Explore Rochester Trail Guide

EXPLORE ROCHESTER Town of Rochester, Massachusetts Revised Second Edition u e Explore Rochester Revised Second Edition 2016 Public Trail Guide Please follow some simple guidelines when visiting these specials places: This Revised Second Edition is the result of a true collaborative volunteer • No motorized vehicles allowed on any effort by the Rochester Land Trust, the of these trails Open Space Action Committee and the • Respect wildlife and plants Rochester Conservation Commission. Open Space Action Committee members • Guard against all risk of fire visited each of the properties, provided • Help keep air and water clean narrative, and shared input on the • Carry out what you carry in Trail Guide’s creation. • Use marked paths when available This Trail Guide presents information • Keep dogs on leash and on paths about great opportunities for nature so they do not disturb the wildlife walking, hiking, birding, fishing, cross or damage the vegetation country skiing, and horseback riding so • Carry plastic bags with you to that more people can benefit from some pick up dog waste and dispose of the accessible protected properties of it off the property within Rochester. • Respect the privacy of the This guide contains information on 15 neighboring land owners properties and many miles of public trails • Enjoy and share the landscape within Rochester. Each property with others is described and mapped. When available, information on the property’s natural and cultural history is included. Downloadable and printable versions We have done our best to provide of the trail guide maps are available accurate information and maps. We hope on the Rochester Conservation you find this guide helpful in your Commission website at www. adventures and explorations of rochestermaconservation.com. Rochester’s open space. Acknowledgements Rochester Open Space Action Committee Layout and Design Ginette Castro and Michael Oleksak (in collaboration with LP/w Studios) cosestudi Rochester, MA Trail Guide Narrative Laurene Gerrior (Principal Author) Rosemary T. Smith Laurell J. Farinon Mapping Sarah Williams Buzzard’s Bay National Estuarine Program Laurell J. Farinon Town of Rochester, Conservation Agent Revisions/Printing Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Special thanks to: Makepeace Neighborhood Fund for a grant funding the second printing. Special thanks to the following property owners for allowing their properties to be included in this Trail Guide: Rochester Land Trust Town of Rochester Wildlands Trust City of New Bedford The Trustees of Reservations Mattapoisett Land Trust MA Dept. of Fish & Game MIDDLEBOROUGH Leonard’s Pond 1 Properties LAKEVILLE 2 Mary’s Pond Property W a l n u WEST t P la WAREHAM in 3 Delano Memorial Forest R o a d e u n 9 8 e Av Church Wildlife ort h N 4 Conservation Area B r a N l e e c y k East Over Reservation H 5 R i o l l a t d e R Snipatuit tre o S igh a Pond H d S ( n R Robinson-Gilmore i p t e a d 6 n t 1 u o Preserve i 0 P FREETOWN t 5 g R n ) o o a L oad d R d 6 W n o 7 Hartley Reservoir WMA a P l S n s no u y w t ar s Snows P M la P Pond i o n 2 Marys n R d o R a Pond 8 New Bedford Waterworks d 14 o a d 15 Quake Mende r L ll R an o e 7 a d 1 Town Forest/Old 5 9 Colony RVTHS d C oad a lap p R V . o M d R a a u R t y t g d le a rt h n a p H n o o i P 10 Rounseville II Preserve H s 3 e s i t l y t l r R a R o M i v a 10 e r d 4 Mario 11 Shoolman Preserve n Road ( te 105) D R e x t e r 13 L a n e 12 Church's Field ACUSHNET oad R M d or a f t MARION d t Doggetts Brook Be a w p 13 e o N Recreational Area 11 i s e t t R 5 o 9 a -1 12 d I 14 Kirby Preserve 15 Lionberger Woods MATTAPOISETT Location 1. Leonard’s Pond Properties A 2.95 - acre RLT property owned by the Rochester Land Trust and a 4.1 - acre property owned by The Town of Rochester d R d n o P Mary’s Pond W s y’ a r a ln u M t Leonard’s Pond P l a i Leonard’s n (RLT) P e r r Pond y R ’s d H ille L r Rd Leonard’s Pond a (Town of Rochester) East Over Farm d es R Bat p Rd Clap (RLT) This trail was named in memory of Herbert Wood, Jr., a long time Activities Rochester resident and devoted RLT Board Member and Treasurer. (TOWN) This parcel was purchased from the Hiller family by