Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCove Resort_Monitoring Report_2023-10 MONITORING REPORT DEP File Number: SE 83-2352 Project Address: 183 Route 28, Yarmouth, MA 02673 Assessment by: Lauren Taylor, Restoration Designer Date of Field Assessment: 5 October 2023 Assessment Period: Dec 2022 – Oct 2023 Project Documents: The Cove at Yarmouth Plan Showing Proposed Site Improvements by Coastal Engineering Company, dated 8/16/2022 The Cove at Yarmouth Restoration Plan A by Crawford Land Management, dated 8/17/2022 The Cove at Yarmouth Restoration Plan B by Crawford Land Management, dated 8/17/2022 Project Overview This permit was filed as an after-the-fact NOI to rectify land management activities completed by the resort without permission from the Yarmouth Conservation Commission, including cutting existing vegetation and adding fill in several areas along the top of the coastal bank. Work approved under this permit included removing fill and restoring grade to its pre-existing condition, revegetating areas of illegal cutting with native vegetation, as well as connecting existing downspouts to collector pipes and subsurface drywells. Project Activities Completed to Date Work on this project began in January 2023, at which time the approved drywells were installed. At this time, minor restoration work was also completed, which involved treating any invasive or non-native vegetation with a direct stem application of an appropriate herbicide. At this same time, fill was removed from the top of the bank and grades were returned to their pre-existing condition. After fill was removed and grades were re-established, the bank was seeded and covered with erosion control blankets to promote bank stability. Restoration plantings were then installed in April 2023 and trees were guyed in place and temporary above-ground irrigation was installed. Several maintenance visits were completed in late May, mid-July, late August and early October 2023 to treat invasive or non- native vegetation, adjust guys on trees, prune any dead or broken material and maintain erosion control materials. Assessment of Current Site Conditions At the time of this assessment, restoration plantings have performed very well. All of the tree specimens planted were alive and healthy. Most of the shrub specimens planted were alive and healthy as well, and exhibited signs of growth, although the Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) appear to have been browsed by wildlife. Seed germination has been very minimal, possibly due to the unconsolidated sandy sediment. There are a couple areas along the coastal bank where stormwater collects and creates runnels. It will be important to continue maintenance activities to establish a groundcover layer, which will help slow the velocity of stormwater and promote infiltration. Anticipated Activities to be Completed Next Monitoring Period Over the next monitoring period, CLM anticipates completing the following activities: • Evaluating the project area in early spring for occurrences of species requiring an early season maintenance treatment. • Continuing maintenance visits during the growing season (May – October) to target invasive, aggressive, and annual weed species. • Overseeding the restoration area as needed to establish a native vegetative groundcover. • Pruning of restoration plantings, as necessary, to remove any dead material to promote new growth. • Maintaining erosion control materials, including erosion control and wattles/silt socks, as needed. Recommendations for any Changes in Land Management Techniques We recommend hydroseeding the bank using the specified native seed mix and soil tackifier. It may promote more rapid colonization and establishment of seed germination especially in more difficult areas, as noted in photos below. 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 Coastal bank after fill was removed and the bank was re-graded, seeded, and covered with erosion control blankets. Jan/Feb 2023. Restoration area at the time of planting. Apr 2023. Restoration plantings. Jul 2023. Plantings were healthy but seed germination was minimal. Restoration plantings. Aug 2023. Plantings were healthy but seed germination was minimal. Aug 2023. Areas that do not yet have established groundcovers will continue to be seeded and erosion control measures monitored and repaired until native groundcovers are established enough to provide effective soil stability Restoration area. Oct 2023.