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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved_ISMP_10JUL2025 Invasive Plant Management Plan for Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project Yarmouth, Massachusetts SWCA Project No. 90594-000-AMH Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. Contract No. 20240208.A10 REVISED FOR NOI SUBMISSION UNDER MASSDEP FILE NO. 083-2487 PREPARED FOR Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. PREPARED BY SWCA Environmental Consultants INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR BAYVIEW BOGS ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION DESIGN AND PERMITTING PROJECT YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS Prepared for The Cape Cod Conservation District In partnership with The Cape Cod Hospital and The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration On behalf of Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. 550 Main Street, Suite 400 Springfield, MA 01103 Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants 15 Research Drive Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 (413) 256-0202 www.swca.com SWCA Project No. 0090594-000-AMH Invasive Plant Management Plan: Revised for MassDEP File No. 083-2487 Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts i CONTENTS 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Permit Compliance ....................................................................................................................... 1 2 Documentation of Invasive Plants on Site .......................................................................................... 2 3 Methods of Invasive Plant Management ............................................................................................ 2 3.1 Preconstruction Invasive Plant Management ................................................................................ 5 3.2 Active Construction Invasive Plant Management ........................................................................ 6 3.3 Postconstruction Invasive Plant Management .............................................................................. 7 4 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Tables Table 1. Invasive Plant Species Observed (May 2024) ................................................................................ 2 Table 2. Invasive Plant Species Management Matrix Details ....................................................................... 4 Table 3. Invasive Plant Management Timeline............................................................................................. 5 Invasive Plant Management Plan: Revised for MassDEP File No. 083-2487 Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 1 1 INTRODUCTION This Invasive Species Management Plan (IPMP) has been developed to provide guidance in the support of the Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project (the project) in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The goal of the project is to restore a retired 44-acre commercial cranberry bog on an 89-acre parcel (the project area). Approximately 18.5 acres of the cranberry bog was commercially harvested as recently as the 1990s, the remainder having been retired earlier; since then, the bog has sat untouched. Over the intervening 25 to 30 years, much of the retired cranberry bog has been significantly naturalized with a variety of both native and invasive vegetation. One of the project goals is to “improve nuisance issues such as … invasive plant species to the extent practical through design and management.” It is best practice to inventory, manage, and hopefully eliminate as many invasive plant populations as practicable prior to the start of physical restoration of the project area to better ensure the success of future native restoration plantings. Furthermore, the physical restoration (construction) of the project area will likely involve activities that will disturb soil and existing vegetation, which could spread the existing invasive plant populations and/or encourage new invasive plants to establish in the project area. This plan details the current presence of invasive plant species at the project area (to the extent possible given surveying time of year restrictions) and includes best management techniques at three different time periods: prior to, during, and following construction in the project area. All management strategies are listed by invasive plant species and/or groupings of species, as different invasive plants may require different management methods at different times of year. Furthermore, this plan includes suggestions regarding specific plants based on differing conditions throughout the site. Note that while active restoration construction will certainly be an effective means of invasive plant management, this IPMP has been amended to include only targeted invasive plant management practices. These are the practices included in the Notice of Intent (NOI) scope of services filed under MassDEP File No. 083-2487. Invasive plant management will improve the habitat value of the project area, protect the proposed landscape and restoration plantings, and prevent the future spread of invasive species from documented locations into uninfested sections of the project area. In addition to measurements of spread prevention, this plan specifies an invasive plant management goal to reduce or eliminate the cover of invasive plants found on the project area. While the target objective is to eliminate as many populations of