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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Monitoring Report - 2024 Page 1 of 3 10/02/2024 To: Brittany DiRienzo, Conservation Administrator Finn Kelley, Conservation Agent 1146 MA-28, South Yarmouth MA, 02664 Annual Monitoring Report Following Enforcement Order at 47 Mariners Lane Dear Brittany and Finn, On March 25, 2024, an enforcement order was issued to Stephen and Mary Hammond, the owners of 47 Mariners Lane in Yarmouth Port for “unpermitted removal of vegetation within a resource area – vegetated wetland”. As part of the enforcement order conditions, ELS was contracted to produce a restoration planting plan that was accepted by the Yarmouth Conservation Commission. In the Enforcement Order Conditions (Condition #8), it was also required that the client provide three (3) annual monitoring reports outlining the status of the mitigation plantings and the progress of the restoration. Below is a detailed breakdown of ELS’s unbiased assessment of the mitigation plantings and regrowth of vegetation within the wetland resource area. This is the first of the three required monitoring reports due by October 30, 2024. Please see the attached report outlining the update to the project as of September 12, 2024. Page 2 of 3 On September 12 2024, ELS staff observed and took photos of the mitigation plantings at 47 Mariners Lane in Yarmouth. All mitigation plantings installed were healthy and regrowth in the area was successful. The photo to the right shows the area of removals looking toward Mariner’s Lane (electric pole for reference. Many native species such as Goldenrod and Asters have naturalized on the site and filled areas of bare soil. The photo on the left shows the area along the road into the isolated wetland. After one season of growth, the area is growing nicely, and the diversity of native plant selections serves to increase the wildlife habitat value of the site. The wetland seed mix that has filled in appropriately is predominantly comprised of the Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) and various native sedge species that dominate the seed area. Page 3 of 3 The photo to the right shows a large amount of Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) that has naturalized along the edge of Mariners Lane. With the heavy establishment of the shrubs and germination of the native seed, ELS will remove all temporary irrigation in the Fall of 2024 and monitor the area throughout the next two seasons. Should irrigation be necessary we will re-install as needed. In summary, the mitigation plantings were successfully established over the 2024 growing season. The 2024 enforcement order conditions require two additional annual monitoring reports and ELS will submit them before October 30, 2025. If any significant changes occur with the plantings over this growing season, ELS will ensure they are taken care of. Best regards, Tyler Gaudreau Principal / Owner, Environmental Landscape Solutions, LLC