29-484 Ellington Rd Brookwood Marsh Certificate Complianceo .
°NEUJ ENGI(~ND ENVIRONMENTf~I, INC.
Environmental Consulting Services
September 24, 2001
Northampton Conservation Commission
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
800 Main Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-0202
FAX (413) 256-1092
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DEPT OF PLANN
NORTH_lD~, MA OlOGO
RE: Final Monitoring Report for Brookwood Marsh Wetland Restoration, Northampton, MA
Request for a Certificate of Compliance
NEE file 00-1753. DEP File # 246-462. NHESP file 00-7120.
Dear Commission Members:
This report summarizes the site conditions found at the Brookwood Marsh wetland Restoration
site after the second growing season. We believe that all conditions required in the Order of
Conditions issued by the Conservation Commission on May 15, 2000 have been fixlfilled, and we
therefore request that a Certificate of Compliance for this work be issued at this time.
On behalf of the City of Northampton Office of Planning & Development, New England
Environmental, Inc, (NEE) has been conducting construction and maintenance site visits since the
beguvung of construction (see Condition #22). Our most recent site visit was conducted on
September 19, 2001 and concludes the 2001 growing season inspections, and the second season
of plant establishment.
Our last report was submitted to the Commission at the beginning of the 2001 (second) growing
season. At this time we reported that wetland herbaceous cover was not dense, and that
additional seeding was conducted by NEE to supplement the initial seeding. We also reported
possible problems with purple loosestrife establishment and control. In this letter we can report to
the Commission that the wetland restoration is meeting all standards as described in the Notice of
Intent application (March, 2000) and the Order of Conditions. As of this date, I can report to you
that the wetland restoration area is very well established after the second growing season. The
trees and shrubs are putting out significant new growth, and the herbaceous growth of wetland
sedges, rushes and herbaceous species has been phenomenal. The following outlines the status of
these areas.
Hydrology: The wetland restoration area has demonstrated suitable hydrology to support
wetland vegetation. The .grade of the wetland restoration area matches the
previously filled wetland grades based on soil excavation during construction. The
Monitoring Report for Brookwood Marsh, Northampton September, 2001 Page 1
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NEW ENGI(~ND ENVIRONMENTt~I, INC.
constructed grades were designed to achieve a wet meadow/shrub scrub/forested
wetland and these grades have been achieved. An examination of the soils also
shows that there is evidence of hydric characteristics (e.g. oxidized rhizospheres)
within the restored wetland. The entire interior of the wetlands is dominated
(more than 90%) by wetland vegetation. The periphery of the restoration area
where the grades are higher, gradually are dominated by upland herbaceous
vegetation. The higher hummock areas were designed to built slightly higher than
the groundwater level, and therefore do not show hydric characteristics.
Wetland Plants: The wetland trees and shrubs which were planted on the hummocks are all
showing excellent growth and establishment. In particular, the Black
Willow and Alder are showing significant new growth. Several species
have- been browsed by deer, but all are continuing to thrive. One dead
shrub was observed.
Wetland Seed: The wetland seeding (Wetmix) has shown excellent results after being fully
established for one growing season after being reseeded in the Spring of
2001. Several of the species have set seed such as: Carex comosa; C.
vulpinoidea; Juncus effusus; and Scirpus atrovirens. Other wetland plants
which seed during the second year have become well established such as:
Carex crinita; C. lurida; C. lupulina; Glyceria canadensis; Verbena
hastata; Scirpus cyperinus; Eupatoriadelphus maculatus and others.
Turtle Nesting Sites: Two separate sand banks were created as turtle nesting habitats. NEE has
monitored these areas, and although there have been numerous small
excavations within the sand banks, we have no firm data to report whether
or not these areas have been used by nesting turtles (see Condition # 30).
Invasive Species: Brookwood Marsh has a large population of Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum
salicaria plants, and it has been our concern that the wetland restoration
area would become invaded by this exotic invasive species. I am pleased to
report that the dense growth of herbaceous wetland species within the
restoration area has effectively eliminated or suppressed purple loosestrife
from growth within the restoration area. NEE pulled new seedlings during
the 2001 growing season from the restoration area, and removed several
large mature plants from edge of the mitigation area. The restoration area
below the new beaver dam to the outlet structure has a number of purple
loosestrife seedlings which will need to be pulled. This however maybe a
Monitoring Report for Brookwood Marsh, Northampton ,September, 2001 Page 2
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NEU! ENGLAND ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
difficult area to control as there remains a large population of purple
loosestrife upstream. It is my recommendation that the City consider a
yearly purple loosestrife control maintenance program within Brookwood
Marsh. The City should consider a one day/year annual spot application of
Rodeo herbicide on purple loosestrife plants within Brookwood Marsh
while the mature plants are flowering, but prior to seed set.
Beaver Dam: The framework for a beaver dam was constructed in the location of a
former dam, and the dam construction has been completed by the beavers.
With the permission of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the
Northampton Board of Health, the old beaver dam was removed. The
beaver exclusion devices (Clemson Levelers) and three outlet pipes have
been installed through the new dam by the City's beaver specialist. The
inlet elevation of the levelers is the same as the previous inlet. The outlet is
a drop inlet at the end of Ellington Road. This system appears to be
working as designed. The water level within the marsh has not changed,
and the flooding of the nearby residences has been significantly reduced.
