TOWN of MATTAPOISETT Open Space and Recreation Plan 1997-2001 Acknowledgments
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TOWN OF MATTAPOISETT Open Space and Recreation Plan 1997-2001 Acknowledgments Principal Author Sarah Wilkes, Open Space Planning Intern Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program Project Supervision, Writing, GIS Mapping Mark Rasmussen, Regional Planner Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program Contributors Kathleen Costello, Open Space Study Committee William Fuchs, Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Michael Immel, Open Space Study Committee Co-chair Daniel Lee, Mattapoisett Board of Health William Nicholson, Water & Sewer Department Superintendent Barry Perkins, Mattapoisett Planning Board Diane Perry, Open Space Study Committee & Bike Path Committee Robert Rogers, Mattapoisett Planning Board Elaine Sylvia, Open Space Study Committee Robert Walter, Mattapoisett Council on Aging Property Inventory Research Michele Bernier, Open Space Study Committee Co-chair & Board of Selectmen Frances Cairns, Open Space Study Committee Handicap Accessibility Advisor Dale Hopkinson, Commission on Disabilities Cover Painting Eel Pond, Mattapoisett Harbor Special Thanks to Arthur Moniz 1997 Mattapoisett Open Space & Recreation Plan Mattapoisett Open Space Study Committee Michele C. Bernier, Open Space Study Committee Co-chair & Board of Selectmen Andrew J. Bobola, Mattapoisett Building Inspector Suzann C. Buckley, Resident Frances Cairns, Resident Jordan C. Collyer, Junior Member, Resident Kathleen Costello, Resident Barry J. Denham, Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee William E. Fuchs, Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Michael Immel, Open Space Study Committee Co-chair Dale Hopkinson, Commission on Disabilities Daniel C. Lee, Jr., Mattapoisett Board of Health William T. Nicholson, Mattapoisett Water & Sewer Department Barry W. Perkins, Mattapoisett Planning Board Diane H. Perry, Bike Path Committee & Resident Martha B. Peterson, Mattapoisett Land Trust Robert J. Rogers, Mattapoisett Planning Board Ronald E. Scott, Fire Chief Elaine M. Sylvia, Resident Robert M. Walter, Mattapoisett Council on Aging 1997 Mattapoisett Open Space & Recreation Plan 1997 Mattapoisett Open Space And Recreation Plan Table of Contents I. Plan Summary ..............................................................................................................5 II. Introduction ..................................................................................................................9 A. Statement of Purpose .......................................................................................9 B. Planning Process and Public Participation.........................................................11 III. Community Setting ....................................................................................................15 A. Regional Context ...........................................................................................15 B. History of the Community ..............................................................................17 C. Population Characteristics/Demographics .......................................................19 i.) General Characteristics ................................................................19 ii.) Population Projections.................................................................21 iii.) Density ........................................................................................21 iv.) Population Subgroups.................................................................22 v.) Employment ................................................................................24 vi.) Unemployment ............................................................................26 vii.) Income Characteristics ................................................................26 viii.) Housing .......................................................................................27 D. Growth and Development Patterns .................................................................29 i.) Patterns and Trends .....................................................................29 ii.) Infrastructure ..............................................................................30 iii.) Long-Term Development Patterns ...............................................37 IV. Environmental Inventory and Analysis ..................................................................41 A. Geology, Soils and Topography .....................................................................41 i.) Geologic History..........................................................................41 ii.) Soils ............................................................................................45 iii.) Important Agricultural Lands ......................................................53 B. Landscape Characteristics ..............................................................................56 C. Water Resources ............................................................................................61 i.) Surface Water .............................................................................61 ii.) Flood Hazard Areas ....................................................................67 iii.) Wetlands .....................................................................................69 iv.) Aquifer Recharge Areas ..............................................................70 v.) Marine Advisory Board ...............................................................73 D. Vegetation ....................................................................................................75 1997 Mattapoisett Open Space & Recreation Plan i i.) Forestland & General Inventory ...................................................75 ii.) Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species .................................75 E. Fisheries and Wildlife .....................................................................................76 i.) Inventory ....................................................................................76 ii.) Corridors for Wildlife Migration .................................................79 iii.) Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species .................................79 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments ..................................................81 i.) Scenic Landscapes......................................................................81 ii.) Major Characteristics & Unusual Geologic Features.....................81 iii.) Cultural and Historic Areas .........................................................82 G. Environmental Problems ................................................................................95 i.) Hazardous Waste Sites ................................................................95 ii.) Mattapoisett Landfill ...................................................................95 iii.) Coastal Storms/Chronic Flooding ................................................96 iv.) Ground and Surface Water Pollution ..........................................97 v.) Development Impacts .................................................................99 V. Inventory of Lands of Conservation & Recreation Interest .............................101 A. Protected Lands ...........................................................................................101 B. Unprotected Lands ......................................................................................217 VI. Community Goals ....................................................................................................339 A. Description of Process .................................................................................339 B. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ...........................................340 VII. Analysis of Needs ....................................................................................................341 A. Resource Protection Needs ..........................................................................341 B. Community Needs ........................................................................................342 C. Management Needs and Potential Changes of Use .......................................349 VIII. Goals and Objectives ..............................................................................................351 IX. Action Plan ...............................................................................................................355 X. Public Comments ....................................................................................................369 XI. References ................................................................................................................393 Appendix A (Existing under separate cover)........................................................................A1 ii 1997 Mattapoisett Open Space & Recreation Plan Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 504 Self-Evaluation Appendix B ............................................................................................................................B1 Glossary of Open Space Terms ..........................................................................................B3 Public Land Protection: Massachusetts Constitution, Article 97: Opinion of the Attorney General 1973 ...............................................................................B7 Comparison of Permanently Protected Open Space in Buzzards Bay Municipalities..........B15 Open Space and Recreation Survey and Introductory Letter. October 21, 1996 ...............B17 Scientific Sample of Year Round Residents: