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2019.04.11 Staff Report.pdf Conservation Commission Staff Report 1 April 11, 2019 To: Conservation Commission From: Sarah LaValley RE: Staff Report, April 11 Commission Meeting 5:30 PM Request for Determination of Applicability to determine if septic system installation is subject to the MA Wetlands Protection Act or Northampton Wetlands Ordinance. Harold Jordan & Renee Rossi. 16 Bayberry Ln, Map ID 35-229. The application proposes a leach field to replace a failed system within buffer zone to BVW. The area is currently maintained lawn, and is at the top of a fairly steep slope. A silt fence is proposed to be installed at the top of slope. No vegetation removal is needed. Utility lines limit options outside of resource areas. Application Overview: As proposed, the work should not impact the resource area. Issue a negative determination by checking box 3, to indicate that work is within buffer but will not constitute an alteration. Include standard conditions, require erosion control as shown on the plan, and reseeding as necessary. Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act and Northampton Wetlands Ordinance, Staff Recommendation 5:45 PM Request for Determination of Applicability to Determine if removal and management of non-native invasive plants is subject to the Northampton Wetlands Ordinance and Wetlands Protection Act. Lathrop Communities, Florence Rd, Map ID 44-05 The Commission issued a negative determination for this work in 2016, which will soon expire. This application proposes continued removal of non-native invasive species in accordance with a Habitat Management Plan. Work is proposed within riverfront area to an unnamed perennial tributary to the Connecticut River, and potentially within buffer zone to bank, but outside other resource areas. Species to be targeted include multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, various honeysuckle varities, Japanese barberry, Asiatic bittersweet, winged euonymus and (a new arrival in Northampton), Application Overview: Conservation Commission Staff Report 2 April 11, 2019 Japanese stiltgrass. Removal methods include cut stem treatment, targeted foliar spray. The area is subject to a Conservation Restriction The application only proposes removal of species that have no recognized habitat value, and pose threats to native ecology. Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act and Northampton Wetlands Ordinance: The work proposed should result in no alteration, and an overall improvement to jurisdictional resource areas. Issue a negative determination by checking box 2 to indicate that the work is within an area subject to protection, but will not remove dredge fill or alter said area. Require notification 48 hours prior to work being done, and again when complete each year, and require copies of all monitoring reports. Staff Recommendations: 5:55 PM Request for Determination of Applicability to determine if geothermal well drilling is subject to the MA Wetlands Protection Act or Northampton Wetlands Ordinance. Smith College Facilities Mgmt. Field House, 137 West Street, Map ID 31C-015. The application proposes digging geothermal wells within the gravel and lawn area adjacent to the Field House, within riverfront area to the Mill River. Work includes drilling one 1500’ bore hole and connection to the field house with piping. Application Overview: The site is already disturbed, and this project should not impact the resource area any more than routine use. Issue a negative determination by checking box 2. Require that the Commission be notified 48 hours prior to work and again when work is complete. Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act and Northampton Wetlands Ordinance, Staff Recommendation: 6:05 PM Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation. Dewey Court Properties, 34 Dewey Court, Map ID 44-05 Staff visited the site and confirmed that the boundaries as shown on the plan are accurate. Issue an Order of Resource Area Delineation. The Commission should discuss whether the wetland is isolated or BVW with the applicant, staff did not investigate surrounding conditions outside the flagged area. Staff Recommendation: Conservation Commission Staff Report 3 April 11, 2019 6:15 PM Request for Determination of Applicability to Determine if multi-use path construction with buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetland is subject to the Northampton Wetlands Ordinance and Wetlands Protection Act. City of Northampton, Burts Pit Road/Rocky Hill Greenway, Map ID 29-484 The application proposes construction of an eight foot wide paved multi-use path within the Rocky Hill Greenway – Burts Bog section. The trail will roughly follow the area of an existing dirt pathway. Most work will occur outside of resource areas and buffer zones. In one location, work will occur approximately 40-50 feet from the edge of an isolated vegetated wetland. Silt fence is proposed at the limit of work. Three trees are proposed to be removed within the IVW buffer, one of which is in poor condition. Application Overview: The Commission should discuss plans to revegetate the existing trail with the applicant to ensure that the overall project is not a net increase in impervious area. Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act and Northampton Wetlands Ordinance, Staff Recommendation: If the Commission agrees that the work should not impact the IVW resource, issue a negative determination by checking box 3 to indicate that the work is within the buffer but will not alter. Also Check box 2a to indicate that boundaries are confirmed as accurate. Check box 6 to indicate that the work is not subject to the WPA. Include standard conditions. 6:25 PM Notice of Intent for multi-use path construction. City of Northampton, Rocky Hill Road/Rocky Hill Greenway, Map ID 37-049 The application proposes construction of a 2630 linear foot, 10-16 foot wide multi-use trail to connect the New Haven and Northampton Canal Trail at Route 10 with Route 66, through the Rocky Hill Greenway. Work includes alteration to BVW and buffer zone, previously degraded riverfront areas, and a stream crossing. Wetland replication is proposed. The project is subject to the stormwater standards, and will also need a stormwater permit from the Northampton DPW. Application Overview: The hearing should be continued until May 9 to allow wetland boundaries to be checked and all field conditions verified. Insufficient plants were present prior to the hearing. [1] The Commission needs to carefully review any “culvert” replacements. It must determine if these are just hydrologic connections or if there is flow through them such that they would be considered stream crossings. It is not known whether or not water or flow was observed when the field work was done except for photo 7, which shows water at that culvert location but there may not have been sufficient water to observe any flow. One may need to visit the site, all the culvert locations, to see if there are upgradient wetlands above the culvert and flow within the pipe to see if it qualifies as a regulated stream. This may need to be done during spring melt and/or when it is raining. The proposed larger culvert replacement shown on Sheet 13 is clearly a regulated stream based on the contours on both sides of the trail. The culvert itself is a defined channel and there are upgradient wetlands and a hydraulic gradient. Bank resource area alterations need to be updated in the NOI. Failure to comply with the Stream Crossing Standards for new crossings or maximum extent practicable [310 CMR 10.53(8)] for replacement crossings, or fully disclose resource area impacts to Waters of the United States within the DEP Comments: Commonwealth, will require a 401 Water Quality Certificate application. Staff comfirmed at a site vist that at least one crossing is subject to the stream crossing standards. The consultant will submit revised designs prior to the continued hearing. Conservation Commission Staff Report 4 April 11, 2019 [2] 310 CMR 10.53(6) may not apply to the entirety of the trail as the 16 foot width is considerably more than the 10 foot wide path mentioned in that section. Staff will discuss with consultant prior to the continued hearing.