Rare Species: The rare Spatterdock Darner (Aeshna mutata) was historically found in this
pond, an assessment of the dragonflies on the site was completed by NEE
during the 2001 growing season. A number of dragonflies and damselflies
were noted on site. Both Common Whitetails (Plathemis lydia) and
Twelve-spotted Skimmers (Libellula pulchella) were abundant. A few
Spangled Skimmers (Libellula cyanea) were also noted, including one
female laying eggs in the water. One damselfly species of Bluet
(Enallagma sp.) was also noted. No species of Darners (Aeshna sp.) were
noted by NEE during these site visits. Additional Yellow Water Lily
(Nuphar lutea) were planted within the pond adjacent to the wetland
restoration area to expand potential habitat for this species of Darner.
These plants have now become established and have shown significant new
growth during the 2001 growing season.
Certificate of Compliance: Condition # 34 requires that upon completion of the project that
"the applicant shall submit a certification that all work has been
done in conformance with the provisions of the Order of Conditions
and request a Certificate of Compliance". On behalf of the City of
Northampton Office of Planning and Development, please consider
this report, accompanying photographs, and Request Form as our
Monitoring Report for Brookwood Marsh, Northampton Septe ber, 200 Page 3
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NEVI ENGI~Nn ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
certification of compliance with the Order of Conditions for DEP
file 246-462.
In summary, we are satisfied with the results of the wetland restoration work at Brookwood
Marsh, and at this time no other remedial work is necessary. Over one acre of filled wetland has
been restored and planted with native wetland vegetation. We have observed that this restored
wetland is already being used by the local wildlife, and will hopefully be used by the threatened
wildlife species found in the marsh.
Sincerely,
Ne England Environmental, Inc.
1 J. Marcus
Scientist
cc: DEP, Western Regional Office
Pat Huckery, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Steve Block, Restoration and Banking Program
Cynthia Williams, Northampton Planning and Development
enc. Photographs
Request for a Certificate of Compliance
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Monitoring Report for Brookwood Marsh, Northampton September, 2001 Page 4
EXISTING CONDITIONS
BROOKWOOD MARSH, NORTHAMPTON, MA
WETLAND RESTORATION AREA
SEPTEMBER 19, 2001
The plaiting of Yellow Water Lily (NuphaN lutea) was
conducted along the pond edges to promote the
preferred habitat of a rare species of dragonfly.
F'~SI I~ED~I,et00\NEE 1753 finalphotos.wpd
The transition between the existing pond at Brookwood
Marsh (left) and the restoration area (right) was very
smooth and did not result in the alteration of any of the
pond area.
Established Wetland Restoration area at
Brookwood Marsh. Note the dense
establishment of herbaceous wetland
vegetation. The circular clumps in the back-
round are raised hummocks planted with
wetland trees and shrubs.
Pre-
construction
site
conditions
(1999)
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Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection -Wetlands
WPA Form 8A -Request for Certificate of Compliance
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40
DEP File Number:
246-462
Provided by DEP
A. Project Information
This request is being made by:
New England Environmental, Inc.
Name
800 Main Street
Mailing Address
Amherst MA 01002
City/Town State Zip Code
(413) 256-0202
Phone Number
2. This request is in reference to work regulated by a final Order of Conditions issued to:
City of Northampton, Office of Planning & Development
Applicant
Dated
8, 2000
Upon completion
of the work 3•
authorized in
an Order of
Conditions, the
property owner
must request a
Certificate of 4
Compliance
from the issuing
authority stating
that the work or
portion of the
work has been
satisfactorily
completed.
® the work regulated by the above-referenced Order of Conditions has been satisfactorilycompleted.
^ the following portions of the work regulated by the above-referenced Order of Conditions have
been satisfactorily completed (use additional paper if necessary).
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^ the above-referenced Order of Conditions has lapsed and is therefore no longer valid, and the
work regulated by it was never started.
.YI
wpaforrn8a.doc • rev. 9/24/01
The project site is located at:
246-462
DEP File Number
Brookwood Marsh at the end of Ellington Road Northampton
Street Address City/Town
#29 484
Assessors Map/Plat Number Parcel/Lot Number
The final Order of Conditions was recorded at the Registry of Deeds for:
City of Northampton
Property Owner (if different)
Hampshire
County Book Page
Certificate (if registered land)
5. This request is for certification that (check one):
Page 1 of 2
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Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
DEP File Number:
Bureau of Resource Protection -Wetlands
WPA Form 8A -Request for Certificate of Compliance 246-462
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40 Provided by DEP
A. Project Information (cont.)
6. Did the Order of Conditions for this project, or the portion of the project subject to this request, contain
an approval of any plans stamped by a registered professional engineer, architect, landscape
architect, or land surveyor?
^ Yes If yes, attach a written statement by such a professional certifying substantial
compliance with the plans and describing what deviation, if any, exists from the plans
approved in the Order.
® No
B. Submittal Requirements
Requests for Certificates of Compliance should be directed to the issuing authority that issued the final
Order of Conditions (OOC). If the project received an OOC from the Conservation Commission, submit
this request to that Commission. If the project was issued a Superseding Order of Conditions or was the
subject of an Adjudicatory Hearing Final Decision, submit this request to the appropriate DEP Regional
Office (see Appendix A).
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wpaform8a.doc • rev. 9/24/01 Page 2 of 2