grant Lathrop 2021.pdf
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COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
COMBINED SMALL GRANT
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FORM
SMALL GRANTS COMBINED ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Please familiarize yourself with the relevant portions of the CPC Plan 2012-
2014 (at a minimum: eligibility (Appendix A, Allowable Use Table), general
evaluation Criteria (Overview - Page 6), and applicable program criteria
(Historic Preservation – Page 14, Community Housing, Page 22, Open
Space, Page 24, Recreation, Page 31)
2. Please consult with the CPC staff prior to submitting any application
materials. Coordinating early will help ensure that your proposal is eligible
for CPA funds, and increase the chances of a favorable decision. CPC staff
can be reached at 413-587-1263.
3. Complete the Combined Eligibility and Application Form.
4. We would prefer that you keep to the space provided. But if you need
additional space, please continue on separate pieces of paper; number all
the pages submitted. Ten copies are required.
5. Attach any letters of support, funding commitments or landowner
permission
6. Attach any of the following if relevant:
a. photographs, renderings or design plans of the site, building, structure or other
subject for which the application is made
b. USGS topographical map, assessors map, or other map as appropriate, showing
location of the project
c. Information regarding Natural resource limitations (wetlands, flood plain) or
zoning (district, dimensional and use regulations as applies to the land)
d. Mass. Historic Commission Historic inventory sheet
e. Historic structure report or existing condition reports
f. Names and addresses of project contractors, and consultants
g. Evidence that appropriate professional standards will be followed if construction,
restoration or rehabilitation is proposed.
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Project Title: Removing Invasive Plants and Educating the Public on Lathrop’s CR Land
Project location, including address and parcel number: Two locations: (1) East campus
on Florence Road: 11- acre Northampton Conservation Restriction lying within the
Northampton city portion of our campus at 100 Bassett Brook Dr., Easthampton, map
104, lot 2; and (2) North Campus at 680 Bridge Road: 15-acre Conservation
Restriction, Northampton map 18C, lot 141.
Project Sponsor/Organization: Lathrop Community, Inc., Land Conservation Committee
Contact Name: Barbara Walvoord for the Land Conservation Committee
Property Owner, if applicable: Lathrop Community, Inc.
Mailing Address: 45 Huckleberry Lane, Easthampton, MA 01027
Daytime phone #: 413-203-5086. Cell: 574-
361-3857 Fax #
E-mail address: walvoord@nd.edu
For the following, please refer to the Small Grant Eligibility Chart:
http://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4185
CPA Program Area (check those that apply):
x Open Space � Historic Preservation
� Community Housing � Recreation
Project Purpose (check those that apply) :
x Preservation
x Rehabilitation/Restoration
Applicant’s Signature: Barbara E. Walvoord__________________
Date Submitted: Sept. 15, 2021 ____________________________
For CPC Use Eligible: _____ Not Eligible: _____ Date: __________ Reviewer: ____________________
Appropriate for Small Grant Process_____
Referred to Traditional Funding Round______
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Total Project Budget (not to exceed $6,000.00): $ 6,000
CPA Funding Request (not to exceed $3,000.00): $ 3,000
Funding from other sources: $ 3,000 (Lathrop resident donations)
List any in-kind donations of labor or materials: Lathrop staff and residents will: (1) host
a public walk/talk on the north campus to explain our invasive-removal methods and
results; (2) work with our contractors to remove invasive plants; (3) write about our
work on Lathrop’s public blog (www.Lathropland.wordpress.com)
CPA Request as % of Total Budget: $ 50%
Budget Summary: Please specify how CPA funds will be spent. Itemize all projected
expenditures. If budget is based on a quote, please attach it. List any additional
funding sources or donations of in-kind service. These funds must be secured at the
time of application, as evidenced by a signed commitment letter referencing the content
of the application, and including any restriction on the use of funds.
TOTAL BUDGET: $6,000 (Commitment letter from Lathrop Finance Office, Exhibit A).
Source: Lathrop resident donations.
Expenditures:
* $300 to Land Stewardship Inc. to remove invasive Japanese knotweed on north
campus. (Quote, Exhibit B, covers $400 for 2022. A small portion of the treated area
lies outside the CR; we ask for funds only for the CR portion).
*$500 speaker honorarium, refreshments, and supplies for walk/talk on north campus,
open to the public
*$5,200 to contractors Jeff Allen and LSI for invasives removal in east campus CR.