invasive plants as possible before the start of construction in 3 to 5 years, this may not be possible for some species/populations. The precise plan of invasive plant management will need to be reevaluated annually along with follow-up monitoring to ensure the best possible outcome. If restoration/project construction is delayed by 1 or more years, SWCA recommends that this management plan be reassessed and adjusted depending on changes at the project area. 1.1 Permit Compliance Aside from the permitting required for the project restoration, there are two types of permits that will need to be acquired in order to implement this IPMP. First, the Conservation Commission will need to grant approval for the destruction of (invasive) vegetation via mechanical, manual, and chemical means within jurisdictional resource areas. A NOI (WM03) will likely be required for this first phase of the project (invasive plant management). Following the issuance of a resulting Order of Conditions, the party who will be conducting herbicide application will need to submit an application for a License to Apply Chemicals to Waters of the Commonwealth (WM04) on an annual basis within any years in which herbicides will be used on-site. Invasive Plant Management Plan: Revised for MassDEP File No. 083-2487 Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 2 2 DOCUMENTATION OF INVASIVE PLANTS ON SITE Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. (F&O), conducted the visual assessment and documentation of existing invasive plants at the project area and subcontracted a survey to be conducted by drone. The data collected by the drone assessment and by the visual assessments conducted on foot are presented herein. The drone assessment was completed by Fluid State Consulting on May 6, 2024. It should be noted that early May is too early to consistently and accurately identify many of the invasive plants noted on-site; therefore, the initial mapping included in this plan will need to be refined and reassessed. Once confirmed, these pre- restoration invasive plant locations will provide a baseline against which future invasive plant surveys should be compared. The locations of invasive plants observed during the May 2024 site visit are annotated in the Invasive Plant Locations Plan (Appendix A). F&O also took photographs of key invasive plant populations during the May 2024 visit, which are included in the attached photograph pages (Appendix B). While the invasives documented in Appendix A represent preconstruction conditions on the day of the site visit, these species-specific extents should be confirmed during the growing season. Furthermore, it is possible that other invasive plants may be observed on-site after the start of construction. Areas and densities of invasive plants documented during the preconstruction site visit may underrepresent the full extent of invasive plants throughout the project area, as this visit was conducted via drone. The species observed during the May 2024 surveys include all species detailed in Table 1 below. Table 1. Invasive Plant Species Observed (May 2024) Common Name Scientific Name Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Porcelain berry* Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Phragmites Phragmites australis Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Asiatic bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata Buckthorn spp. Frangula & Rhamnus spp. Burning bush Euonymus alatus Shrub honeysuckle Lonicera spp. Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Gray willow Salix atrocinerea * Listed as “likely invasive” by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group. Not technically invasive. 3 METHODS OF INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT While all invasive plants observed on-site will be carefully managed, there are three identified that are more easily spread through construction activities than the others. These three are Japanese knotweed, phragmites, and purple loosestrife. These plants are at a higher concern for spread due to their ability to Invasive Plant Management Plan: Revised for MassDEP File No. 083-2487 Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 3 spread through rhizome fragmentation and/or very high seed distribution. While the invasive plants in the project area have been there for a number of years and have likely distributed a lot of seed over those years, limiting future seed disbursement should take place whenever possible. Herbicide application will be a critical means of invasive plant management prior to, during, and following the proposed ecological restoration project. While manual and mechanical methods of management are relatively effective on some species present (most woody invasive plants and garlic mustard), as a former cranberry bog, the project area presents inherent difficulties with access that will limit the use of these methods. Garlic mustard is likely the only invasive plant that will be able to be feasibly managed through manual means associated with this project. Management has been split up into three phases: preconstruction, during construction, and postconstruction. Preconstruction methods include predominantly herbicide applications; during construction, a combination of chemical and mechanical management; and postconstruction methods should be determined based on follow-up monitoring, but will likely predominantly include careful spot foliar and hand-pulling efforts. The full range of management methods for each species or grouping of invasive