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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-05 Decision Related Correspondence WSP 7122/22, 11:24 AM Town of North Andover Mail-Weir Hill Barrens Habitat Management Erosion Report 7,19 NORT.I AN-60VER Massach€�stts Jean Enright <jenright@northandoverma.gov> Weir Hill Barrens Habitat Management Erosion Report 7.19 1 message Jeff Denoncour<jenoncour@thetrustees.org> Fri, Jul 22, 2022 at 11:18 AM To: Amy Maxner<amaxner@northandoverma.gov>, Jean Enright <jenright@northandoverma.gov> Cc: Taylor Andrews<tandrews@northandoverma.gov> Hi All, Hope you have been well, Letting you know that we have completed the most recent barrens habitat restoration expansion project at Weir Hill and have begun erosion monitoring. We received .72 inches of rain between 7/18 and 7/19. This was the first rainstorm we have had since completing the project that triggered monitoring. It's been quite the droughty summer. No significant erosion was discovered in any of the restoration areas,just minor sediment movement where soils were more disturbed, After assessing the site after the thinning project we did identify an area on the slope of thinning unit 4 (area near the canoe launch)were we had concerns about potential erosion. This was along a pathway where they transported trees for processing and it resulted in greater soil disturbance and as a result greater potential for erosion. Instead of waiting for any potential erosion to occur, we took a proactive approach and bought additional slit sock and placed the silt sock, branches and a water bar in this area to slow the flow of water and prevent erosion.We had been planning to deploy the slit sock on 7/19 the day after the rainstorm, we saw just minor sediment movement of sediment in this area after the rainstorm which was encouraging, but we still want to have the preventative measures in place until it revegetates. We have also been taking other preventative steps, maintaining and adding additional water bars along trails near cutting areas to prevent erosion. The project came out well and l am looking forward to seeing the restoration progress. Amy, not sure if the MA State Service Forester responsible for signing off on the Forest Cutting Plan reaches out to the Conservation Commission after the fact. But she has conducted a site walk and will sign off on the cutting plan and said everything was looking good, skid trails held up well, and was happy with the way the contractor minimized slash in the cutting areas, Let me know if you have any questions, best, Jeff � t3 3 I .?1 i Jeffrey Denoncour Coastal Ecologist h ttps:/)ma ll.google.com/ni all/u/O/7ik=7c2eff6265&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3Al 739066590113601287&s imp l=msg-t%3A173906659011... 1/2 ,3 . ' i North Andover Planning and Conservation Departments 120 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845 RE:0 Stevens St,Weir Hill Barrens Habitat Management Work Schedule/Timeline Dear North Andover Planning and Conservation Departments, The following is an estimated timeline of work for the barrens habitat management at Weir Hill. We plan to begin work starting on June Vt, 2022 and end work prior to June 30"', 2022. Due to the nature of the work, we expect there will be variability in the timing of each activity and the order of operations in which specific restoration units get treated may change. We will notify you if any major changes are expected. This timeline is for work is associated with the expansion of the restoration area from 47 to 60 acres and 10 acres of habitat mowing funded through the MassWildlife climate change grant and not other ongoing management activities to maintain the habitat identified in the O&M plan. See map (Page 3) for reference of restoration units, skid trails,staging and intermittent stream crossing. • Contractor arrives with machinery and work begins June 151. • More than 75ft of silt sock is on site in the event erosion occurs. • Trustees' erosion monitor will conduct erosion monitoring any time we receive greater than .5 inches of rain. • Before work begins in any of the treatment areas,Trustees' staff will close portions of the property to visitation as needed using signage and/or staffing, • We plan to start work with canopy thinning in units ST-1 and ST-2 o Cut logs will be forwarded to a staging area at Stevens St where they will be collected by a logging truck and transported off site. o Tree tops and slash will be chipped by a tracked chipper outside of the restoration area and wetland resource areas. • Prior to starting work on canopy thinning units ST-3,4, 5, and 6, and heavy mowing units 1&2 the intermittent steam will be bridged using wetland mats. No work will begin on these areas until the intermittent stream is appropriately prepared to cross with forestry machinery. • After the intermittent stream is prepared to cross,we will likely begin with canopy thinning units ST-3 &4 and then ST-5 &6. o Cut logs will be forwarded to a staging area at Stevens St where they will be collected by a logging truck and transported off site. o Tree tops and slash will be chipped, by a tracked chipper outside of the restoration area and wetland resource areas. 1 Page a � I N' r �r %i y � ✓ 3 y J ,ST S r � uF Y; STt3 z r` Skid Trail By-Pass. To try-pass a portion ST 4 of the soil roadway that falls within the 50ft filter strip of Lake Cochichewick 3 I P c} � 2