(Quotes: Exhibit C for LSI, which will do the jurisdictional wetlands and river front;
Exhibit D for Jeff Allen who will do the upland)
In-kind: Lathrop volunteers and staff will organize, advertise, and lead a public
walk/talk on the north campus to view our invasives work and the native plants that
have emerged. Volunteers will arrange and monitor the work of contractors and
publicize our efforts to residents and the public, via our blog.
(www.lathropland.wordpress.com).
1) Please provide a brief description of the project.
We are entering a new, critically important “Phase 2” toward our goal of creating and
maintaining a healthy native-plant environment that supports birds, pollinators, and
other wildlife in the CR.
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Research suggests that if we allow invasive plants such as shrub honeysuckle, multiflora
rose, and oriental bittersweet to take over our forest and river flood plain, as they were
doing in the CR, the area will offer up to 96% less food for caterpillars, which in turn
provide the preponderance of food for baby birds. This is only one of the impacts on
wildlife in nature’s tightly connected food chains and wildlife communities (D. Tallamy,
Nature’s Best Hope, pp. 110-111).
With previous help from Community Preservation Funds, and with literally hundreds of
hours of volunteer labor, as well as labor by our contractors, we have completed Stage
1 of invasives removal on almost all 26 acres of CR land on both campuses, plus more
than 30 additional acres in forested and floodplain acres that are not in CR.
After the Stage 1 removal of invasives comes the most important part: Stage 2. Even
with the most careful initial removal, invasive plants like oriental bittersweet and shrub
honeysuckle re-sprout from their vast underground root systems. Seeds also sprout,
many of them viable in the soil for years. If Stage 2 is not done, the work of the initial
removal may be largely wasted, as invasives spring back. Further, new invasives come
in, as has Japanese Stiltgrass and Japanese Knotweed, which were not present when
we began our invasives removal work.
Stage 2 work does gradually taper off, as we know from the acres where we began
invasives removal in 2015, where minimal follow-up is now needed. For the CR land,
however, where invasives removal is more recent, and where invasion had progressed
further before we began, Stage 2 now requires substantial work over multiple years.
So we are requesting funds to help us to do this critical Stage 2 work On the north
campus, this means the third year of a contract with LSI (Land Stewardship Inc.) to
treat Japanese knotweed and Japanese stilt grass. On the east campus, this means
treating the many re-sprouts of invasive shrub honeysuckle, multiflora rose, oriental
bittersweet, and others, as well as weed whacking Japanese stilt grass to keep it from
going to seed. It’s an annual grass, so preventing seeding gets rid of it, except that, on
our land, new seed comes down annually from the north portion of the brook. Our goal
is to prevent the stiltgrass from migrating up into our own woods (which it will do,
killing everything else, even tree seedlings, as in the photo, Exhibit E), and to keep
seeds from traveling farther down the brook onto other peoples’ land.
Our contractor, LSI, examined the area in May, 2021, finding significant re-invasion by
re-sprouts and new seedlings. Photos of the area are in Exhibit F.
To help members of the public and other landowners understand how invasives can be
controlled and native habitats restored, we will sponsor a public walk-talk on our north
campus during 2022. Our past walk-talks have been very successful.
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2) What Community Preservation criteria – both general and program-area specific –
does this project meet? Please refer to the Overview CPA Plan Section, Page 6, and
applicable program criteria. (Historic Preservation – Page 14, Community Housing,
Page 22, Open Space, Page 24, Recreation, Page 31)
I have used the 2016-2018 Open Space Project Evaluation Criteria, p. 29.
3. Our trails provide passive recreation for residents and public.
5, 6, 7: East campus lies over Barnes aquifer. Bassett Brook flows to the Manhan.
Brooks and wetlands on both campuses help to preserve water and buffer storms.
8.Both campuses are adjacent to other permanently protected land: North campus
abuts Fitzgerald Lake, and east campus abuts conservation land in the Park Hill area.
9.Campuses are in urban areas, close to downtowns, providing a unique, invasive-free
area within land that is mostly highly invaded.
12.From Open Space, Recreation, and Multi-Use Trail Plan of 2011-2018, p. 106: Goal
OS-3.2. “Manage conservation properties to restore plant and animal habitats.” Goal
OS-3.5. “Preserve ecological linkages and wildlife corridors, especially water-based
linkages.” The CRs both provide wildlife corridors to adjacent protected land.
