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25-003 140 Riverbank Road Notice of Intent-FINAL-2015.pdf Bank Restoration 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, Massachusetts August 19, 2015 : Kim Urban 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, MA NEE Project No. 15-4680 Narrative       Figures Data Source: Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS) USGS Topographic Quadrangle Images ¯1000 0 1000500 ft Latitude 42° 20' 18" N Longitude 72° 37' 0.06" W New England Environmental, Inc. www.neeinc.com 15 Research Drive Amherst, MA 01002 (p) 413.256.0202 6 Way Road, Suite 214 Middlefield, CT 06455 (p) 860.316.2001 Environmental Consulting 20 May 2015 Figure 1: USGS Topographic Map 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, MA NEE Job # 15-4680 USGS Northampton MA Quadrangle Project Location Data Source: Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS) 30 cm Color Digital Ortho Image 2008/2009 Digital Parcel Standard, Level 3 ¯340 0 340170 ft Latitude 42° 20' 18" N Longitude 72° 37' 0.06" W New England Environmental, Inc. www.neeinc.com 15 Research Drive Amherst, MA 01002 (p) 413.256.0202 6 Way Road, Suite 214 Middlefield, CT 06455 (p) 860.316.2001 Environmental Consulting 20 May 2015 Figure 2: Orthophoto 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, MA NEE Job # 15-4680 140 Riverbank Road kj kjkj kj kj kj kj kj kj kj kj kj Data Source: Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS) NHESP Priority & Estimated Habitats of Rare Species, Oct 2008 NHESP Certified Vernal Pool, Oct 2013 NHESP Potential Vernal Pools ¯850 0 850425 ft Latitude 42° 20' 18" N Longitude 72° 37' 0.06" W 20 May 2015 Figure 3: NHESP 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, MA NEE Job # 15-4680 Project Location kj Certified Vernal Pool kj Potential Vernal Pool Priority Habitats of Rare Species Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife New England Environmental, Inc. www.neeinc.com 15 Research Drive Amherst, MA 01002 (p) 413.256.0202 6 Way Road, Suite 214 Middlefield, CT 06455 (p) 860.316.2001 Environmental Consulting Data Source: Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS) FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer - 2014 FEMA Q3 Flood - 1997 ¯ New England Environmental, Inc. www.neeinc.com 15 Research Drive Amherst, MA 01002 (p) 413.256.0202 6 Way Road, Suite 214 Middlefield, CT 06455 (p) 860.316.2001 Environmental Consulting 20 May 2015 Figure 4: 100-Year Flood Zone 140 Riverbank Road Northampton, MA NEE Job # 15-4680 Latitude 42°20' 18" N Longitude 72° 37' 0.06" W 0 2,0001,000 Feet 100-Year Flood Zone Property Boundary 140 Riverbank Road APPENDIX A Photographs SECTION 2 Site Plan Figures Locus Map Orthophoto NHESP Designated Locations APPENDIX B Abutter List, Abutter Notification Letter, Affidavit of Service, Copies of Submittal Fee Checks MBL MB OWNER_1 OWNER_2 MAILING_AD CITY STATE ZIP 25 -002-001 25 -002 CITRO JOHN P O BOX 702 GOSHEN MA 01032 25 -010-001 25 -010 FOURNIER DAVID & MELANIE A RACHEL B PERRY & RICHARD H WATLING 131 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -024-001 25 -024 MELLO CYNTHIA 135 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -022-001 25 -022 REARDON ANN C 141 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -023-001 25 -023 REARDON SHEILA M & CYNTHIA M REARDON 139 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -003-001 25 -003 URBAN KIMBERELY A 140 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -026-001 25 -026 WATLING RICHARD H 68 BRADFORD ST STE F NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -021-001 25 -021 WATLING SHERYL V &RACHEL B PERRY 145 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 25 -006-001 25 -006 WHITLEY NANCY B TRUSTEE 144 RIVERBANK RD NORTHAMPTON MA 01060 APPENDIX C Wildlife Habitat Evaluation May 28, 2015 Northampton Conservation Commission City Hall 210 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 RE: Wildlife Habitat Evaluation New England Environmental Inc. (NEE) completed a detailed wildlife habitat assessment on behalf of Kim Urban, property owner of 140 Riverbank Road, Northampton, MA, on May 22, 2015. Temporary impacts to Bank resource area are proposed as part of this restoration project and therefore a Wildlife Habitat Evaluation is required (310 CMR 10.60). NEE’s Certified Wildlife Biologist, Christin McDonough [who is qualified as determined at 10.60 (1)(b)], evaluated the site for significant habitat features present within the restoration area. These are quantified on the attached dataforms, and described in this document. 