Bird Observer VOLUME 37, NUMBER 5 OCTOBER 2009 HOT BIRDS
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Quincy Riverwalk Conceptual Plan 2002
Neponset Riverwalk, Quincy & East Milton July 2002 Friends of the Neponset Estuary Conceptual Plan Neponset Riverwalk Quincy & East Milton, MA Fig. 1 Billings Creek looking east from Commander Shea Blvd. Friends of the Neponset Estuary Neponset River Watershed Association Partially funded by a grant from Quincy Sons of Italy November 2002 i Neponset Riverwalk, Quincy & East Milton November 2002 Friends of the Neponset Estuary Acknowledgements The Neponset Riverwalk has lived in the imaginations of many people for some time. Many of those who love the Neponset River and the environmental resources of the surrounding areas in Quincy and Milton want to see greater public access to the river and protection of its fragile ecosystem. The recently completed Pope John Paul Park and Neponset Greenway on the west side of the Estuary are excellent examples of achieving the goal of public access, land reclamation, and resource protection. On the east side of the Estuary, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) has already created a park at Squantum Point and preserved significant areas of salt marsh in Quincy and Milton. Trails at Squantum Point Park were included in the Neponset Master Plan, but have yet to be constructed (www.mass.gov/mdc/NEP_PLAN.HTM). The Neponset Riverwalk is inspired by these landmark accomplishments. To promote the Riverwalk concept, Quincy Attorney Bryan Stevens, Steve Perdios, Co-chair of the Friends of the Neponset Estuary and the Quincy Environmental Network, Tom Palmer, Board member of the Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) and Friends of the Blue Hills, and Ian Cooke, Executive Director of NepRWA encouraged me to create a conceptual plan and report. -
STATUS of the PIPING PLOVER in MASSACHUSETTS by George W. Gove, Ashland
STATUS OF THE PIPING PLOVER IN MASSACHUSETTS by George W. Gove, Ashland On January 10, 1986, the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) was added to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered and threatened species of wildlife. The entire breeding popula tion of this species in North America has been estimated at less than 2200 pairs. Piping Plovers breed in the Great Plains from southern Alberta eastward to Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Nebraska; at scattered locations around the Great Lakes; and on the Atlantic Coast from the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Maritimes to Virginia and the Carolines. They winter along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from South Carolina to Texas and north ern Mexico. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Great Lakes population, which is down to less than twenty pairs, as "endangered," a term applied when extinction is imminent, and the Great Plains and Atlantic Coast populations as "threatened" (describing the state that is precursor to "endangered"). The decline of the Atlantic Coast population has been attributed to increasing recreational use and development of ocean beaches. In Massachusetts, the Piping Plover breeds coastally from Salis bury south and east to Cape Cod, the islands, and Westport. It is normally found in the state from mid-March through mid-September. This species makes a shallow nest, sometimes lined with fragments of shells, with pebbles, or wrack, along ocean beaches and filled- in areas near inlets and bays. The normal clutch of pale, sand- colored, speckled eggs is four. Incubation is underway by mid- May in Massachusetts. -
Annual Report of the Board of Harbor Commissioners, 1877 and 1878
: PUBLIC DOCUMENT .No. 33. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Board of Harbor Commissioners FOR THE YEAR 18 7 7. BOSTON ftanb, &berg, & £0., printers to tfje CommcntntaltJ, 117 Franklin Street. 