plant species is included in Table 2. There should be one herbicide application event per year for each species; however, species’ management timings differ, which means at least two application events/visits will be required each year. This frequency can be amended as needed based on follow-up monitoring. All herbicides will be applied using low-volume backpack sprayers, as access prevents any other application equipment. Herbicide will be mixed with non-ionic surfactant and a marking dye. This will allow applicators to conduct selective herbicide application and remain aware of all plants treated, which eliminates unnecessary overspray. Mechanical methods under this proposed project are limited to cutting with hand tools and hand-pulling. As stated above, construction activities will effectively remove many invasive plants from the site, but those activities are not included in this proposed project. The use of environmental management tools such as flooding will likely have little to no effect on the species present on site. While some may be stressed by this action, they are unlikely to be significantly reduced or die back completely as a result. Invasive Plant Management Plan | Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project | Yarmouth, Massachusetts 4 Table 2. Invasive Plant Species Management Matrix Details Type/Reproduction Invasive Plant Mechanical/Manual Herbicide Preconstruction Recommendations Non-woody and non-woody vines Fruit and seed Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Second year (flowering) growth populations: hand pull before seed development in May. First year growth (rosettes): foliar application with glyphosate in the late summer/fall Can be easily managed prior to construction if not widespread and scattered sparsely through project area. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Remove plants to the roots, allow to solarize; or Dispose of off-site or cut off flowering heads to avoid seeding – both when flowering. Foliar treatment: glyphosate or triclopyr when flowering (June–July) May be difficult to manage and construction excavation could be more cost-effective. Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) Small populations: hand-pulling prior to seed development (in August/September). Large populations: excavation possible, but likely to disperse seed. Large populations: foliar application with glyphosate prior to seed development (in August/September) If not widespread and sparsely scattered through project area, pre- treatment is preferred. Non-woody Fruit, seed, and plant/rhizome fragmentation Phragmites (Phragmites australis) Alternate cutting and herbicide application for best result in 1st and 2nd years as needed. Goal of cutting is to reduce full growth height of phragmites. Cut in June/early July. Dense stands: foliar Sparse plants: clip and drip1 Herbicide: glyphosate or imazamox Timing: late August to mid-October Phragmites and Japanese knotweed should be treated each year before construction to avoid spread during excavation. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Cut by hand in the early summer in first year and foliar treat after if feasible. Foliar treatment: glyphosate If cutting isn’t feasible, treat as much of each population each year as possible (August– September) Vine (woody & non) Fruit, seed, and plant fragmentation Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Out of scope for this proposed project, but should be considered in the construction phase: Can be effectively reduced through mechanical (with larger equipment) activities, but as much of the root system should be removed as possible. Follow-up herbicide application will almost always be needed when taking this approach. Small/young vines: foliar Woody/mature vines: cut-stem as close to base as possible Herbicide: glyphosate or triclopyr While possible to reduce the vast majority of biomass of these invasive plants during construction activities, there are multiple years before those activities will commence. These plants will continue to spread and grow, and it is recommended to manage those populations/individuals that are feasible to manage (due to access, budget, etc.) prior to construction. During and postconstruction herbicide application should be anticipated, especially if preconstruction herbicide application does not occur. Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) Woody Fruit and seed Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Young individuals: foliar Mature individuals: cut-stem Mature trees: hack and squirt3 Herbicide: glyphosate or triclopyr Buckthorn spp. (Frangula & Rhamnus spp.) Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) Shrub honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) Woody Fruit, seed, and fragmentation Gray willow (Salix atrocinerea) Note: These herbicides are recommended for use. Either equivalent herbicides or similar herbicides may be used upon approval. “Mature” is defined as stems 1 or more inches in diameter; “Young” is defined as stems less than 1 inch in diameter. “Solarization” is defined as leaving vegetation in a single stockpile in a sunny area for at least three months to decay and become non-viable. is used to indicate recommended as primary management method. 1. Clip and drip is a method of management of phragmites where the stem is cut as close to the ground as possible (approximately 1 foot) and concentrated herbicide is sprayed or dripped into the hollow stem with a specialized tool that will accurately apply herbicide directly to the stem and not surrounding vegetation or substrate. 