3) What community need(s) does this project serve? If the project serves multiple
needs and populations, please describe them. If the project serves a population that is
currently underserved, please describe.
The project protects open spaces for passive recreation by both residents (who are 55
and older) and the public. It protects wildlife, including birds and pollinators, and the
east campus land protects the watershed of the Barnes aquifer.
4) What specific guarantees will assure the long-term preservation of the project? Our
Land Conservation Committee of more than 30 members works closely with
management for long-term management of our land (Letter from Facilities Director,
Exhibit G).
5) What community support does the project have? Explain the nature and level of the
support.
Our 200 Lathrop community members individually, and our Residents’ Associations on
both campuses, have contributed more than $26,000 since 2014 to support invasives
removal on our land. We have also received $25,000 in grants during that time,
including from the Northampton CPC, the Community Foundation of Western Mass., and
the Kendal Charitable Fund. Our invasives removal work has been publicly
acknowledged in several news outlets and by a citation from the governor. Area
conservation agencies such as Pascommuck Trust, Broadbrook Coalition, Silvio O. Conte
Refuge, and the NRCS have contributed advice. Members of the public have attended
our nature walks and bird walks.
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6) How will the success of this project be measured?
A. Photographic evidence of removal of invasives and results showing native plants
coming in.
B. Documentation of our public walk/talk
7) Is ongoing maintenance and upkeep required? If yes, please explain how this will
be accomplished.
Lathrop commits to ongoing monitoring and removal of invasive plants on our CR land,
which we have been doing since 2013 (Facilities Director Letter, Exhibit G).
8) Explain the various steps of the project and when they will be completed
Step 1: Removal of invasive plants will begin in fall, 2021, as soon as possible after the
grant is awarded, and will continue into 2022. (Invasives can be removed in fall and
winter, until snow covers them.)
Step 2: Spring, summer, or fall 2022: public walk/talk.
9) Provide any additional information you think would be useful in considering your
project.
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Exhibits for Small Grants Application by Lathrop Community, Inc.
To City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee, Sept. 15, 2021
Project Title: Removing Invasive Plants and Educating the Public on Lathrop’s CR Land
Exhibits:
A: Letter from Finance Office Affirming Matching Funds are in Hand
B: Quote from Land Stewardship Inc for North Campus Work
C: Quote from Land Stewardship Inc for East Campus Work
D: Quote from Jeff Allen
E. Japanese Stilt Grass: The Harm It Can Do
F: Photos of the Treatment Area
G: Letter of Support from Facilities Director
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Appendix A: Letter from Finance Office Affirming Matching Funds are in Hand
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Appendix B: Quote from Land Stewardship Inc. for North Campus Work
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Methods Summary
Our proposed treatment methods are described below.
Foliar spray application
Our crew will conduct a foliar spray herbicide application using low-volume hand-pumped backpack
sprayers.
Cut Stem Treatment (CST)
Woody material > 6’ tall will be treated in the growing season and/or the dormant season using this
technique. Stems are cut typically with handsaws, pruners or chainsaws, and a concentrated solution
applied to the cambium (conductive tissue) of the stump. This application method is highly targeted and
does not result in any off-target plant damage. This technique uses Rodeo® at a 50% concentration.