1878. ; <£ommontocaltl) of Jllaesacfjusetta HARBOR COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. To the Honorable the Senate and the Home of Representatives of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts. The Board of Harbor Commissioners, in accordance with the provisions of law, respectfully submit their annual Report. By the operation of chapter 213 of the Acts of 1877, the number of the Board was reduced from five to three members. The members of the present Board, having been appointed under the provisions of said Act, were qualified, and entered upon their duties on the second day of July. The engineers employed by the former Board were continued, and the same relations to the United States Advisory Council established. It was sought to make no change in the course of proceeding, and no interruption of works in progress or matters pending and the present Report embraces the business of the entire year. South Boston Flats. The Board is happy to announce the substantial completion of the contracts with Messrs. Clapp & Ballou for the enclosure and filling of what has been known as the Twenty-jive-acre 'piece of South Boston Flats, near the junction of the Fort Point and Main Channels, which the Commonwealth by legis- lation of 1867 (chapter 354) undertook to reclaim with mate- rial taken for the most part from the bottom of the harbor. In previous reports, more especially the tenth of the series, the twofold purpose of this work, which contemplated a har- 4 HARBOR COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. -
Land Protection Plan
Appendix G S. Maslowski/USFWS Least tern Land Protection Plan ■ Introduction and Purpose ■ Project Description ■ Refuge Purpose ■ Status of Resources to be Protected ■ Threats to the Resource ■ Action and Objectives ■ Protection Options ■ Land Protection Methods ■ Service Land Protection Policy ■ Funding for Fee or Easement Purchase ■ Coordination ■ Socioeconomic and Cultural Impacts ■ Literature Cited Land Protection Plan Appendix G. Land Protection Plan G-1 Project Description Introduction and Purpose This land protection plan (LPP) provides detailed information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service, we, our) proposal to expand Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge (Nantucket NWR, refuge) on Nantucket, Massachusetts. This LPP identifies the proposed land protection boundary for the Nantucket NWR. Working with numerous partners, we delineated 2,036 acres of biologically significant land on the island of Nantucket. These acres are encompassed by the recommended acquisition boundary established in alternative B of the Nantucket NWR Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (draft CCP/EA). We plan to protect these lands through transfers at no cost, fee-title acquisition, conservation easements, and management agreements. Of the total acreage, we recommend acquiring 206 acres in fee title through transfers at no cost, 17 acres in fee title through purchase, 1,117 acres in conservation easements, and 696 acres through management agreement. The purposes of this LPP are to: 1) Provide landowners and the public with an outline of Service policies, priorities, and protection methods for land in the project area. Amanda Boyd/USFWS Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge 2) Assist landowners in determining whether their property lies within the proposed acquisition boundary. -
Outer Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound
186 ¢ U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 4 26 SEP 2021 70°W Chart Coverage in Coast Pilot 2—Chapter 4 NOAA’s Online Interactive Chart Catalog has complete chart coverage http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveCatalog/nrnc.shtml 70°30'W 13246 Provincetown 42°N C 13249 A P E C O D CAPE COD BAY 13229 CAPE COD CANAL 13248 T S M E T A S S A C H U S Harwich Port Chatham Hyannis Falmouth 13229 Monomoy Point VINEYARD SOUND 41°30'N 13238 NANTUCKET SOUND Great Point Edgartown 13244 Martha’s Vineyard 13242 Nantucket 13233 Nantucket Island 13241 13237 41°N 26 SEP 2021 U.S. Coast Pilot 2, Chapter 4 ¢ 187 Outer Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound (1) This chapter describes the outer shore of Cape Cod rapidly, the strength of flood or ebb occurring about 2 and Nantucket Sound including Nantucket Island and the hours later off Nauset Beach Light than off Chatham southern and eastern shores of Martha’s Vineyard. Also Light. described are Nantucket Harbor, Edgartown Harbor and (11) the other numerous fishing and yachting centers along the North Atlantic right whales southern shore of Cape Cod bordering Nantucket Sound. (12) Federally designated critical habitat for the (2) endangered North Atlantic right whale lies within Cape COLREGS Demarcation Lines Cod Bay (See 50 CFR 226.101 and 226.203, chapter 2, (3) The lines established for this part of the coast are for habitat boundary). It is illegal to approach closer than described in 33 CFR 80.135 and 80.145, chapter 2. -
November 23, 1987 Scott M. Melvin Natural Heritage And