2. Any invasive plants (as defined by MIPAG and DEP’s Inland Wetland Replication Guidelines), regardless of their documentation in this IPMP, will be managed if observed within the management limits. 3. Hack and squirt involves cutting into the bark of a tree to expose the cambium to apply concentrated herbicide directly to this exposed part of tree/shrub. Invasive Plant Management Plan Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 5 Invasive plant management should occur through all phases of this project. A detailed schedule of management activities is presented in Table 3 below. Table 3. Invasive Plant Management Timeline Season Task Fall 2024 Initial invasive plant management for all viable species – predominantly woody vegetation and phragmites. Late spring/early summer 2025, 2026, 2027 Hand-pulling and/or herbicide application to garlic mustard (depending on density/extent – if extensive, herbicide might be better). Summer 2025, 2026 Monitoring of invasive plants. Herbicide application to fruiting woody invasive plants and all herbaceous invasive plants. Cut phragmites and Japanese knotweed – leave stalks in place. Late summer/early fall 2025, 2026, 2027 Herbicide application to Japanese knotweed and phragmites. Retreatment of woody invasive plants as time and budget allow. Late summer/early fall 2027 Potential start of restoration construction. Late spring/early summer 2028, 2029, 2030 Hand-pulling and/or herbicide application to garlic mustard. Summer 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032 Monitoring of invasive plants and as-needed management accordingly. * Fall refers to September through October; spring refers to the start of the growing season through early June; and summer refers to June through August. See Table 1 for species-specific management windows. 1. Recommendation for at least three rounds of herbicide application to occur before the start of construction. If the number detailed above can be achieved, that would be preferred. 3.1 Preconstruction Invasive Plant Management Preconstruction invasive plant management will be critical to the success of invasive plant management throughout this restoration project. The goal for invasive plant management prior to the start of construction is to reduce the continued addition of invasive propagules to the seed bank and to eliminate as many highly aggressive species on the project area as possible. This is an important phase, because once construction starts, activity and disturbances across the project area greatly increase, thereby increasing the likelihood of invasive plant spread. Additionally, excavation will result in exposed soil throughout the project area, which will increase the risk of new invasive plant colonization. Some populations and species of invasive plants, such as those populations small enough to be fully treated during each management event, may be fairly easy to eradicate prior to construction. However, sparse populations or those scattered over large areas would be more difficult, as well as any significant populations of Japanese knotweed, phragmites, or purple loosestrife. Any woody invasive plants that are very tall and/or dense may also be difficult to effectively manage with herbicides or handheld equipment prior to construction. However, these should be relatively easy to manage during construction activities. Because access to large portions of the project area is limited, mechanical methods such as mowers or other heavy equipment will not be feasible before construction begins. Therefore, all invasive management methods recommended will be limited to those conducted on foot with handheld equipment. As the goal is to eliminate as many populations of invasive plants as possible and reduce those that cannot be eradicated prior to construction, herbicide application will be the primary management method recommended during this phase of the restoration project except for garlic mustard if it can be hand- pulled within a reasonable amount of effort. Invasive Plant Management Plan Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 6 As stated in Table 2, herbicide application may be conducted via foliar or cut-stem application. Foliar herbicide application is typically performed by low-volume backpack sprayer, or if feasible and access allows, hydrosprayer. A hydrosprayer has a larger area of effect and is recommended when the size and density of the invasive plant population warrants it and where non-target impacts are less of a concern. The recommended tool for conducting cut-stem application is the Buckthorn Blaster®, a handheld applicator with a sponge tip. Where cut-stem applications are performed, cut material should be left in place to decompose naturally (as it ultimately would if it were not cut). Requiring cut material to be removed from the site could be cost-prohibitive depending on the size and volume of material. Cut material can be collected in small stockpiles and used as habitat features until construction starts, when they may be redistributed or disposed of off-site. The specific implementation method (herbicide application or mechanical management) will be determined by F&O and/or an invasive plant management contractor based on site conditions in the field. During the preconstruction phase, any mechanical management (i.e., cutting) to take place is recommended to be conducted with hedge trimmers, chain saws, or small hand tools (pruners, loppers, etc.) and should be performed in concert with herbicide