02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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hybridized and cultivated as an aggressive and naturalizing forage grass that is also used erosion control in agricultural landscapes. Reed Canary Grass is pervasive in all wetlands and in upland edges of Foxborough's conservation areas. CCES recommends prompt management and treatment of Reed Canary Grass beginning in fall of 2005. Reed Canary Grass can be effectively managed with a grass - specific herbicide (Vantage) or non- specific herbicides (Rodeo and Round -Up), prescribed burning, and manual removal (where feasible). Spotted Knapweed Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculata) is an invasive weed from Eurasia, often colonizing in degraded sunny uplands, fallow agricultural fields, and remnant prairies. Spotted Knapweed was observed as scattered individuals throughout the old fields of Foxborough. This relatively sparse distribution suggests that immediate removal and treatment of this species would be very cost effective. In time, this species will become much more problematic within open grasslands, and will be much more difficult and expensive to remove and manage. Spotted Knapweed is best removed with a standard pitchfork, or spot treated with a Glyphosate -based herbicide (such as Round -Up). When manually removing these plants, it is very important to remove the entire root system and basal rosette of leaves. Herbicide treatments of Spotted Knapweed often require several repeated applications to completely eradicate an established population. Surface Runoff Management and Erosion Control Stormwater runoff and erosion control systems should remain in place and in working order throughout the development of residential lots and construction of homes at Foxborough. Regular scheduled monitoring and repair of these systems will significantly contribute to the overall success of the restoration of Foxborough's conservation areas, especially within wetlands. Erosion control structures and silt fences should be maintained along the conservation area boundaries until perennial vegetation is established within the adjacent residential lots. Once perennial vegetation has established, silt fences should be completely removed from the site and discarded. Restoration of Prairie Vegetation to Non Native Upland Old Fields Restoring the upland old fields to dry, mesic, and wet prairie vegetation is probably the largest task of the proposed management activities included in Phase 1. Appropriate communities have been prescribed (in Figure 6) based on soil texture, drainage, slope (steepness of grade), aspect (direction of slope - face), and landscape position. The dry-mesic -wet prairie continuum is dependant on variability in all of these abiotic landscape variables. Dry prairies tend to prefer dry, well - drained sandy soils on steep to moderate slopes that face east to southwest. Mesic prairies are tall -grass dominated communities that tend to prefer moderately drained to moist loamy soils on moderate and minor slopes. Wet prairies tend to prefer loamy soils that are perpetually saturated or seasonally flooded, and usually occur between wetland edges and native mesic prairies. Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 28 • •