STATUS OF PIPING PLOVEES IN MASSACHUSETTS: 1987 SUMMARY November 23, 1987 Scott M. Melvin Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Cambridge St. Boston, MA. 02202 STATUS OF PIPING PLOVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS: 1987 SUMMARY Observers reported a total of 126 breeding pairs of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) from 49 sites in Massachusetts in 1987 (Table 1). The 1987 total was lower than in either of the previous 2 years - 139 pairs (1986) and 132 pairs (1985). Observer effort in 1987, measured as number of sites surveyed and intensity of census efforts at each site, was greater than in 1985 and at least comparable to that in 1986. Thus, we believe the 1987 census results reflect a real population decline. We define breeding pairs as pairs that are observed with .either a nest or unfledged chicks, or that exhibit site tenacity and evidence of pair bonding and territoriality. Single birds that are observed during the breeding season and exhibit agitated, site tenacious behavior or distraction displays when approached are generally considered indicative of a breeding pair at a site. Breeding plovers were present at coastal sites from Plum Island south to the Rhode Island border and east to Cape Cod and Nantucket. All but 10 pairs (92%) occurred south of Boston, and 66 pairs (52%) occurred at sites on Cape Cod. More specifically, 10 pairs (8%) occurred at sites on the North Shore (New Hampshire border south to Boston), 10 pairs (8%) along the South Shore (Boston south to the Cape Cod Canal), 29 pairs (23%) at lower Cape Cod sites (Cape Cod Canal east to Brewster and Harwich) , 37 pairs (29%) on the outer Cape (Chatham and Monomoy NWR north to Provincetown), 20 pairs (16%) along the west shore of Buzzards Bay (Wareham south to Rhode Island border) and 20 pairs (16%) on the outer islands (Elizabeth Islands east to Nantucket). -
Inventory of Terns, Laughing Gulls, and Black Skimmers Nesting in Massachusetts in 2016
INVENTORY OF TERNS, LAUGHING GULLS, AND BLACK SKIMMERS NESTING IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2016 INVENTORY OF TERNS, LAUGHING GULLS, AND BLACK SKIMMERS NESTING IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2016 A Common Tern feeding a fledgling at Ram Island, Mattapoisett, MA. © Bill Byrne/MassWildlife, 2016. Prepared by: Carolyn S. Mostello, Jennifer Longsdorf, and Amanda Veinotte Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife February 2018 INVENTORY OF TERNS, LAUGHING GULLS, AND BLACK SKIMMERS NESTING IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2016 Abstract Cooperators in Massachusetts surveyed approximately 209 coastal sites in 2016 for the presence of breeding Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii), Common Terns (Sterna hirundo), Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea), Least Terns (Sternula antillarum), Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla), and Black Skimmers (Rhynchops niger). Of approximately 177 sites with a history of nesting by these species, 80 sites were occupied by nesting birds. Compared to 2015 numbers, total nesting pairs of Roseate Terns (2,066 pairs) increased 7%, Least Terns (3,230 pairs) decreased 12%, and Laughing Gulls (2,751 pairs) increased 26%. Common Terns (17,175 pairs), Arctic Terns (0.5 pairs), and Black Skimmers (6 pairs) were roughly stable. Earliest and median first egg dates were 6 May/18 May for Common Terns, 12 May/27 May for Least Terns, 15 May/19 May for Roseate Terns, 20 May/20 May for Laughing Gull, and 26 May/26 May for Black Skimmer. Introduction Coastal waterbirds are a vulnerable group of species. Of Massachusetts’ four nesting tern species, the Common Tern, the Least Tern, and the Arctic Tern are listed as “Special Concern” pursuant to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. -
