HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-05-15 Site Wetland Report/Wetland Replication Plan ETA. ANDH
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4 Site Wetland Report/Wetland Replication Plan
For parcel located on Rt . 114 and Berry Street
North Andover. Massachusetts
January 1990
Prepared for
Engineering for Development and Construction. Inc .
447 Old Boston Road
Topsfield. MA 01983
by
Wetlands Preservation. Inc .
569 North Street
Georgetown. MA 01833
569 North Street Georgetown, MA 01833 508-352-7903
As requested, Wetlands Preservation , Inc . (WPI) conducted a
survey of a 16. 94 acre site located on Rt . 114 and Berry Street
in North Andover, Massachusetts , to inspect the on-site or
adjacent wetland areas and to inspect the existing on-site
wetland delineation . The wetland areas are currently delineated
with numbered, blue surveyors flagging . This delineation -was
inspected and any changes in the line were made in the field
using numbered , pink surveyors flagging. In general most of the
previous wetland delineation was agreed with, however there were
some small changes made in the line to include areas of wetland
vegetation previously left out . The wetland resource areas on
the site are as defined by the Massachusetts Wetland Protection
Regulations 310 CMR 10 .00 .
There are two large wetland areas on the site which are
connected via a wide flat Swale (approximately 50 feet wide by
200 feet long) . In addition to these two areas and the
associated Swale , there is a third area which has been delineated
in the field but may be a non-jurisdictional wetland area
according to MWPR 310 CMR 10 .57 (2) (b) 1 through 3 .
The first area delineated in the field by flags ##45 to ##70
and flags ##142 to ##155 respectively , lies along the west side of
the property . This is a large red maple swamp which extends
beyond the property boundaries . Typically there are red maple,
white pine, swamp white oak , and occasionally red oak in the tree
layer. The sapling layer is dominated by red maple . There are
swamp azalea, northern arrow-wood , highbush blueberry, gray
stemmed dogwood , shadbush and black chokeberry dominant in the
shrub layer and the herbaceous layer is typically cinnamon fern,
sphagnum moss , poison ivy, sheep laurel , jewelweed , sensitive
fern, spires, tussock sedge , and club moss . The vine layer is
made up of areas of poison ivy and wild grape . Occasionally
there are small clearings in this area which are dominated by
sheep laurel , sphagnum moss and wild cranberry ( see table 1 for
detailed species list) .
The Swale area is low and flat and typically vegetated with
red maple , white pine and swamp white oak in the tree layer . The
average dbh (diameter at breast height) for the trees here is 9"
and occasionally there are also quaking aspen , crab apple and
American elm. There are red maple and white pine predominant in
the sapling layer and gray stemmed dogwood, swamp azalea,
northern arrow wood , highbush blueberry and shadbush predominant
in the shrub layer. In the herbaceous layer there are cinnamon
fern, royal fern, sensitive fern, sphagnum moss , jewelweed
tussock sedge and poison ivy, and wild grape and poison ivy make
up the vine layer. Occasionally there are also fire cherry.
European buckthorn. hawthorn, lowbush blueberry, male berry,
upland moss , goldenrod. meadow sweet . steeplebush, and reed
canary grass (see table 1 for detailed species list) .
The Swale delivers water from the large wooded swamp on the
west side of the site in an easterly direction to a more open .
acidic marsh along the eastern side of the site . Here the area
is typically open marsh or vegetated with a mix of bog plants
edged with wetland shrubs . In the marsh area there are tussock
sedge, 3-square rush, reed canary grass , royal fern, sensitive
fern. and wool grass predominant throughout . Also present along
the outer perimeter are highbush blueberry, shadbush, white pine ,
red maple , spirea, sheep laurel , and goldenrod . Occasionally
there are blackberry, bracken fern, bayberry, winter berry, gold
thread , dewberry and swamp azalea. In the bog area there are
wild cranberry, royal fern , sheep laurel . spires. sphagnum moss ,
and highbush blueberry . Along the edges there are shadbush, black
chokeberry, sheep laurel, swamp azalea, tussock sedge, gray
stemmed dogwood, and sensitive fern . Finally, as you move up the
slope there are red maple , gray birch. white pine , northern arrow-
wood and bracken fern occasionally within the wetland line (see
table 1 for detailed species list) .
The marsh wetland area drains eastward to an existing 1811
RCP at the southeast corner of the site near the intersection of
Berry Street and Rt . 114. Here the flow drains under Rt . 114 and
continues off-site in a southeasterly direction.
The small depression along the front of the site (along Rt .
