2004-2009 Open Space & Recreation Plan
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Town of Carver 2004-2009 Open Space & Recreation Plan A 5-year Plan to maintain Carver’s rural character, protect its natural resources, and provide recreational opportunities for its citizens. Carver Open Space Committee 108 Main Street Carver, MA 02330 Buzzards Bay Project 2870 Cranberry Highway East Wareham, MA 02538 Photography on cover courtesy of Bob Conway and Sarah Williams. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Plan Summary.............................................................................................................................. 1 II. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4 A. Statement of Purpose .......................................................................................................... 4 B. Planning Process and Public Participation.......................................................................... 5 Open Space and Recreation Survey and Community Meeting ................................... 5 Release of Draft Plan to the Public.............................................................................. 5 III. Community Setting ................................................................................................................... 6 A. Regional Context ................................................................................................................ 6 B. History of Carver ................................................................................................................ 8 Iron and Lumber Industries ......................................................................................... 8 The Growth of the Cranberry Industry........................................................................ 9 The Cranberry Industry Today .................................................................................. 10 C. Population Characteristics................................................................................................. 12 Distribution and Age.................................................................................................. 12 Employment............................................................................................................... 13 D. Growth and Development Patterns.................................................................................. 15 Patterns and Trends.................................................................................................... 15 Infrastructure.............................................................................................................. 16 Zoning and Land-Use Controls ................................................................................. 17 Existing Land Use...................................................................................................... 22 Future Trends - Residential ....................................................................................... 24 Buildout Analysis ...................................................................................................... 25 Future Trends - Business and Industry...................................................................... 26 Other Long-term Development Trends ..................................................................... 26 IV. Environmental Inventory and Analysis .................................................................................. 28 A. Geology, Soils, Groundwater, and Topography ............................................................... 28 B. Landscape Characteristics................................................................................................. 31 C. Water Resources ............................................................................................................... 32 Surface Water and Wetlands ..................................................................................... 32 Flood Hazard Areas ................................................................................................... 36 Aquifer Recharge Area.............................................................................................. 37 Buzzards Bay and Taunton River Watersheds .......................................................... 39 D. Vegetation, Fisheries and Wildlife ................................................................................... 40 Vernal Pools............................................................................................................... 40 BioMap ...................................................................................................................... 42 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species................................................................ 42 E. Historic Sites, Scenic Resources and Unique Environments ............................................ 45 Prehistoric Sites ......................................................................................................... 45 Historic Sites.............................................................................................................. 45 Historic Districts........................................................................................................ 46 Scenic Roads.............................................................................................................. 47 Unique Environments ................................................................................................ 47 F. Environmental Problems ................................................................................................... 49 Town of Carver 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan i Point Source Contamination...................................................................................... 49 Non-Point Source Contamination.............................................................................. 49 Hazardous Waste Sites .............................................................................................. 51 V. Open Space Protection Strategy and Parcel Inventory ............................................................ 53 A. Open Space Inventory....................................................................................................... 58 Protected Lands ......................................................................................................... 58 Unprotected Lands..................................................................................................... 60 VI. Community Needs .................................................................................................................. 69 A. Resource Protection Needs .............................................................................................. 69 B. Community Needs............................................................................................................. 71 Regional Recreation and Open Space Needs............................................................. 71 C. Management Needs and Potential Change of Use........................................................... 77 VII. Goals and Objectives............................................................................................................. 79 A. Short-term vs. Long-term Objectives ............................................................................... 79 VIII. Five Year Action Plan.......................................................................................................... 85 IX. Letters of Support.…………………………………………………………………………...93 X. References………………………………………………………………………….…….….105 XI. Appendix…………………………………………………………………………….……...107 ii Town of Carver 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Locus Map……………………………………………………………………………...6 Figure 2. Carver Population: 1930-2000 ..................................................................................... 16 Figure 3. Carver Zoning Districts ................................................................................................ 19 Figure 4. Existing Land Use in Carver by Percentage................................................................. 22 Figure 5. 1999 Land Use Map ..................................................................................................... 23 Figure 6. General Soils Map of Carver........................................................................................ 30 Figure 7. Surface Water and Core Wetland Resources in Carver................................................ 33 Figure 8. FEMA Flood Zone Map ............................................................................................... 36 Figure 9. The Plymouth Carver Aquifer...................................................................................... 38 Figure 10. Buzzards Bay and Taunton River Watersheds ............................................................ 39 Figure 11. Potential Vernal Pools in Carver ................................................................................. 41 Figure 12. Carver BioMap ............................................................................................................ 43 Figure 13. Scenic Views in Carver ............................................................................................... 48 Figure 14. Carver Open Space Protection Strategy ...................................................................... 54 Figure 15. Open Space & Recreational Lands in Carver.............................................................