the The .25 mile circular trail starts and ends near the Town of Rochester to provide residents with over 450-linear feet Walk pond at the off road parking area. of frontage to enjoy on the pond. Lovely views of Leonard’s Pond. Various waterfowl use the pond at different times of the year. Chickadees, tit- mice and woodpeckers flit through the trees. The pond Native Americans camped along the festooning the trees tell of the many teems with reptiles and amphibians such as snapping Sippican River and used it as a water fishermen who try their luck here. In Watch and painted turtles and bull and pickerel frogs. highway. Early European settlers built the spring, alewives, an anadromous Migrating birds, including geese, mergansers and several mills near here. The land around fish, swim upstream along the Sippican buffleheads use the pond as a stopover. Leonard’s Pond was cleared for hay River through a special fish ladder to With a valid license - fresh water fish including Bass, fields, pastures, and for crops. In the spawn in the pond. The young will then Sunfish, Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Pickerel, Shiner, 1900s it was a dairy. In recent years, return to the sea, but will come back to Fish Bullhead, and Black Crappie. some of the cleared areas have grown Leonard’s Pond in a few years to spawn up in white pines, our 1st succession and complete the cycle. A table on the RLT parcel provides a water view for trees. Eventually, hardwoods will fill in as Picnic your meal. the pines fall. The pond side upland of the TOWN property contains pine and hardwood. The path, cut by an Eagle Scout in The understory is thin enough for Boat Canoes / kayaks and electric motor boats permitted. 2009, follows the edge of the pond blueberrying and birding. A canoe/ Launch and offers views framed by a shrub kayak boat launch and off road parking layer of mostly Sweet Pepper Bush, for 6 cars is provided. Blueberry and Red Maple. The bobbers House/Buildings Leonard’s Pond Properties 10 ft. Contour Protected Land Waterbodies Trail Private Property Wetlands Cranberry Bogs Town of Rochester canoe/kayak access Leonard’s Pond P Private Conservation Restriction Mary’s Pond Road Private Property Herbert Wood, Jr. Memorial Trail Rochester Land Trust Private Conservation picnic table Restriction P Private Property East Over Farm Location 2. Mary’s Pond Property A 10.29 - acre property owned by the Town of Rochester d R d n Mary’s Pond o P M Property A H W N E a O l R n I Mary’s Pond u A R t s ’ y A W r a M F M Pl O F a d i O n R N Leonard’s H i l l N e W Pond P r y t O e W n R r r T u R y O d d ’s o T C L a R d es East Over Farm B at d R Clapp Mary’s Pond is a very popular fishing spot for local fishermen. The Activities Mary’s Pond property was purchased by the Town as a potential d R d site for a Town beach but due to lack of funding the beach has n o P A short pond-side walk along the old stage road. ’s not yet been constructed. A parking area for canoe/car top boat Walk ry a M access, constructed by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, offers access to Mary’s Pond for fishing and canoe/car top boats. There are several nice spots to spread out a blanket Picnic and enjoy a picnic. Mary’s Pond is an 81-acre natural Mary’s Pond is also considered a kettle hole pond, having no inlet “Great Pond’ in Massachusetts or outlet, with its water level rising because it is larger than 10 acres. Look for the osprey nest across the pond. The osprey’s distinctive call and fishing techniques and falling along with the height Pond access was recently improved Watch are easily appreciated at Mary’s Pond. of the ground water. It is also an by a handicapped accessible paved endangered habitat, a coastal boat launch and slope stabilization plain pond that supports globally project. Work was performed by an rare plant species such as the With a valid license - stocked with Brown, Brook and eagle scout, local boy scout troop, Fish Rainbow Trout; other species also present. Plymouth Gentian. and Rochester Highway Dept. A It is reportedly named after a man commemorative stone bench was named Merry who lived near here donated by the Chamberlain family.

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