02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Appropriate Uses Foxborough's conservation areas will be managed as a natural open space with a passive recreational trail corridor. Therefore, appropriate uses are limited to passive recreational activities, such as: walking, running, nature and wildlife observation, ecological studies and such other activities approved by the Foxborough Homeowners Association that will not disrupt or degrade the ecological integrity of the site's natural resources and restoration areas. Biking and dog walking may be considered as appropriate uses, should the site serve as a connection to a regional bike path or wallcing path. However, such activities may disrupt natural areas, especially when trail users stray from the designated trail corridor. Yard debris or commercial landscape refuse should not be composted or disposed of within the conservation areas. Furthermore, residential homeowners with yards adjoining the conservation areas should avoid encroachment into designated outlots. Active recreational facilities, such as athletic fields and playgrounds, are not considered appropriate uses for the conservation area. Artificial lighting should be carefully sighted close to trail entrances and roads, and trail use may be limited to daylight hours. VII. Recommendations for Monitoring & Adaptive Management Ecological restoration and management is a process that involves adaptive decision making by natural resource and planning professionals. Implementation of management activities are designed to change natural community structure and functions, and these changes will likely influence established management plans and strategies. For this reason, it is important to monitor the results of implemented management activities and assess if changes to management plans need to be made based on these observations. To maximize the effectiveness of restoration and management actions and the likelihood of achieving desired natural resource management goals, it is important to monitor chosen aspects of restoration and management projects on a regular basis. Monitoring can be an expensive and labor - intensive process, or it may be done through simple observations of environmental changes over time. Deciding what to monitor and how extensive this monitoring should be are always difficult tasks. The level of effort in monitoring will vary depending on available resources, staff, and/or qualified volunteers that may carry out monitoring tasks. At a minimum, the environmental characteristics that should be monitored within Foxborough's conservation areas include: 1) The abundance and extent of invasive species, and the effect of management approaches in reducing and limiting invasive species abundance over time; 2) The effects and relative success and failure of restoration and management actions to achieve desired management goals over time; 3) The success of native restoration planting establishment, including species diversity, seedling germination success, secondary weed species infestations, and opportunities for natural community improvement over time; Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 35