application. Recommended herbicide application guidelines are indicated in Table 2. These management methods and timings have been included based on the ideal window for each invasive plant occurring on the project area. This timing is related to the flowering period for most invasive plants. The ideal timing for management is at or just after peak flowering. Any follow-up management to occur within the same growing season should occur a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks following any previous treatment. A minimum of three rounds of herbicide applications should occur prior to beginning construction; if possible, five rounds should occur. Monitoring should continue in between each field season and the precise plan of management should be refined based on the results of each invasive survey. All herbicides recommended for treatments in this IPMP are approved for use in wetlands and can be used in sensitive areas. The invasive plant management contractor should complete and submit Herbicide Use Reports after each application. 3.2 Active Construction Invasive Plant Management Invasive plant management via herbicide application is recommended to continue as restoration construction starts. However, the focus of management during this phase will shift to managing the spread of invasive plants and working with the site contractor’s clearing and site activities to properly time invasive plant management events. The site clearing and general construction activities is not part of this proposed project, but will ultimately help in the reduction of invasive plants if performed properly and in line with the guidance detailed below. These types of construction activities can effectively eliminate many woody invasive plants; any resprouting growth can typically be easily treated via targeted spot foliar application of herbicide. All invasive plants should be targeted during each management visit, regardless of whether they were identified or treated during the preconstruction phase. Any new invasive plant locations found should be documented and monitored during future management events. The recommended application methods and schedule are outlined in Tables 2 and 3. All herbicides recommended for treatments in this IPMP are approved for use in wetlands and can be used in sensitive areas. The invasive plant management contractor should complete and submit Herbicide Use Reports after each application. Invasive Plant Management Plan Bayview Bogs Ecological Restoration Design and Permitting Project, Yarmouth, Massachusetts 7 3.3 Postconstruction Invasive Plant Management The first 5 years following the implementation of the ecological restoration design are critical to the success of the invasive plant management strategy. Invasive plant management should continue for at least 5 years following the initiation of construction activities. A License to Apply Pesticides to Waters of the State Permit should be requested annually where management is proposed. Each year, the invasive species presence at the site should be mapped and the relative abundance and density of the invasive plant populations should be documented. Following the mapping and documentation of the invasive plant species, management techniques should be employed as directed within Table 2 of this IPMP. Applicators may alter the management timing and frequency depending on the needs of the project area. Every site is different, and the dynamics of each invasive plant population are very hard to predict based on their dispersal over the project area, age and extensiveness of root systems, viable seed bank on site, along with other factors. Over time, as invasive plant populations within the project area decline, the frequency of management efforts should diminish. It is recommended to document management efforts and results regularly, such as a yearly report that includes photographs of the invasive plants and management events, pesticide use reports, and recommendations for future management. 4 SUMMARY F&O will work closely with the restoration contractor and invasive plant management contractor to manage invasive plants as early as feasible prior to construction and through the end of the monitoring period, which is projected to end in November 2032. The schedule presented in Table 3 is based on this preliminary estimation of timing and should be adjusted as permits and design documents are finalized. An invasive plant management contractor should be engaged to conduct herbicide application to all invasive plants observed on-site during all management events, as detailed in Section 3 of this IPMP. Regular documentation such as Pesticide Use Reports should be submitted after all management events. It is recommended that full invasive plant surveys be conducted by F&O or their subcontractors in the late spring/early summer of each year following the initial invasive plant management event. The results of each survey will determine the precise invasive plant management plan for the upcoming management season. However, the management methods outlined in this IPMP include the recommended methods and guidelines from which annual plans will be determined. A brief report on the changes in invasive plant coverage as well as all management activities performed should be recorded at the end of each year to document the progress of invasive plant management within the project area. This report should include a figure depicting the locations of invasive plant management and should detail the state of invasive plant presence in each treatment area.