Report on the Real Property Owned and Leased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance Report on the Real Property Owned and Leased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Published February 15, 2019 Prepared by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Carol W. Gladstone, Commissioner This page was intentionally left blank. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Report Organization 5 Table 1 Summary of Commonwealth-Owned Real Property by Executive Office 11 Total land acreage, buildings (number and square footage), improvements (number and area) Includes State and Authority-owned buildings Table 2 Summary of Commonwealth-Owned Real Property by County 17 Total land acreage, buildings (number and square footage), improvements (number and area) Includes State and Authority-owned buildings Table 3 Summary of Commonwealth-Owned Real Property by Executive Office and Agency 23 Total land acreage, buildings (number and square footage), improvements (number and area) Includes State and Authority-owned buildings Table 4 Summary of Commonwealth-Owned Real Property by Site and Municipality 85 Total land acreage, buildings (number and square footage), improvements (number and area) Includes State and Authority-owned buildings Table 5 Commonwealth Active Lease Agreements by Municipality 303 Private leases through DCAMM on behalf of state agencies APPENDICES Appendix I Summary of Commonwealth-Owned Real Property by Executive Office 311 Version of Table 1 above but for State-owned only (excludes Authorities) Appendix II County-Owned Buildings Occupied by Sheriffs and the Trial Court 319 Appendix III List of Conservation/Agricultural/Easements Held by the Commonwealth 323 Appendix IV Data Sources 381 Appendix V Glossary of Terms 385 Appendix VI Municipality Associated Counties Index Key 393 3 This page was intentionally left blank. -
MEI State Facilities Inventory List.Xlsx
MEI State Facility User list Agency Site Auditor Boston Berkshire Comm. College Berkshire Comm. College Bridgewater State University Bridgewater State College Bristol Comm. College Fall River Campus Bristol Comm. College New Bedford Campus Bunker Hill Comm. College Charlestown Campus Bunker Hill Comm. College Chelsea Campus Bureau of State Office Buildings Hurley Building Bureau of State Office Buildings Lindemann Mental Health Center Bureau of State Office Buildings McCormack Building Bureau of State Office Buildings Pittsfield State Office Site Bureau of State Office Buildings Registry of Deeds Bureau of State Office Buildings Springfield State Office Liberty St Bureau of State Office Buildings State House Cape Cod Comm. College Cape Cod Community College ‐ Hyannis Campus Cape Cod Comm. College Cape Cod Community College Main Meter Chelsea Soldiers Home Chelsea Soldiers Home Chief Medical Examiner Chief Medical Examiner ‐ Sandwich Chief Medical Examiner Chief Medical Examiners Office Commission for the Blind NA Dept. Agricultural Resources Dept. Agricultural Resources Eastern States Exposition Grounds Dept. of Children and Families NA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Agawam State Pool Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Aleixo Arena Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Allied Veterans Memorial Pool/Rink Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Amelia Eairhart Dam Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Ames Nowell State Park Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Artesani Pool Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Ashland State Park Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Ashuwillticook Trail Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Bajko Rink Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Beartown State Forest Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Bennett Field Swimming Pool Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park Dept. -
Finding of Adverse Effect for the Vineyard Wind 1 Project Construction and Operations Plan Revised November 13, 2020
Finding of Adverse Effect for the Vineyard Wind 1 Project Construction and Operations Plan Revised November 13, 2020 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has made a Finding of Adverse Effect (Finding) for the Vineyard Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP) on the Gay Head Light, the Nantucket Island Historic District National Historic Landmark (Nantucket NHL), the Chappaquiddick Island Traditional Cultural Property (Chappaquiddick Island TCP), and submerged ancient landforms that are contributing elements to the Nantucket Sound Traditional Cultural Property (Nantucket Sound TCP), as well as submerged ancient landforms on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) outside the Nantucket Sound TCP, pursuant to 36 CFR 800.5. Resolution of all adverse effects to historic properties will be codified in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), pursuant to 36 CFR 800.6(c). 