APPENDIX E MARCH 2012 Appendix E. Detailed Inventory of Unique and Critical Resources Introduction and Purpose This Comprehensive Plan is established to help the Town of Sharon reach its community goals. These goals were based on community input that established a consensus on what the desired future should be. The goals articulate resident’s desire for neighborhood scale building, continuation of agriculture, a mix of residential and small business development, and re- establishment of the area as a tourist destination. Residents feel that there should be appropriate commercial development, but only when located in existing commercial locations and around the Village of Sharon Springs. Sharon residents do not want industrial, heavy industry, large scale manufacturing, high density residential, large business or commercial uses, landfills, and mobile home park land uses1. Public input also establishes that long-term protection of vistas and scenic overlooks, water quality and quantity, open spaces, steep slopes, floodplains, wetlands, and the many natural features that contribute to the environment and character of Sharon is desired. The Town’s goals are: Goal 1: Protect and maintain the rural character and small town atmosphere of the Town of Sharon while promoting appropriate economic development. Goal 2: Improve pedestrian and traffic safety. Goal 3: Protect the quality of surface and groundwater supplies, protect the integrity of mapped floodplains, preserve the integrity of unique physical environments and preserve wildlife habitats. Goal 4: Secure safety from all hazards in Sharon. Since the Plan was adopted in 2009, new concerns have arisen over potential industrial and heavy industrial activities that could take place in Sharon that could threaten the vision and ability of the Town to reach its community goals. To address these concerns, the Town reviewed the Comprehensive Plan for guidance and determined that additional information was needed on specific natural and cultural resources of importance in Sharon. The Town Board determined that additional information was needed to more fully document and locate important and sensitive environmental resources. This Appendix contains an updated, detailed profile and inventory of Sharon’s resources. It is intended to augment and be part of the full adopted 2009 Comprehensive Plan. Although pages 9 through 11 of Part I contains generalized descriptions of these resources in the Town, this Appendix provides maps, detailed descriptions, and analysis of environmental resources considered to be essential to the health and welfare of its residents and landowners. 1 See Part II of the Comprehensive Plan for survey and public input results. 1 APPENDIX E MARCH 2012 Resources determined to be critical in Sharon include the following: A. Hydrological Resources: streams and stream corridors, surface water bodies, wetlands and hydric soils, floodplains, unconsolidated aquifers, and the limestone (Karst) bedrock found throughout the Town of Sharon. B. Land Resources: slope, topography, and soils. C. Ecological Resources: unique natural areas and natural heritage sites, species and habitats of importance. D. Agricultural, Historical and Scenic Resources: agricultural areas, scenic areas, and archaeological resources. Each one of these resources contributes to the Town of Sharon in a unique way, and are described and analyzed below. A. Hydrological Resources Summary Role of Resource: The Town of Sharon recognizes that most ecological and economic systems (such as provision of drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitats, and future economic growth of tourism and small business) are all dependent on adequate sources and quality of water. Agriculture and recreation are also dependent on high quality water sources. Wetland ecosystems and streams (along with associated floodplains and stream corridors) are important habitats, and work to remove and recycle nutrients and sediments, filter impurities, and store water to reduce flood damage and feed groundwater aquifers. In Sharon, groundwater aquifers are the source of drinking water for all residents outside the Village of Sharon Springs. The Village of Sharon Springs depends on surface waters flowing to the Engelville Pond for drinking water. Groundwater’s importance cannot be overstated. High quality water sources are critical to achieve goals 1 and 3. Reference Maps: Streams and Water bodies, Watersheds, Wetlands/Hydric Soils, Floodplain, Unconsolidated Aquifers, Karst Threats: Certain land use activities can adversely affect the health of water bodies, impairing their current and potential economic and environmental functions. Threats to local surface water include both point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution (originating from construction, agriculture, parking lot and street runoff, stormwater runoff, on-site wastewater systems, and commercial, industrial, and residential activities). Increases in impervious surfaces in watersheds prevent the natural recharge of groundwater. Building in floodplains and removal of stream side vegetation results in loss of habitat and increased risk of erosion and flooding. Groundwater resources can be impaired by surface pollution as well as by water withdrawals. Groundwater resources are especially vulnerable in the limestone (Karst) areas of the Town of Sharon due to the porous nature of the rock. Other threats include 2 APPENDIX E MARCH 2012 broken connections between wetlands and surrounding uplands, draining and filling wetlands. Water diversions and excessive removal of groundwater disrupts the natural flow of water in streams. Streams and Watersheds: A watershed is the land area that contributes water to a given point, such as a stream or lake. Contributing sources of water for a watershed include (but are not limited to) springs, streams, seeps, ditches, culverts, marshes, wetlands, swamps, and ponds. Eventually, all surface water, some groundwater resources, and precipitation falling within a watershed, drain into a single receiving water body such as a stream, river, lake, or wetland. Within a watershed, land uses and water quality and quantity are directly related. Land use is often controlled by the availability of reliable water supplies. Conversely, the single most important determinant of the quality, quantity, and availability of local water resources is land use. Several significant ponds exist in the Town of Sharon. These are Engleville Pond, Bowmakers Pond and Clausen’s Pond. Engleville is significant because it is the source of public water for the Village of Sharon Springs. Bowmakers Pond is not only an important and highly valued recreation location (picnics and fishing, especially), but is also an integral part of the flood control system for the Village of Sharon Springs. Clausen’s Pond is privately owned, but it is connected hydrologically to Bowmakers Pond. Streams in Sharon are all part of headwaters draining to either the Mohawk River (Canajoharie Creek) or Schoharie Creek systems. All streams ultimately drain into and are included in the Upper Hudson River Basin Watershed. The Mohawk River watershed includes the Canajoharie Creek in the northwestern corner of the Town, Brimstone Creek, which is immediately north of the Village of Sharon Springs and Flat Creek flowing north through the hamlet of Sharon. In the Schoharie Watershed, West Creek and its tributaries drain the south western portion of the Town as it runs southward toward Cobleskill. Brimstone Creek is spring fed and is the largest tributary to Canajoharie Creek. The headwaters of Brimstone Creek is at the Old Maids Hole near the intersection of NYS Route 10 and 20. In Sharon, streams are all regulated by DEC and almost all are classified as “Class C” fresh surface waters. The best usage of Class C waters is fishing. These waters are suitable for fish propagation and survival. The water quality of these streams shall be suitable for primary and secondary contact recreation, although other factors may limit the use for these purposes. Erosion, sedimentation, compaction, introduction of chemicals and excess nutrients, and removal of streamside vegetation are activities that can impair streams. There are two tributaries that are designated as a Class A stream (suitable for drinking water) and these are located near Engleville Pond. As per NYS Title 6, Chapter X, Part 701, the discharge of sewage, industrial waste or other wastes shall not cause impairment of the best usages of the stream. Portions of West Creek (lower tributaries), Canajoharie Creek, and Flat Creek in Sharon are listed on the NYS DEC List of Impaired Waters as having minor impacts and indicates that “aquatic life is suspected of being stressed” due to excess nutrients and agriculture. West and Flat creeks have minor impacts due to excess nutrients from non-point sources such as agriculture. West Creek has minor impacts due to silt and sedimentation. Parts of the 3 APPENDIX E MARCH 2012 Canajoharie Creek are also listed as having minor impacts due to silt and sedimentation. Brimstone Creek, and Clausen/Bowmaker Ponds are un-assessed by the DEC. Engleville Pond is also considered a Priority Water Body (See discussion under ‘Public Water Supplies’). Wetlands: According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), “Freshwater wetlands are those areas of land and water that support a preponderance of characteristic wetlands plants that out-compete upland plants because of the presence of wetlands hydrology (such