BBC CPA Application 2012II: Applicant /Developer Information
Contact Person and or /primary applicant: Robert Zimmermann
Property Owner (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission
Organization (if applicable): Broad Brook Coalition
Mailing Address: 549 North Farms Road, Florence, MA 01062
Daytime phone (413) 545 -0936
Fax (413) 545 -3291
E -mail address Website: zimmermann @biochem.umass.edu
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Summary:
Funding is requested to provide the Broad Brook Coalition (BBC) with the resources
to continue efforts to control and eliminate invasive plants from the Fitzgerald Lake
Conservation Area (FLCA) that threaten to damage critical habitats essential to the
health of native wildlife and plants. Specific targets include (1) an invasion of Cooke's
Pasture by Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), (2) a persistent infestation of both
Cooke's Pasture and the Fitzgerald Lake dam with Spotted and Brown Knapweeds
(Centaurea maculosa and Centaurea jacea) and (3) an established stand of
Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) on a tract of the FLCA on Marian St.
Estimated start date: March 2013 Estimated completion date: December 2015
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
X Open Space
Community Housing Recreation
Historic Preservation
Project Title:
Control and Eradication of Invasive Plants in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area
CPA funding request:
$7,400
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 100%
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project:
Applicant's Signature:
Date Submitted:
$7,400
September 4, 2012
NARRATIVE
Project Summary
CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN
THE FITZGERALD LAKE CONSERVATION AREA
Funding is requested to provide the Broad Brook Coalition (BBC) with the resources to continue
its efforts to control and eliminate certain invasive plant species from the Fitzgerald Lake
Conservation Area (FLCA) that threaten to damage critical habitats essential to the health of
native wildlife and plants. The specific targets of this project are (1) an invasion of Cooke's
Pasture by Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), (2) a persistent infestation of both Cooke's
Pasture and the Fitzgerald Lake dam with Spotted and Brown Knapweeds (Centaurea
maculosa and Centaurea jacea) and (3) a small tract of land on Marian Street that has been
overtaken by Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).
Background
The Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area is owned by the Northampton Conservation
Commission and managed by the Broad Brook Coalition, a 501(c)(3) organization of roughly
200 individuals and families, in collaboration with the Conservation Commission, for the purpose
of conservation, passive recreation, and watershed protection. The FLCA presently consists of
680 acres and contains forest, open meadow, and wetland habitats as well as a 40 -acre artificial
lake. The Management Plan for the FLCA, prepared by the BBC, forms part of the City's Open
Space and Recreation Plan. The responsibilities of the BBC include trail maintenance and
improvement, invasive species removal, native shrub planting, pasture mowing and periodic
water quality analysis, as well as a series of educational Walks and Talks. A map of the FLCA
showing the locations of the invasive plants discussed in this proposal is attached.
Community Preservation Criteria
The goal of work described in this application is to preserve the native habitat of unforested
areas of the FLCA by controlling the proliferation of several species of invasive plants as well as
to discourage their rersurgence in the future through periodic monitoring. All of the plant targets
described in this proposal are extremely invasive and will cause significant injury to the health of
native plant and animal habitats within the FLCA if left unchecked. Progress to date on the
control of invasive plants in the FLCA, funded in part by a previous grant from the CPA, can be
found below and in the accompanying Reports to the CPA in 2011 and 2012.
It is important to note that the entire FLCA is listed as "Core Habitat" by the Massachusetts
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and the marsh below the dam is designated
as "Priority and Estimated Habitat" owing to the presence of two Endangered species, Bush's
Sedge and the Dwarf Wedgemussel, and three species of Special Concern, including the Four
toed Salamander, Wood Turtle and Eastern Box Turtle. In addition, the marsh is regularly used
by beavers, otters, deer, moose and a variety of birds such as red -wing blackbirds, marsh
wrens, kingfishers, rails and herons.