114) is delineated in the field by flags 200 through 219 . It is
a low flat- area with many little hummocks and micro depressions ,
surrounded on three sides by upland woods and Rt . 114 on the
fourth. There is a 24" culvert in one corner of the depression
which extends from the area under Rt . 114 and appears to be an
outlet for the area during peak run-off periods .
The area is vegetated with red maple . swamp white oak and
white pine in the tree layer. highbush blueberry. swamp azalea,
sweet pepperbush, n # arrow-wood, and sheep laurel in the shrub
layer. and cinnamon fern . sensitive fern , sphagnum moss, poison
ivy and club moss in the herbaceous layer. Occasionally there
are poison ivy and green briar in the vine layer. Also present are
1
gray birch, white oak, lowbush blueberry, bracken fern and royal
fern (see table 1 for detailed species list) .
as stated earlier, this area may not be
As w y n a jurisdictional
wetland resource area as defined by section 10 .57 (2) (b) 1 through
3 of the 'Wetland Protection Regulations . To determine this a
detailed topography survey should be done on the area and
appropriate drainage calculations should be submitted by a
registered professional engineer .
The upland areas on the site are a mix of cleared open
meadow and mixed mature hardwoods and white pine . In the forest
there are red oak, white oak, red maple , and white pine
predominant in the overstory . Occasionally there are black
cherry, fire cherry and quaking aspen . In the sapling layer
there are red maple, red oak. white pine and black cherry .
Typically in the shrub layer there are highbush and lowbush
blueberry, beaked hazelnut , witch hazel , gray stemmed dogwood ,
sheep laurel , hawthorn. northern arrow—wood , shadbush, poison
ivy. green briar, and black raspberry . Common to the herbaceous
layer are cinnamon fern, wintergreen. club moss , Solomon ' s seal ,
star flower, hay scented fern, bracken fern, and sheep laurel .
In the vine layer there are wild grape . green briar, and poison
ivy .
The open meadow area is an old field which contains a
variety of grasses and herbaceous vegetation along with
occasional trees and shrubs . Species found in the field are
little blue stem, reed canary grass , fall witch grass ,
switchgrass , path rush. crabgrass, black raspberry. blackberry,
meadow sweet , goldenrod , rye , dewberry, and red fescue . Also ,
there are white pine, apple , hawthorn . W. oak, chinquapin oak,
red maple , black cherry and gray birch saplings , along with
occasional barberry , wild grape and yucca (see table 2 for
detailed species list) .
The area is an old farm where much of the site has been
cleared, cultivated , and/or disturbed at one time . Remnant
stonewalls and a small stone foundation on the site suggest a
small farm. There has been some channelization in the wetland
areas , perhaps in an effort to make these areas suitable for
cultivation .
The on-site wetland areas have characteristics which provide
for a moderate degree of quality wildlife habitat . The marsh
area may be utilized by ducks , geese and various marsh birds for
breeding, nesting, and feeding activities . The red maple swamp
and shrub swamp areas provide dens and a rich organic base to
support various birds , mammals , reptiles and amphibians commonly
found in and around wetland areas in New England . This might
include but is not exclusive to owls . hawks , songbirds , small
mammals . snakes, turtles , salamanders , frogs, and burrowing
rodents .
All the jurisdictional wetland areas on the site contain
Bordering Vegetated Wetland which according- to MWPR 310 CMR
10.55 (1) , can be significant to public or private water supply,
to groundwater supply , to flood control , to storm damage
prevention, to prevention of pollution and to the protection of
fisheries and wildlife habitat .
Any proposed work in a bordering vegetated wetland ,
according to the regulations [MWPR 310 CMR 10 .55 (4) (9) ] , shall
not destroy or otherwise impair any portion of said area. Work
may be permitted however which complies with the performance
standards of MWPR 310 CMR 10.55 (4) (b) 1 through 7 .
. I!
TABLE 1
List of Species Found in Wetland Areas
Common Name Botanical Name
red maple Acer rubrum
white pine Pinus strobus
swamp white oak guercus bicolor
red oak Quercus rubra
quaking aspen Populus tremula
American elm Ulmus americana
crab apple Malus U.
gray birch Betula populifolia
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum
northern arrow-wood Viburnum reco nitum
highbush blueberry Vaccinium cor mbosom
gray stemmed dogwood Cornus foemina
shadbush sp . Amelanchier s2.
black chokeberry Aronia melanocar a
European buckthorn Rhamnus _frangula
hawthorn Crataegzus sp.
maueberry Lyonia ligustrina
sheep laurel Kalmi.a angustifolia
small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus
poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
meadow sweet Spirae_a latifolia
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa
blackberry
bayberry Myrica heterophy
winterberry Ilex verticill.ata
gold thread Coptic tri.folia
green briar Smilax rotundifolia
wild grape Vitis U.