1. Description of the Undertaking On December 19, 2017, BOEM received a COP from Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind) proposing development of an 800-megawatt (MW) offshore wind energy project within Lease OCS-A 0501 offshore Massachusetts. If approved by BOEM, Vineyard Wind would be allowed to construct and operate wind turbine generators (WTGs), an export cable to shore, and associated facilities for a specified term. BOEM is now conducting its environmental and technical reviews of the COP and has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for its decision regarding approval of the plan. BOEM has also published a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address changes made to the proposed Project design envelope (PDE), as well as to expand its cumulative impact analysis to incorporate additional projects that have been determined to be reasonably foreseeable. -
Ocm30840849-5.Pdf (2.204Mb)
XT y. rf lJ:r-, Metropolitan District Commission)nj FACILITY GUIDE A " Metropolitan Parks Centennial • 1893-1993 "Preserving the past.,, protecting the future. The Metropolitan District Commission is a unique multi-service agency with broad responsibihties for the preservation, main- tenance and enhancement of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic qualities of the environment within the thirty-four cit- ies and towns of metropolitan Boston. As city and town boundaries follow the middle of a river or bisect an important woodland, a metropolitan organization that can manage the entire natural resource as a single entity is essential to its protec- tion. Since 1893, the Metropolitan District Com- mission has preserved the region's unique resources and landscape character by ac- quiring and protecting park lands, river corridors and coastal areas; reclaiming and restoring abused and neglected sites and setting aside areas of great scenic beauty as reservations for the refreshment, recrea- tion and health of the region's residents. This open space is connected by a network Charles Eliot, the principle of landscaped parkways and bridges that force behind today's MDC. are extensions of the parks themselves. The Commission is also responsible for a scape for the enjoyment of its intrinsic val- vast watershed and reservoir system, ues; providing programs for visitors to 120,000 acres of land and water resources, these properties to encourage appreciation that provides pure water from pristine and involvment with their responsible use, areas to 2.5 million people. These water- providing facilities for active recreation, shed lands are home to many rare and en- healthful exercise, and individual and dangered species and comprise the only team athletics; protecting and managing extensive wilderness areas of Massachu- both public and private watershed lands in setts. -
Lower Neponset River Reservation
A Master Plan for the Lower Neponset River Reservation Boston, Milton, and Quincy, Massachusetts A Master Plan for the Lower Neponset River Reservation Boston, Milton, and Quincy, Massachusetts Commonwealth of Massachusetts Metropolitan District Commission William E Weld David B. Balfour, Jr. Governor Commissioner Argeo Paul Cellucci Darryl Settles Lieutenant Governor Avril Elkort Trudy Coxe Charles E Wu Secretary, Robert Carr .Executive Office ofEnvironmental Affairs Associate Commissioners Leo Roy Julia B. O'Brien Undersecretary, Director ofPlanning .Executive Office ofEnvironmental Affairs David T. Queeley Project Manager December 1996 Master Plan Consultants Planners Collaborative Inc. Planners and Landscape Architects in association with Camp Dresser & McKee Environmental Engineers Judith Nitsch Engineering Land Surveyors Main Street Design Interpretive and Environmental Graphic Designers Wallace Roberts and Todd Planners and Landscape Architects Table of Contents Introduction 1 The Plan Pope John Paul II Park 7 The Riverside 10 The Bend 15 The Port 18 Squantum Point Park 20 Edgewater Park 22 Neponset River Trail 24 Trail Connections 31 Watercourse 33 Funding, Costs, and Phasing 34 Public Safety, Maintenance, & Mitigation 37 Permits 41 Preliminary Design Drawings: A-1 Neponset River Trail 60STON HARBOR N!PONHf IIVU. ~n,,·tlOl'Ol.fl',1.:- UISTlllC'I' aos-ro.:-- BOS TON 8 A Y ,-- j -~ti· P- - v "'w!._ -~:t~~11- ·i-=z jl:rft-~ t ~ .A-,c~,,..,""' Charles Eliot's 1893 Map ofthe Metropolitan Park System with the Neponset River Reservation in Lower Center Introduction This plan is about keeping a promise. eluding rich nature preserves and numerous popular parks. Acquisition of the Neponset Marshes began in 1896, mak The promise was made in the late 1800s.