In terms of the CPA criteria, realization of this project will help to improve and preserve the
health of Northampton's premier wildlife conservation area which may otherwise deteriorate due
to the proliferation of invasive plant species. The Allowable Use Category is Preservation of
Open Space and the control and removal of invasive plants from the FLCA is a goal
incorporated in the the current Northampton Open Space and Recreation Plan. The project has
been endorsed by the Northampton Conservation Commisssion and the Office of Planning and
Development. Given the well- defined scope of this project, we are confident that it can be
accomplished successfully within the time frame and budget described below.
Completed Efforts to Control Invasive Plants in the FLCA
1. Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae). Black Swallowwort has the potential to invade and
severely damage the ecology of upland habitats by crowding out native vegetation, replacing
grasses, goldenrod and milkweed by monotypic mats. It can spread long distances by seed
dispersal or locally through clones arising vegetatively from rhizomes. A small infestation of
Black Swallowwort on roughly 0.15 acres of land adjacent to the FLCA was treated with the
herbicide Garton 3A (triclopyr) in the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011. We consider this plant
to have been eradicated on the site in question as no new growth was observed in the summer
of 2012. Nonetheless, the surrounding soil most likely contains a high burden of seed, so we will
continue to monitor the site annually and control any new growth by hand pulling The work was
carried out by Polatin Ecological Services (PES) with funds from the Massachusetts Land Trust
Coaition (MLTC, 2009) and the Community Preservation Act (CPA, 2010 and 2011).
2. Common Reed Phragmites australis). Phragmites stalks covering about 0.6 acres at three
sites within the Broad Brook marsh were cut in the winter of 2009 and subsequently treated with
Rodeo (glyphospate) in the fall of 2009, 2010 and 2011. A substantial reduction in Phragmites
emergence was noted after the first treatment and the overall level of control has been
estimated to be approximately 98% after three years. We have been particularly pleased that
resurgent native vegetation now covers most of the treated areas. The work was performed by
PES with funds provided by grants from the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and MLTC (2009) and by the CPA (2010 and 2011).
3. Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus franqula). Cooke's Pasture was found to badly infested with
Glossy Buckthorn in 2007 and 2008. These plants, which establish a pervasive root system and
shade out adjacent growth, were selectively sprayed with a mixture of Garton 3A (triclopyr) and
Escort XP (metsulfuron methyl) herbicides that destroy shrubs but spare grasses -in the
summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012. The reduction in new growth sprouting from residual
rhizomes in 2012 was notable though there was clearly more work to be done. Small amounts
of other invasive species such as Common Buckthorn, Multiflora Rose and Autumn Olive were
treated in parallel with the Glossy Buckthorn, as was a very small patch of Black Swallowwort.
In late fall 2011, a number of mature Glossy Buckthorns on the perimeter of Cooke's Pasture
were cut down and their stumps treated with Garton 4 (triclopyr) to suppress further growth. We
consider the efectiveness of Buckthorn control to be about 85 though we expect shoots to
reappear for several years owing to the extensive root system of this plant. All of this work was
carried out by PES with funding from the CPA.
4. Spotted and Brown Knapweed Centaurea maculosa and Centaurea jacea). Knapweeds
readily crowd out native grasses and thereby reduce native plant biodiversity. In 2010, we
discovered that there was consderable Brown Knapweed mixed in with the Spotted Knapweed,
so the former plant was added to the treatment list. After application of Milestone (aminopyralid)
in 2010 and 2011 by Vegetation Control Services /Bay State Forestry (VCS /BSF), the knapweed
suppression was about 60 -70 A third treatment with a mixture of Milestone and Garton 3A by
PES in the summer of 2012 achieved a higher level of overall knapweed control, estimated at
about 80 Owing to the prolific seed production and dispersal by Knapweeds, they promise to
require close attention in future years. This work was funded by a grant from the CPA.
Proposal: Continued Efforts to Control of Invasive Plants in the FLCA
We plan to continue the suppression of Glossy Buckthorn and Knapweed species on the
Fitzgerald lake dam and in Cooke's Pasture, and to eradicate insofar as possible, a stand of
Japanese Knotweed on a small portion of the FLCA situated on Marian St.