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium m rtilloides
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea
royal fern Osmunda regalia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum
moss
sphagnum moss Sphagnum sp .
club moss Lycopodium complanatum
tussock sedge Carex stri.cta
goldenrod Solidago sk. .
jewelweed Impatiens ' capensis
reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea
3 square rush Scirp_us pungens
wool grass Scirpus cyperinus
TAB
LE 2
List of S ecies Found in Upland Areas
Common Name Botanical Name
red oak Quercus rubra
red maple Acer rubrum
white oak Quercus albs
white pine Pinus strobus
black cherry Prunus serotina
fire cherry Prunus pensylyanica
quaking aspen Populus tremula
chinquapin oak Quercug muehlenbe_rgii
gray birch Betula populifolia
barberry
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosom
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium myrtil.loides
beaked hazelnut Corgi rostrata
witch hazel Hamamelis vir i�niana
gray stemmed dogwood Cornus foemina
hawthorn Crataegus U.
sheep laurel xalmia an ustifolia
poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
green briar Smilax rotundifolia
wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
wild grape Vitis P2.
shadbush Amelanchier sR.
yucca
meadow sweet Spirea latifolia
blackberry Rubus alleghaniensis
black raspberry Rubus strigosus
cinnamon fern Osmunda ci.nnamomea
club moss Lycopodium com lanatum
Solomon ' s seal Polygonatum biflorum
star flower Trientalis borealis
royal fern Osmunda regalia
hay scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum
little bluestem Andropog,on sco arius
reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea
fall witch grass Le toloma cognatum
switch grass Panicum vi.rgat_um
path rush Juncus tenuis
crab grass Digitaria pR•
goldenrod Solidargo s ,.
rye Secale U.
red fescue Festuca rubra
Wetland Replication Plan
Route 114/Berry Street
North Andover. Massachusetts
The following replication plan provides the detailed
specifications for construction of a wetland replication area for
a proposed driveway crossing on a site located on Route 114 and
Berry Road in North Andover. Massachusetts . The wetland crossing
is proposed to gain access to the site and will impact
approximately 2 , 500 sq . ft . of bordering vegetated wetland area.
To compensate for this there will be approximately 5 .000 sq . ft .
of wetland replication area created near the area of the crossing.
Wetland Crossing Area Description
The area impacted by the crossing is in a low wide swale
which connects two larger wetland resource areas . The area to
the west (upgradient) of the Swale is a wooded swamp and the area
to the east (downgradient) is a mixed acidic marsh and shrub
swamp . The Swale is approximately 200 feet long by 50 feet wide
and is vegetated with a variety of wetland species and includes
red maple . white pine. quaking aspen, (avg . dbh 611) . in the tree
and sapling layers . gray stemmed dogwood, silky dogwood , swamp
azalea, northern arrow-wood., highbush blueberry, and shadbush are
prevalent in the shrub layer and cinnamon fern, sensitive fern,
spires. poison ivy, tussock sedge , clubmoss and goldenrod, and
sphagnum moss are predominant in the herbaceous layer. Also
occasionally present in the swale area is crab apple , fire
cherry, European buckthorn, mlleberry. lowbush blueberry, sheep
laurel , royal fern, reed canary grass , blackberry and
upland moss (see table 3 for details) .
Two cross culverts will be placed in the crossing area to
insure that a hydrologic connection between the two larger
wetland areas is maintained . The crossing will impact
approximately 2 ,500 sq . ft . of wetland area . Any trees , saplings
or shrubs within the buffer zone area of the roadway will be left
if at all possible . Any bare soils in the side slopes of the
roadway will be stabilized by mulching and seeded with grass .
Wetland Replication Area Description
There is one replication area to be constructed and will be
excavated in an area which is approximately 2 feet above the
existing wetland elevation . it is generally a dense young white
pine stand (avg . dbh 911) with no understory growth. There is a
small section where the area is clear of pines and there is a
predominance of black chokeberry, shadbush, white pine saplings ,
white oak, bracken fern, sheep laurel and meadowsweet (see table
4 for details) .
The wetland replication area will have a configuration such
that it can be easily excavated without undue disturbance to
buffer zone vegetation of which as little will be disturbed as
possible .
The replication area will be cleared and grubbed and all
stumps , slash and brush would be removed from the site .
The area will be excavated approximately 12 inches lower
than the desired elevation to allow for 12 inches of quality
organic topsoil to be spread throughout . If appropriate, some or
all of this soil will be from the impacted area at the crossing .
