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Town of Groton 2019-2026 Open Space and Recreation Plan

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Town of Groton 2019-2026 Open Space and Recreation Plan Town of Groton 2019-2026 Open Space and Recreation Plan This page intentionally left blank. Groton Open Space & Recreation Plan, 2019 Acknowledgements Town of Groton Conservation Commission John Smigelski, Chair Eileen McHugh Olin Lathrop Marshal Giguere Larry Hurley Bruce Easom Peter Morrison Open Space & Recreation Plan Advisory Group Eileen McHugh, Chair (Conservation Commission) Olin Lathrop, (Conservation Commission, Trails Committee, Invasive Species Committee Marshall Giguere (Conservation Commission) Michelle Collette (Earth Removal Stormwater Commission, Complete Streets Committee, Conductorlab Oversight Committee, ADA Coordinator) Anna Eliot (Parks Commission) Laura Moore (Historic District Commission, Prescott Community Center, Lawrence Academy) Wendy Goode (Groton Conservation Trust, Groton Garden Club) Nikolis Gualco (Town of Groton) Town Staff Nikolis Gualco, Town of Groton Conservation Administrator Consultant Community Opportunities Group, Inc. Roberta Mitchell Cameron, AICP, Project Manager Courtney Starling, AICP, Senior Planner We acknowledge the many Groton residents, organizations, and Town staff who contributed in the development of the plan through participating in the Working Groups and interviews, providing information, and contributing editorial comments, as well as residents who completed the 2018 Open Space and Recreation Planning Survey and provided input through the public workshop and events. In particular we thank Nikolis Gualco for coordination of the planning process. We also extend special thanks to the Groton Inn for hosting the Public Forum on January 31, 2019. Groton Open Space & Recreation Plan, 2019 This page intentionally left blank. Groton Open Space & Recreation Plan, 2019 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 SECTION 1. PLAN SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 1 A. Demographics and Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 2 B. Environmental Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 C. Open Space and Recreation Resources .................................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 2. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 6 A. Statement of Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 B. Planning Process and Public Participation .............................................................................................................................. 6 C. Enhanced Outreach and Public Participation .......................................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 3. COMMUNITY SETTING ................................................................................................................................. 9 A. Regional Context .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1) Physical Location and Major Watershed Address ............................................................................................................... 9 2) Resources of Regional Significance .................................................................................................................................... 9 3) Regional Relationships ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 B. History of the Community .................................................................................................................................................... 15 C. Population Characteristics..................................................................................................................................................... 18 1) Population and Demographics ........................................................................................................................................... 18 2) Socio-Economic Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................ 19 3) Employment ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 D. Growth and Development Patterns ....................................................................................................................................... 25 1) Patterns and Trends ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 2. Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................................................... 28 3. Local Land Use Controls ................................................................................................................................................... 32 SECTION 4. ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................................... 39 A. Geology, Soils, and Topography ........................................................................................................................................... 39 1) Geology ............................................................................................................................................................................. 39 2) Soils ................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 3) Topography........................................................................................................................................................................ 42 B. Landscape Character ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 C. Water Resources ................................................................................................................................................................... 43 1) Watersheds ........................................................................................................................................................................ 43 2) Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................................... 44 3) Aquifer Recharge Areas .................................................................................................................................................... 48 Groton Open Space & Recreation Plan, 2019 4) Flood Hazard Areas ........................................................................................................................................................... 49 5) Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................................................ 50 D. Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................................. 51 1) General Inventory .............................................................................................................................................................. 51 2) Forest Land ........................................................................................................................................................................ 52 3) Public Shade Trees ............................................................................................................................................................ 52 4) Agricultural Land .............................................................................................................................................................. 53 5) Wetland Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................................... 54 6) Rare Species ...................................................................................................................................................................... 54 7) Unique Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................................. 55 8) Vegetation Mapping Projects ............................................................................................................................................
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