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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStoever_Monitoring Report_2023-10 MONITORING REPORT Project Address: 172 Blue Rock Road, Yarmouth, MA 02664 Assessment Period: Nov 2022-Oct 2023 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 und er SE 83-2266. Project Activities Completed to Date Six (6) maintenance visits have been completed throughout the assessment period. • Ongoing site visits were completed to assess the status of the bulkhead, fiber roll array, restoration plantings and invasive species management progress. • A storm check was completed in August 2023, after a tornado warning with heavy rain. The storm resulted in evidence of sheet and rill erosion in places. Maintenance crews raked and smoothed wash-out areas, installed straw wattles and erosion control blankets, and over - seeded where necessary. • Throughout the growing season, maintenance visits primarily focused on the assessment of restoration plantings and invasive species management. Invasive species management included maintenance treatments or hand weeding of invasive, non -native, and aggressive species that have germinated or re -sprouted. Maintenance crews over-seeded areas that exhibited poor germination. Assessment of Current Site Conditions Invasive Species Management Invasive and weed species at the time of our assessment were very minimal . We estimate that invasive species control has reached approximately 85%. Species that were the predominant focus during maintenance visits included English ivy (Hedera helix), Poison ivy (Toxicodendren radicans), and Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella). Regular maintenance activities should be sufficient to keep invasive, non-native, and aggressive species under control while restoration plantings continue to establish. Restoration Planting Establishment At the time of the assessment, seed germination of grasses was approximately 80%. Most of the restoration plantings observed were healthy and establishing well. There was evidence of wildlife browsing noticed on woody shrubs. M aintenance crews trimmed around installed native plantings to help establishment among grasses; Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) has notably benefitted from this maintenance activity. 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. • 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 Monitoring of the area at the northeast end of the bulkhead, especially after storm events have been on-going. This area continues to be an area of sheet, rill, and bank erosion. Additional erosion control measures under SE 83 -2266 are being considered, as a more robust bio -engineering method could be more effective. 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. October 2023. Additional erosion control measures were replaced or installed after the August 2023 storm. This photo is taken underneath the bottom section of the stairs, seed is germinating well in this area. October 2023. October 2022. Same area as pictured above, the plugs have survived and are establishing well. October 2023.