1 Glossy Buckthorn. Glossy Buckthorn suppresses the growth of native shrubs and grasses
through shading and, if left unchecked, can form a monoculture. These shrubs reproduce
through seed dispersal by birds and other wildlife and, once established, by sprouts from its
extensive and persistent root system. The preferred method of controlling Glossy Buckthorn is
foliar spraying with agents such as Garton 3A and Escort XP which are selective for woody
vegetation but will not affect grasses. Although we have observed a significant reduction of
Glossy Buckthorn in Cooke's Pasture as the result of previous herbicide applicartion, we
anticipate that resprouting from surviving rhizomes will be a problem for several years to come.
To achieve control at the desired level of 95 -100 individual plants will be selectively treated
with a foliar spray containing a mixture of the herbicides Garton 3A and Escort XP for the next
three years. Beyond that time, visual monitoring and hand removal of buckthorn sprouts by BBC
volunteers will be required to minimize the re- emergence of these plants.
2. Spotted and Brown Knapweeds. The knapweeds, biennial flowering plants, are very
aggressive invaders which readily crowd out native grasses. They reproduce mainly through the
prolific seed production and dispersal. In dense stands, the seed yield has been estimated at
close to 150,000 seeds per square meter and 30% of the seed has been found to remain viable
after eight years of soil burial. Knapweeds can be effectiverly controlled by the application of
herbicides such as Garton and Milestone, a relatively new herbicide that will not attack woody
plants or grasses although it can damage desirable broadleaf plants. The occurrence of
knapweeds on the Fitzgerald Lake dam and in Cooke's Pasture has been curtailed to a large
extent by herbicide treatment over the past three years, but the potential for continued
infestation is high owing to the unusual persistence of their seeds. Re- emergent knapweeds will
be selectively treated by low- volume foliar spraying with Garton 3A and Milestone VM in the
affected areas for yhr next three years. Treatment will be carried out in mid summer when the
plants are flowering and therefore easy to identify.
3. Japanese Knotweed. Japanese Knotweed is a herbaceous perennial that typically grows in
dense stands 5 -8 feet in height on open land. While it can reproduce from seeds, it usually
proliferates vegetatively through long rhizomes that can extend up to 45 -60 feet. As this plant
virtually excludes almost all other vegetation, it is a major threat to biodiversity and severely
destructive of animal habitat. Owing to its density and the hardiness of its rhizomes, Japanese
Knotweed is difficult to eradicate although it can be effectively controlled by herbicides
containing glyphosate. This is usually an acceptable method of control since, even though
glyphospate is non selective, knotweed generally forms monotypic stands. We have become
aware of a thick and unsightly stand of Japanes Knotweed that has been established on a —0.1-
acre tract of the FLCA with frontage on Marian St., where it is visible to the public and has the
potential to spread to neighboring properties. The knotweed stand will be controlled by spraying
the interior portion with Rodeo, a glyphosate -based herbicide appropriate for use in wetlands.
Where they border adjacent lawns and other desirable vegetation, plants will be cut and their
stems injected with the same herbicide to prevent colateral damage.Two months after the first
herbicide application, the tract will be seeded with a robust native grass mix which will serve as
a competitor and help maintain the area weed -free. In the second and third years of this project,
any resurgent knotweed will be selectively treated with herbicide or removed by hand. Periodic
mowing by BBC volunteers will keep the grass in check. Ultimately, this tract could serve as an
entrance to the FLCA and its newtwork of trails, replacing the present entrance at the end of
Marian St. that passes through private land.
PROJECT BUDGET
Full funding of the proposed project is requested from the Community Preservation Act.
Alternative sources of funding that the BBC has previously called upon are no longer available.,
e.g. municipalities and states are no longer eligible for WHIP grants from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service of the USDA, while the Western Massachusetts Program of the
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition (MLTC) has been concluded.