1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION The property contains an owner occupied single family home, with a small driveway and on-site septic system, overlooking the Connecticut River just downstream from the Coolidge Bridge. The existing riverbank was badly damaged from a microburst in 2014, which uprooted approximately 6 trees, and destroyed the retaining wall materials, boat dock and stairs leading from the top of the bank down to the dock. The lower bank has been previously armored with large rounded rock (see photopages), some of which was also displaced due to the force of the microburst. The damaged section of bank will need to be restored in order to secure the existing home and septic tank, and to remove the old retaining wall materials (which included telephone poles and rock curbing – see photopages). The proposed limit of restoration will span approximately 60 feet in total linear length. The elevational limit of restoration includes the land between the low water level and the mean annual high water mark, which was field-identified by the change in vegetation and erosion marks on the bank. Temporary impacts to Riverfront area are proposed as part of this project as well. However, a wildlife habitat evaluation is not required for those impacts [see CMR 10.58(5)], and only Bank resource thresholds are proposed to be exceeded. 1.1 Site Characteristics The riverbank is densely vegetated with shrub and vine cover, and is armored with a stone toe. There is little to no canopy cover affecting the bank since approximately 6 trees have fallen as a result of the microburst. The shrub/sapling strata consists of box elder (Acer negundo), American elm (Ulmus americana), silver maple (Acer sacharinum.), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), and raspberry (Rubus spp.), totaling approximately 55% cover. Grape (Vittis spp.) is dominant and provides approximately 65% www.neeinc.com 2 of the vegetative cover, with some Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, approximately 5%) and sparse oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Herbaceous cover is very sparse (1%), and bare ground is approximately 35% cover. The soil is classified as Hadley silt loam. As stated, approximately 6 trees have been knocked down, towards the River, and are lying against the bank face with their tops in the water. In addition to the woody debris, the bank is littered with other material, such as garden/chicken coop wire, telephone poles, chunks of curbing, cement, the broken dock, and the broken staircase. 2.0 HABITAT FEATURES The Appendix B detailed wildlife habitat evaluation dataforms list numerous important habitat features (see datasheets, attached). These are described further below. Some of the plants on the bank provide somewhat important upland food for wildlife. Maple seeds are consumed by raccoons (Procyon lotor), squirrels (Sciurid carolinensis), chipmunks (Tamias striatus), small mammals (ex., Peromyscus or Microtus), rabbits (Sylvatigus floridanus), and nuthatch (Sitta spp.), although maple seeds do not the staple for any of these species. Grape vine provides approximately 60% cover along this section of the bank. Fruiting shrubs, such as grape and raspberry, provide significant food contributions to cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), robins (Turdus migratorius), cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), woodpeckers (ex., Melanerpes carolinus), catbirds (Melanoptila glabrirostris), skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and raccoons. Standing dead trees often provide hollow areas and cavities used by mammals and birds for nesting, roosting, foraging, and perching and are considered significant habitat features to wildlife if present. Perches such as these are often utilized by kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) if they overlook open water, or dead snags can be used as foraging habitat for a number of woodpeckers. There is 1 dead snag near the top of the bank and at the limit of the assessment area. This snag does provide a good view of the river. This snag does not contain any obvious cavities, however, and does not provide a nesting site. No bank swallow (Riparia riparia) or kingfisher nest cavities are located within the assessment area, and no impacts to these species are associated with this restoration project. Veery (Catharus fuscescens) nest in damp, but not flooded, deciduous or mixed forests and riparian habitats. They prefer disturbed or early