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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStoever_Monitoring Report_2022-10-31 MONITORING REPORT Project Address: 172 Blue Rock Road, Yarmouth, MA 02664 Assessment by: Lauren Taylor, Landscape Designer Date of Field Assessment: 5 October 2022 Assessment Period: Oct 2021-Oct 2022 Project Documents: Restoration Plan by Crawford Land Management, dated 03/20/2021 Project Overview This project was completed in response to an Enforcement Order issued for the cutting of multiple trees and undergrowth on a coastal bank without prior authorization. Since the original Enforcement Order was issued, installation of a bulkhead was approved and completed under SE 83-2266. Project Activities Completed to Date Since October 2021, the bulkhead approved under SE 83-2266 has been installed and the restoration area has been seeded, covered with biodegradable erosion control blankets, and staked in place where necessary to stabilize any areas affected by the bulkhead installation. These areas were then planted with supplemental native grasses, sedges and forbs including Poverty oat grass (Danthonia spicata), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Crinkled hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), White wood aster (Aster divaricatus), Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), Heath aster (Aster ericoides), and Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis). Maintenance has been ongoing through the 2022 growing season, with visits completed in mid-August and mid-September to complete hand weeding, selective treatment of invasive and weed species, and overseeding. Assessment of Current Site Conditions Invasive Species Management Our field assessment revealed that recurrences of any invasive, aggressive, or weedy species are very minimal. Based on our field assessment, regular maintenance activities should be sufficient to keep invasive, aggressive, and weedy species under control while restoration plantings continue to establish. Restoration Planting Establishment Seed germination is patchy along the coastal bank but is mostly as anticipated on a north facing bank. There are several larger bare areas characterized by pine needles and leaf litter, which will be overseeded and may be blanketed if the conditions warrant it. Similarly, the area that has been reseeded following the installation of the bulkhead demonstrates patchy seed germination; however, most of the supplemental plugs within this area have survived. Of the restoration plantings, the bearberry are in especially good health, though some of the restoration plantings appear to have been browsed by wildlife, particularly the Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and Carolina rose (Rosa Carolina) to the east of the stairs. General Observations The recently installed erosion control blankets as part of the bulkhead work appear to be in good condition. The area where the bulkhead ends on the northeast corner of the bank would benefit from additional erosion control measures. Anticipated Activities to be Completed Next Monitoring Period Over the next monitoring period, CLM anticipates completing the following activities: • Re-seeding any areas exhibiting poor germination. Biodegradable erosion control blankets may be used in some areas to aid seed germination, especially where previously installed erosion control blankets have degraded. • Evaluating the project area in early spring for occurrences of annual weed species requiring an early season maintenance treatment. • Early summer evaluation of restoration plantings to determine if any replacement plantings are necessary, paying particular attention to specimens that appear to have suffered from drought or browsing to see if they have been able to flush out. • Continuing maintenance visits during the growing season (May – October) to target invasive, aggressive, and annual weed species. • Trimming of native grasses around establishing mitigation plantings. • Regenerative pruning or continued stump sprout management of approved specimens. • Monitoring the area at the northeast end of the bulkhead, especially after storm events. Additional erosion control measures under SE 83-2266 may be considered that include a more robust bio-engineering method than blankets, such as fiber rolls. Recommendations for any Changes in Land Management Techniques No recommendations for any changes in techniques that are not already included in the Land Management Protocol are warranted at this time. Unexpected or Arbitrary Changes to the Project Area No unexpected changes to the project area were observed during the monitoring period. Representative Project Area Photographs Area at the end of the bulkhead (northeast corner of the bank) that could benefit from additional stabilization measures. Monitoring of this area, especially after storm events, will be ongoing. Area will be reseeded and may be blanketed if the conditions warrant it. Seed germination is acceptable along the coastal bank, given that it is north facing. Many of the supplemental plugs have survived and are becoming established. Some restoration plantings appear to have been browsed. Most of the bearberry are in good condition.