HomeMy WebLinkAboutRequest for Safford COC 12.28.23 (002)
Post Office Box 187 www.TalbotEcoLandCare.com Office: 508-889-7172
Mashpee, MA 02649 e-mail: info@talbotecolandcare.com
Talbot Ecological Land Care
Certified Consulting Arborists, Horticulturists and Conservation Designers
Consultation, Education, Permitting, Installation and Management
December 28, 2023
To: Brittany DiRienzo, Conservation Administrator
Town of Yarmouth Conservation Commission
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664
From: Virginia Scharfenberg, Manager and Horticulturist
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
Cc: Howard and Maryjo Safford
Transmitted by email to bdirienzo@yarmouth.ma.us
Re: 2024 Request for Certificate of Compliance, SE83-2291 at 310 South Shore Drive, South Yarmouth,
MA
Dear Brittany 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”) for three years
regarding the conservation mitigation
work and progress for that year. This
is the last of three reports and is
submitted as part of our Request for Certificate of Compliance (RCOC), as suggested by the Conservation
Administrator.
Safford COC Narrative and 3rd Year Report December 28, 2023
Talbot Ecological Land Care
The photo on the previous page shows a portion of the property behind the house on the conservation land
at the pond edge of 310 South Shore Drive, South Yarmouth on the west side of the property. This photo
was taken in early fall this year when we completed our last site visit on September 26, 2023. It shows
minimal return of treated phragmites along the conservation land, under the jurisdiction of the Town of
Yarmouth, around Crowell Pond. In the future, if further encroachment occurs within the conservation land
around Crowell Pond, we recommend that the Certificate of Compliance include permission to treat it , and
other invasives, in perpetuity, as noted in the OOC.
The photo below shows that the 2022 treatment of the Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and other
invasives, as well as subsequent mechanical treatment by Maryjo Safford (Maryjo) in back, has been
successful. The photo shows the
robust and ever spreading stand of
American beachgrass and other
plants that were included in my list
on the attached plan of record.
Maryjo did all the planting, and post-
planting care, to save money. Any
recurring weeds and invasives
continue to be removed by her.
We had indicated in our 2022 Report
that we would assess the Japanese
knotweed in 2023 and determine
whether retreatment might be
necessary (phragmites and
knotweed are among the most
difficult invasives to eradicate). As the photos included in the report indicate, Maryjo has been able to
sufficiently manage invasives here and anywhere else in the jurisdictional area and plans to continue to do
so in the future as necessary.
The photo above shows the area in the center of the project
area that had been previously dominated by nearly dormant
field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), along with Japanese
knotweed. The bindweed and knotweed, along with other
weeds, were treated successfully and the area has filled in
with the owners’ new plantings.. These plantings were chosen
from the Conservation Plant List included in the Notice of
Intent and accompanying plan of 7/24/2021 created by
Environmental Landscape Consultants (now Talbot Ecological
Land Care) and accepted by the Conservation Commission.
The photo to the right shows Maryjo, years ago, cutting this
large stand of Japanese knotweed in this area. They had then
hired a landscaper to remove the debris, and he also cut the
wrinkle-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rugosa). This was
followed by the Enforcement Order. The wrinkle-leaved
goldenrod visible behind this area, has grown back well, and
Safford COC Narrative and 3rd Year Report December 28, 2023
Talbot Ecological Land Care
continues to spread; as also seen in the other photos (especially in the first photo).
The Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), cut from the grove of trees and saplings on the west side of
the property three years ago by the owners’ landscape contractor, had resprouted in 2022 and was treated.
The area is well vegetated, Any Oriental bittersweet found elsewhere in the jurisdictional area was also
treated. We monitored again in 2023 and no further treatment was required —but the option should be
available in the ongoing conditions of the COC.
We did observe considerable amounts of wild grape (Vitis labrusca) in this area and beyond. We recommend
including in the COC a provision allowing for cutting of grape and other wild plants that may be shading out
other native plants.
This completes our 2023 site assessment as required by the Order of Conditions. We request that the
Conservation Commission approve of the conservation restoration and issue a Certificate of Compliance.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michael Talbot
Michael Talbot, CERP, MCH, ISA, ASCA, Principal Conservation Consultant
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner #0142, Society of Ecological Restoration