Year 1(2013)
Year 2 (2014)
Year 3 (2015)
Knapweed Control 900
Buckthorn Control 900
Knotweed Control 800
Re -seed Marian St. Site 1,100
Total: 3,700
Knapweed Control 900
Buckthorn Control 900
Knotweed Control 400
Total: 2,200
Knapweed Control 600
Buckthorn Control 600
Knotweed Control 300
Total: 1,500
Request for CPA Funds 7,400
MULTI -YEAR FUNDING
Knapweed Control: scope of project is 3 years with 38% of expenditures in Year 1.
Buckthorn Control: scope of project is 3 years with 38% of expenditures in Year 1.
Knapweed Control: scope of project is 3 years with 53% of expenditures in Year 1.
Remediation of Marian St. Site: scope of project is 1 year with 100% of expenditures
in Year 1.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Knapweed Conrol in Cooke's Pasture and on Fitzgerald Lake Dam
Year 1: Plants will be individually sprayed with appropriate herbicide.
Year 2: Follow -up herbicide treatment to remove plants that were missed or regrew.
Year 3: Follow -up herbicide treatment to remove plants that were missed or regrew.
Buckthorn Control in Cooke's Pasture
Year 1: Plants will be individually sprayed with appropriate herbicide.
Year 2: Follow -up herbicide treatment to remove plants that were missed or re- sprouted.
Year 3: Follow -up herbicide treatment to remove plants that were missed or re- sprouted.
Knotweed Control at Marian St. Site
Year 1: At interior of lot, plants will be sprayed with appropriate herbicide; plants near periphery
will be stem injected with herbicide to avoid spread of herbicide into adjacent lawns.
Year 2: Individual plants that re- sprouted will be wiped with herbicide.
Year 3: Individual plants that re- sprouted will be wiped with herbicide.
Remediation of Marian St. Site
Year 1: Clean debris from site and seed with grass mixture.
FEASIBILITY
Permits required for the application of herbicides in wetland areas will be obtained with the
assistance of the Northampton Office of Planning and Development.
ATTACHMENTS
Map of Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area and adjacent area showing approximate
location of invasive plants described in this proposal
Proposal from Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
Evidence of Adherence to Professional Standards
The contractor for this woks required to be licensed to offer invasive plant control services in
Massachusetts and to be filly insured for liability..
Letters of Support
To follow.
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KNOTWEED 6 M,a.,M
Robert Zimmermann
Broad Brook Coalition
549 North Farms Road
Florence, MA 01062
Proposed Services
2013
2014
2015
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
P.O. Box 511
Tumers Falls, Massachusetts 01376
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
Habitat Restoration &r Management of Natural Areas
August 24 2012
RE: Proposal for Knapweed and Buckthorn Control within Cooke's Pasture at
Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA.
Listed below is an estimated budget for services associated with conducting a foliar spot
spray application within the Cooke's Pasture fields (7- acres) targeting spotted knapweed
(Centaurea maculosa), brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) and glossy buckthorn
(Frangula alnus). We will use a solution of Garlon 3A (triclopyr EPA Reg. No. 62719-
37) and Milestone at the labeled 5 -7 ounces per acre rate for knapweeds (aminopyralid
EPA Reg. No. 62719 -519) to foliar spray the target invasive species with hand pumped
backpack sprayers.
Task 1. July 2013 (at the time when knapweed flowers). Crew of 4 will use
backpack sprayers to foliar treat knapweeds and buckthorn. $1,200.00
Task 2. July 2013 (2 weeks after Task 1). Crew of 2 will use backpack sprayers to
foliar treat missed knapweeds and buckthorn $600.00
Task 3. July 2014 (at the time when knapweed flowers). Crew of 4 will use
backpack sprayers to foliar treat knapweeds and buckthorn$1,200.00
Task 4. July 2014 (2 weeks after Task 3). Crew of 2 will use backpack sprayers to
foliar treat missed knapweeds and buckthorn $600.00
Task 5. July 2015 (at the time when knapweed flowers). Crew of 4 will use
backpack sprayers to foliar treat knapweeds and buckthorn$1,200.00
Total estimated budget for the entire scope of work is $4,800.00
413 367 -5292
732 474 -9757 fax
If you have any questions, please call me at 413- 367 -5292 or email me at
chris@polatineco.com.
