragmented oak woodland remnants and overgrown oak savanna remnants of low to moderate quality. These small woodland and savanna remnants are commonly associated with the oak forest and aspen woodlands of the Foxborough site. Fortunately, within these remnants, the oak canopy structure remains intact, and initial restoration efforts should focus on the re- establishment of representative shrub and herbaceous layers, selective thinning of the oak canopy and removal of damaged or diseased canopy limbs, prescribed burning, and the removal and management of invasive species such as Smooth Brome, Reed Canary Grass, Common Buckthorn, and Prickly Ash. Some woodland and savanna areas contain small depressional wetland areas that will also benefit from prescribed burning and invasive species management, and additional management strategies commonly associated with oak woodland and savanna management and restoration. Wet Meadows (and Associated Shallow Marsh Fringes) The many wetlands that occur within Foxborough's conservation areas are relatively degraded due to past land use practices (such as grazing, drainage, nutrient loading, and vegetation manipulation) and the establishment of aggressive invasive species. Foxborough's remaining wetland plant communities will require considerable restoration and long -term management to re- establish and maintain higher quality natural vegetation and representative hydrology over time. Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is an invasive wetland grass, and is the primary problematic invasive species within all of the wetlands (and adjacent upland transitions) of the Foxborough site. Reed Canary Grass monotypes (aggressive, single species stands) within isolated wetlands are more likely to be eradicated and managed, than reed canary grass stands within the larger interconnected waterways and wetlands along the eastern and southern boundary of the site and at the northeast corner of the site. It will be very difficult (and expensive) to control the re- invasion of Reed Canary Grass from adjacent, hydrologically connected wetlands and regional waterways, since reed canary grass seed is commonly dispersed via floodwater and migrating waterfowl. For these reasons, short-term priorities should be focused on restoring and managing the smaller, hydrologically isolated wetlands within Foxborough's conservation areas. To be successful and cost effective, longer -term restoration efforts within the outermost regional waterways that define portions of the north, east, and southern boundaries of the site should be addressed on a collaborative basis with adjacent landowners and future restoration efforts on adjacent lands. Although Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Common Reed (Phragmites australis) were not detected within the wetlands of the Foxborough property during the initial 2005 surveys, these aggressive invasive species may be present within adjacent wetlands. Both species should be surveyed for during future monitoring, and should be managed with biological controls and herbicide if detected within Foxborough's conservation areas. The northern end of the westernmost wetland on the site also supports a dense stand of Narrow- Leaved Cattail (Typha Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 9 •