During excavation, .a wetland specialist and/or the conservation
inspector will be requested to inspect the replication area and
the soils to be used in final grading to verify that proper
elevations . hydrology and soil substrate are or will be used in
the replication area . Any soils excavated from the replication
area will either be utilized during the construction of the site
or taken off the site . Access to the replication area will be
from the adjacent upland in the area of the proposed roadway .
The grading in the replication area will allow for side slopes of
3t1 where possible .
Replication Area Plantin
Wetland plants have been chosen to allow for a continuation
of the shrub swamp type wetland community adjacent to the
replication area. It is anticipated that additional wetland
vegetation will take hold in the area from seeds blown in from
the adjacent wetland . The proposed species and their planting
densities will include ;
Spotted Joe-pye-weed sown at 1/2 lb . /acre rate
(Eupatoriadelphus maculatus) throughout replication area
New England aster sown at 1/2 lb . /acre rate
(Aster novae-angliae) throughout replication area
Switchgrass sown at 20 lbs . /acre rate
(Panicum virgatum) throughout replication area
and on side slope
Righbush blueberry sown at 20 lbs . /acre rate
(Vaccinium corymbosum) throughout replication area
and on side slope
Silky dogwood 18 2411 stock cluster planted
(Cornus amomum) on 15 foot centers through-
out the area
Northern arrow-wood 18-24" stock cluster planted
(Viburnum reco nitum) on 15 foot centers through-
out the area.
Erosion and Siltation Control
Prior to any construction/excavation activities on the site
double staked hay bale and silt screen lines will be placed along
the entire edge between the proposed construction activities and
the wetland areas .
Construction Schedule
• Erosion and siltation control would be established along
the edge of existing wetland in the area of the proposed
construction activities . Silt screen and a single staked
hay bale line will be used .
• The replication areas would be excavated and graded to a
depth of 12 inches lower than the depicted depths ,
backfilled with 12 inches of high quality, organic topsoil
and final graded .
• The exposed soil in the replication area would be
stabilized and seeded with switchgrass . The upland
exposed soils will be seeded with an annual rye grass .
• Herbaceous root stock and shrub plantings will occur when
stocks are available from the source nurseries and in
conjunction with the planting season .
• Following verification from the North Andover Conservation
Commission that the replication areas are stable , the
siltation screen will be removed and the hay bales will be
broken up and left to rot .
Monitoring and Status Reports
The progress of the work will be monitored and status
reports will be issued to the North Andover Conservation
Commission on a periodic basis as requested by the Commission.
Photos will be provided upon request to document the progress and
to provide a basis for determining compliance .
TABLE 3
List of Species Found in Crossing Area
*Frequency
Common Name Botanical Name of Occurrence
Tree
red maple Acer rubrum D
white pine Pinus strobus C
quaking aspen Populus tremula 0
crab apple Malus sp . 0
Sapling
red maple Acer rubrum D
white pine Pinus strobus D
quaking aspen Pis tremula 0
fire cherry Prunus pensylvanica 0
Shrub
gray stemmed dogwood Cornus foemina D
silky dogwood Cornus amomum C
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum 0
northern arrow—wood Viburnum recognitum C
highbush blueberry Vacci.nium corymbosu_m_ C
shadbush Amelanchi.er sa. C
European buckthorn Rhamnus frangula 0
maleberry LLyoni li ustrina 0
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium _myrtilloi.de_s_ 0
sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia 0
Herbaceous
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamonea D
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis C
spires. Spirea latifolia 0
poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans , D
tussock sedge Carex stricta 0
club moss Lycopodium complanatum_ C
goldenrod Solidargo sj. 0
sphagnum moss Sphagnum p . C
royal fern Osmunda regal_is 0
reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea 0
blackberry Rubus alleghani._e_nsis 0
moss 0
vine
non--observed
*Note . D = Dominant C = Common 0 = Occasional
TABLE 4
List of S ecies Found in Replication Area
*Frequency
Common Name Botanical Name of Occurrence
Tree
white pine Pinus strobus D
Saplings
white pine Pinus strobus D
white oak Quercus alba 0
Shrub
black chokeberry Aroni.a melanocarpa 0
shadbush Amelanchier Ek. C
sheep laurel Kalmia an ustifolia C
Herbaceous
sheep laurel Kalmi.a angustifolia C
bracken fern Pteridi.um aquilinum C
meadow sweet Spirea latifolia C
Vine
non-observed
*Note: D = Dominant C = Common 0 = Occasional