Upon your authorization, Land Stewardship, Inc. (LSI) will provide the following services:
Treatment Methods, Schedule and Cost
2020
➢ Task 1. Cut Japanese knotweed. June 2020. Knotweed plants in both Area 4 and in the area treated in
2019 will be cut and either left in place. $1,500.00
➢ Task 2. Herbicide treatment (Late August 2020). We will conduct a foliar herbicide
application for Japanese knotweed and foliar/CST for isolated woody invasive plants in
both Area 4 and in the area treated in 2019 (including stiltgrass). We will use the targeted methods
described above where needed. $1,500.00
➢ Task 3. Follow-up herbicide treatment (September 2020). A follow-up treatment to the knotweed will
be conducted to capture missed/resurgent plants in both Area 4 and in the area treated in 2019. We will
use the targeted methods described above where needed. $1,125.00
2021
➢ Task 4. Follow-up herbicide treatment (June 2021). A follow-up treatment to the
knotweed will be conducted to capture missed/resurgent plants in both Area 4 and in the area treated
in 2019. We will use the targeted methods described above where needed. $750.00 area treated in
2019. We will use the targeted methods described above where needed. $500.00
➢ Task 5. Follow-up herbicide application (September 2021). A follow-up treatment to the knotweed
will be conducted to capture missed/resurgent plants in both Area 4 and in the area treated in 2019. We
will use the targeted methods described above where needed. $500.00
2022
➢ Task 6. Follow-up herbicide application (Late August 2022). A follow-up treatment to
the knotweed will be conducted to capture missed/resurgent plants in both Area 4 and in the area
treated in 2019. We will use the targeted methods described above where needed. $400.00
TOTAL COST: $5,775.00
Success Criteria
Japanese Knotweed: 3 Year Program
Objective: 90% knotweed control resulting from 2020 initial foliar treatment and targeted
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methods; 95% resulting from 2021 follow-up treatments; and 99% resulting from 2022 follow-up
treatments. The knotweed plants may persist in the treatment area as stunted or otherwise degraded-
appearing specimens. In addition, the presence of high-density patches of knotweed on Cotton Tree
Company land poses the distinct possibility that the knotweed may reappear. It is very important to
continue careful and thorough chemical treatment for two or more years following the initial three-year
plan in order to obtain control. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee eradication of the knotweed, but
we are confident that 99% control can be maintained with annual maintenance and stewardship.
We will document the progress of work within the project area with photos and GPS data collection and
will evaluate the results at the end of the project. Our work is guaranteed to meet the stated success
criteria.
Quality Assurance and Reporting
I will serve as project manager for your project and will be your point of contact. I will inspect all crew
work firsthand to make sure that the treatment was well executed, thorough and effective. I will keep
you informed of our schedule and progress. Our crew leaders use smart phones to submit daily work
logs with photos and GPS to demonstrate areas completed. Upon completion of each task, we will
prepare a land management record which will summarize work completed each day (crew, weather,
hours worked, herbicide used, herbicide amount and notes).
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Appendix C: Quote from Land Stewardship Inc for East Campus Work
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Appendix D: Quote from Jeff Allen
Note: Jeff Allen regularly works for invasives removal and other native plant work on Lathrop’s campus.
His engagements are normally handled through email. His rate is $40 per hour. The email below
indicates his plan to continue working on invasives removal.
Jeff Allen <jeffallen01007@gmail.com>
Jul 14, 2021,
2:59 PM
to Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I hope you and Sharon are having a good summer so far.
I'm writing to check in about the invasive plant removal work. I stopped working like you
suggested until the leaves were fully developed on the plants (May/June), but then I had
a pruning saw accident and wasn't able to do any work. I am all healed now and ready
to begin work again. Do you want me to continue working on the far side of Basset
Brook as I was doing in the Spring? I also have an invoice for the work already
completed and need to know who and where to send it to.
Thanks so much
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Appendix E. Japanese Stilt Grass: The Harm It Can Do
This photo, NOT from Lathrop, shows how Japanese Stilt Grass can completely take over a forest floor,
crowding out wildflowers, understory shrubs, and tree seedlings. This is what we are trying to prevent
happening at Lathrop, where stilt grass is coming in along the brook flood plains on both north and east
campuses. We are monitoring carefully to keep it from moving up into the adjacent forest.
Michael Ellis. Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) infestation spreading for acres in partially closed-canopy, mesic
forest. Greenbelt, Maryland, USA Photo taken August 7, 2015.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=File%3AJapanese+St
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Appendix F: Photos of the Treatment Area
This is a typical view of the treatment area on the east campus, along Bassett Brook and adjacent forest.
We have removed large invasives and many native plants are thriving. However, among the vegetation,
invasives are re-occurring and will take over if not treated. See invasive Oriental Bittersweet at bottom
left. Also present in the treatment area are multiflora rose, smooth buckthorn, shrub honeysuckle, and
winged euonymus.
Photo by Barbara Walvoord, August 5, 2021
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This photo shows a close-up of the treatment area on the east campus.
The Oriental Bittersweet at lower left is threatening the native ferns and Jack-in-the-pulpit (upper right)
Photo by Barbara Walvoord, August 5, 2021
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Appendix G: Letter of Support from Lathrop Facilities Director