Thank you,
Chris Polatin
Habitat Restoration Specialist
We maintain the following insurance policies:
General liability
Workers compensation
Auto
Broad Brook Coalition
Proposal for Invasive Plant Control
We have a crew of six licensed herbicide applicators who are experienced in using
herbicides safely and judiciously in a targeted manner, and who are thoroughly trained in
invasive and native plant identification.
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
P.O. Box 511
Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376
2
413 -367 -5292
732 474 -9757 fax
Robert Zimmermann
Broad Brook Coalition
549 North Farms Road
Florence, MA 01062
Proposed Services and Costs
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
P.O. Box 511
Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
Habitat Restoration Management of Natural Areas
August 24 2012
RE: Proposal for Japanese Knotweed Control Revegetation, Marian Street,
Northampton, MA.
Listed below is an estimated budget for services associated with controlling a patch of
Japanese knotweed on Marian Street near the intersection with Cole's Meadow Road.
The patch of knotweed is approximately 100' x 30' and is located on Broad Brook
Coalition land adjacent to two private house lots.
Task 1. Herbicide application. August 2013. We will stem inject each knotweed stem
along the perimeter of the stand that comes into contact with turfgrass lawn. We will
inject each individual knotweed cane with 3 -5 cc /ml of the wetland approved
glyphosate -based herbicide Rodeo (EPA Reg. No. 62719 -324) with injection tool and
herbicide reservoir (JK Injection Systems). Herbicide will be injected at a 100%
concentration as recommended in the literature and on the herbicide label. The
majority of the knotweed patch will be foliar sprayed with backpack sprayers using a
2% Rodeo herbicide solution. $800.00
Task 2. Removal and seeding. October 2013. We will cut, remove, and haul away all
knotweed in the project area. We will then scarify the soil using hard rakes and
broadcast a native conservation seed mix. The seed will be tamped down for good
seed to soil contact. Weed free straw will be placed on top of the seed for protection
from herbivory. We recommend use of the New England Conservation/Wildlife Mix
available from New England Wetland Plants. Please visit the following web link for
more information: http: /www.newp.com/pdf /NEWP ConsrvWildlife2011.pdf
$1,100.00
Task 3. Follow -up herbicide application and/or manual removal techniques. August
2014. We will carefully wipe any resurgent knotweed foliage with Rodeo herbicide.
If there are very few stems we may alternatively elect to dig up and bag any resurgent
knotweed plants. $400.00
Task 4. Follow -up herbicide application and/or manual removal techniques. August
2015. $300.00
Total estimated budget for entire scope of work is $2,600.00
413- 367 -5292
732 474 -9757 fax
Success Criteria
Objective: 80% (or better) knotweed control resulting from 2013 series of treatments;
95% resulting from 2014 follow -up methods; and 99% control from 2015 follow -up. We
will establish three photomonitoring plots prior to management work and will monitor the
results of treatments each year over the course of the project.
If you have any questions, please call me at 413 367 -5292 or email me at
chris@polatineco.com.
Thank you,
Chris Polatin
Habitat Restoration Specialist
We maintain the following insurance policies:
General liability
Workers compensation
Auto
Polatin Ecological Services, LLC
P.O. Box 511
Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376
2
Broad Brook Coalition
Estimate for Invasive Plant Control
Marian Street, Northampton, MA
We have a crew of six licensed herbicide applicators who are experienced in using
herbicides safely and judiciously in a targeted manner, and who are thoroughly trained in
invasive and native plant identification.
413 -367 -5292
732 474 -9757 fax