HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Assessment Report 10.25.2021
Talbot Ecological Land Care
Certified Consulting Arborists, Horticulturists and Restoration Ecologists
Natural Landscape Design, Conservation Permitting and Restoration
Consultation, Education, Design, Installation and Management
P.O. Box 187, Mashpee, MA 02649 www.ELCNewEngland.com Office: 508-539-1912 Email: info@talbotecolandcare.com www.TalbotEcoLandCare.com Fax: 508-546-0088
October 25, 2021
To: Kelly Grant, Conservation Administrator
Edwin Hoopes, Chair
Town of Yarmouth Conservation Commission
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
From: Michael Talbot, CERP, MCH, ISA, ASCA, Principal Consultant
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner #0142, Society of Ecological Restoration
Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, International Society of Arboriculture
UMass Certificates: Invasive Plant Management and Woody Plant Management
Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist and Landscape Designer
Former Director, American Society of Consulting Arborists
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Ecological Landscape Alliance
Cc: Howard and Maryjo Safford
Transmitted by email to KGrant@yarmouth.ma.us
Re: 2021 Conservation Assessment Report for SE83-2291 at 310 South Shore Drive, South
Yarmouth, MA
Dear Kelly, Ed and Commissioners,
On July 26, 2021, the Yarmouth
Conservation Commission (the
Commission) issued an Order of
Conditions (OOC) to Howard
and MaryJo Safford for 310
South Shore Drive, South
Yarmouth for management of
invasive species as part of an
Enforcement Order. Special
Condition #15 of the OOC
requires Talbot Ecological Land
Care (TELC) to submit a
Conservation Assessment
Report (the “Report”) by each
2021 Conservation Mitigation Report - SE83-2291 Talbot Ecological Land Care
October 25, 2021 Page 2
October 31st for three years
regarding the conservation
mitigation work and progress for
that year. This is the Report for
2021.
The photo on the previous page
shows a portion of the property
behind the house at 310 South
Shore Drive, South Yarmouth on
the east side of the property. This
photo was taken one week after
the treatment of the encroaching
phragmites from along and within
the conservation land around
Crowell Pond. The treatment was
taking effect, as visible by the
browning phragmites.
The photo at the top of this page
is taken after treatment of the
Japanese knotweed on the west
side in back, as well as treatment
of the Oriental bittersweet, and
other invasives. The photo to the
left is a closeup of the treated
Japanese knotweed. The
Japanese knotweed is already
starting to brown. The photos
also show the robust stand of
American beachgrass, which
Maryjo has kept free of weeds
by hand removal and has filled
in quite well. We will assess the
Japanese knotweed again in the
late spring to gauge the
effectiveness of the treatment.
Retreatment next fall of the
Japanese knotweed will likely be
necessary.
The photo to the right shows
the area in the center of the
2021 Conservation Mitigation Report - SE83-2291 Talbot Ecological Land Care
October 25, 2021 Page 3
project area dominated by nearly dormant field bindweed. We treated the bindweed that still showed
active growth, but much of the weeds were nearly dormant. We will return in the spring to treat actively
growing weeds and bindweed. The wrinkle-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is visible behind the
bindweed.
The Oriental bittersweet
(Celastrus orbiculatus) that the
Safford’s contractor cut from
the grove of trees and saplings,
see the photo on the left on the
east side, has re-sprouted. We
treated the bittersweet here
and elsewhere on the property.
We will continue to monitor and
treat the bittersweet observed
This completes our 2021 site
assessment. Contact us, if you
have any questions. We may
start the mitigation plantings
next year.
Sincerely,
Michael Talbot
Michael Talbot, CERP, MCH, ISA, ASCA, Principal Conservation Consultant
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner #0142, Society of Ecological Restoration