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HomeMy WebLinkAbout61 Pheasant Cove Circle Summer Monitoring Report Page 1 of 3 07/11/2025 To: Brittany DiRienzo, Conservation Administrator Joseph Jerolimo, Conservation Agent 1146 MA-28 South Yarmouth MA, 02664 Summer Site Conditions Report Following Enforcement Order at 61 Pheasant Cove Circle Dear Brittany and Joseph, On April 17, 2025, an enforcement order was issued to Ann Wiggins, the owner of 61 Pheasant Cove Circle in Yarmouth, for “Unpermitted alteration of a wetland resource area and its buffer zone: Cutting and/ or removal of vegetation within the velocity flood zone, a bordering vegetated wetland, and its buffer zone.”. As part of the enforcement order conditions, ELS was contracted to produce a restoration planting plan to be submitted to the Yarmouth Conservation Commission. In addition to the restoration plan per condition #3, a brief report of site conditions is due before July 17, 2025. Below is a detailed breakdown of ELS’s unbiased assessment of the area following the removals in early March and the regrowth of both native and non-native vegetation in the bordering vegetative wetland and buffer zone, respectively. All photos were taken by ELS staff on June 23, 2025. The photo to the left shows the edge of the clearing in the easternmost portion of the property. The photo shows the edge of the existing fence, where just beyond had been cleared earlier in the season. Most of the area has filled in with High Tide Bush (Iva frutescens) except for a few invasive and non- native species such as Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Fox Grape (Vitus labrusca), and Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Page 2 of 3 The photo on the right shows the same area from the previous page, including the bare areas following removal. ELS is proposing a single spot treatment of invasive plant material in this area, followed by the removal and stump treatment of all invasive plant material before planting in the fall of 2025. Included in the removal will be injections of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) seen in the photo. The photo to the left shows additional removals and naturalized vegetation. This area would also propose the treatment and removal of invasives that would be supplemented by specified native plant species. In the foreground, there is a large area of common goldenrod that would be maintained throughout the restoration, and plantings would be designed to protect all other native plant species. Page 3 of 3 Lastly, the photo on the right shows the northernmost extent of removals. There are a small number of invasives close to the fence that are proposed for removal, but this area was mostly untouched. In the background of the photo, you can see an area of Phragmites australis that is migrating from state-owned land. The homeowner is requesting to cut and stem treat only phragmites that have moved onto their property as part of this restoration. In summary, the areas of cutting have regenerated both native and non-native/invasive plant material over the growing season. Through the restoration of the site, ELS will identify all invasive plants within the restoration area that will be treated and removed, while carefully maintaining all native vegetation. Following treatment and removals, native species will be planted to cover all exposed soil, and a salt-tolerant seed mix will be added to suppress weed growth and increase the native coverage of the site. ELS will submit the wetland data sheet and restoration planting plan before July 31st and will coordinate with the conservation department on a late summer treatment and removal schedule, followed by planting before October 30, 2025. Best regards, Tyler Gaudreau Principal / Owner, Environmental Landscape Solutions, LLC