succession forests with a dense understory. These habitat requirements are not consistent with the assessment areas. Burrows are often made by voles, chipmunks and mice but are utilized by a number of other species including snakes and sometimes overwintering amphibians. The presence of burrows can also imply that the prey base may be abundant and available for predators such as fox (Vulpes vulpes). Small mammal burrows are present, indicating sufficient cover for rodents, amphibians, and/or reptiles such as small snakes. Areas which may provide cover habitat for wildlife may include coarse woody debris (amphibians, snakes, small mammals, and birds), and dense vegetative cover (birds, snakes and small mammals). The grape vines have created a dense cover blanket approximately 2 feet off the surface of the ground, which shields ground dwelling animals from aerial view. This is important cover habitat for small mammals, waterfowl, and snakes to find refuge and forage. Steeply undercut sandy banks with overhanging roots are not www.neeinc.com 3 present at the restoration site or the tailrace site. The site is not part of a large, contiguous or interior forest, there is no emergent marsh, is not a significant natural community type, and the site is within an area reasonably considered to be developed. 3.0 IMPACTS TO HABITAT FEATURES In order to stabilize the bank the vegetation will be temporarily disturbed. Native grape and raspberry will become reestablished within 1 or 2 growing seasons. Post-construction monitoring is recommended to ensure non-native species such as oriental bittersweet do not aggressively colonize the recently disturbed area and out-compete native important wildlife food sources. The dead snag located near the top of the bank will need to be removed for safety reasons. It does provide a good view of the river and may be an important perch site for kingfishers, for example. The section of bank where work is proposed is part of a riparian corridor, and therefore marinating vegetative cover is important to maintaining habitat continuity. Mitigation plans will include the replacement of native vegetation. Post-construction monitoring is recommended to evaluate the planting success. 3.0 MITIGATION/RECOMMENDATIONS While there are habitat features included on the dataform checklist, such as small mammal burrows and a standing dead tree, the most significant habitat feature to be considered for mitigation is the dense fruiting vegetative cover. This dense grape and box elder thicket provides important cover, refuge and foraging habitat. Further, maintaining a well vegetated riparian corridor is important for maintaining habitat continuity. Therefore, the principal mitigation considerations are: • Vegetation Community Restoration Plan – the replacement plants should include species which are considered to provide important wildlife food sources, such as grape and raspberry. Additionally, American elm should be replaced. Willow (Salix spp.), dogwoods (Cornus spp.), and/or viburnum spp. should be considered for mitigation, since these species provide bank stabilization, are compatible with the existing habitat conditions, and provide habitat value (dogwoods and viburnums are important berry producers). • Improve habitat by controlling invasive plant colonization, cleaning up trash/debris such as wire, creosote-covered telephone poles, and angular curbing material. Sincerely, New England Environmental, Inc. Christin McDonough Certified Wildlife Biologist® 1 | Photo Page Photo 1: View of the bank toe showing the broken dock and fallen tree to be removed in background. all photos taken on May 22, 2015 Photo 2: View of the dying snag, which provides a good view of the River and may be an important perch site for kingfishers, for example. Photo 3: View from the low water level showing the historically armored toe (note the sediment covering the rock) and the view underneath the vegetation. 2 | Photo Page Photo 4: View of the dead/dying snag to be removed. Photo 5: View facing up the bank from the toe, showing the dense vegetated ‘mat’ formed from grape vine. This provides cover from aerial view, along with refuge and foraging habitat. Photo 6: View from the toe of the bank showing the available woody debris and vegetative cover. 3 | Photo Page Photo 7: View of the snag to be removed. Photo 8: View facing upstream showing the rock toe and fallen trees. APPENDIX D Operations and Maintenance Plan APPENDIX E Copy of NHESP proof of mailing and Copy of Filing Fee Check to NHESP APPENDIX F Septic Design Plan