LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN for the WATERSHEDS of the SUDBURY RESERVOIRS
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LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN for the WATERSHEDS of the SUDBURY RESERVOIRS: 2005-2014 Sudbury Reservoir Gate House, October 2004 Photo by J.Kowalski Prepared by: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection, Office of Watershed Management July 2005 Acknowledgements The Land Management Plan for the Watersheds of the Sudbury Reservoirs for 2005-2014 was prepared by staff from the Natural Resources Section, Wachusett/Sudbury Section, and Quabbin/Ware River Section, as well as Divisional staff of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Division of Water Supply Protection (DWSP), Office of Watershed Management (OWM). Plan sections were drafted by many authors, including Greg Buzzell (Forester II, Wachusett Section), Brian Keevan (Forester I, Wachusett Section), Bruce Spencer (Forester III, Quabbin Section), Dan Clark (Natural Resources Specialist, Natural Resources Section), Thom Kyker-Snowman (Natural Resources Specialist, Natural Resources Section), Peter Church (Director, Natural Resources Section), Matt Hopkinson (Environmental Engineer III, Quabbin Section), Dave Small (Forest and Park Regional Supervisor I, Quabbin Section), Jim French (Regional Planner III, Natural Resources Section), and Joel Zimmerman (Regional Planner IV, OWM). Tom Mahlstedt (Archaeologist, DCR Planning and Engineering) wrote sections regarding cultural resources protection. Joel Zimmerman and Paul Penner (EDP Systems Analyst III, OWM) provided the GIS graphics and other illustrations. Photos were provided by Greg Buzzell, Dan Clark, Joe Kowalski (Natural Resources Specialist, Natural Resources Section), Thom Kyker-Snowman, Clif Read (Program Coordinator III, Quabbin Section), and Paul Somers (State Botanist, MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program), as well as from historical photos scanned by Joel Zimmerman. Detailed review and comment were provided by the staff above, as well as by John Scannell (Regional Director, Wachusett Section, Pat Austin (Environmental Engineer V, Wachusett Section) and Paul Lyons (Environmental Analyst V, Quabbin Section). Andy Backman (DCR Resource Management Planner), Jack Lash (DCR Ecology Program Director), and Leslie Luchonok (Director, DCR Resource Management Planning Program) provided helpful comments on plan drafts. This plan was distributed in draft form, for review and comment, to approximately 75 individuals, agencies, and organizations outside the Division, and has been posted on the Division of Water Supply Protection website. Recipients included the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Water Supply Citizen’s Advisory Committee, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the University of Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources Conservation, the USDA Forest Service, the Conservation Commissions and public libraries in area towns, District Representatives and State Senators, and a wide variety of other interested individuals. Comments received have been reviewed and addressed in drafts and/or incorporated in the final version of this plan. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………………………… i 1 INTRODUCTION, MANDATES AND STATEMENT OF MISSION .........................................................1 1.1 2003 REORGANIZATION OF STATE AGENCIES AND EFFECTS ON THIS PLAN ..................................................1 1.2 AGENCY MISSION AND MANDATES ..............................................................................................................1 1.3 “GREEN CERTIFICATION” OF MA STATE FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT .......................................................2 1.4 PLAN OVERVIEW...........................................................................................................................................3 2 DESCRIPTION OF SUDBURY RESERVOIR WATERSHED RESOURCES...........................................5 2.1 WATERSHED DESCRIPTION ...........................................................................................................................5 2.1.1 North Basin..............................................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 South Basin..............................................................................................................................................6 2.2 SUDBURY WATERSHED OWNERSHIP AND LAND USE....................................................................................6 2.3 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUDBURY WATERSHED LANDS ...............................................................11 2.3.1 Soils .......................................................................................................................................................11 2.3.2 Hydrology ..............................................................................................................................................12 2.3.3 Topography............................................................................................................................................13 2.3.4 Developed Areas....................................................................................................................................14 2.3.5 Other Open Lands .................................................................................................................................14 2.4 SUDBURY FOREST AND WILDLIFE CONDITIONS ..........................................................................................14 2.4.1 Forest.....................................................................................................................................................14 2.4.1.1 Forest Types and Ages.................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4.1.2 Forest Inventory............................................................................................................................................ 15 2.4.1.3 Regeneration Conditions............................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.2 Wildlife...................................................................................................................................................19 2.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES ..............................................................................................................................19 2.5.1 State of Knowledge ................................................................................................................................19 2.5.2 Prehistoric Overview.............................................................................................................................20 2.5.3 Historic Sites..........................................................................................................................................21 3 RESEARCH-BASED PRINCIPLES GUIDING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT..................................22 3.1 PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED PROTECTION ..................................................................................................22 3.2 PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED FOREST MANAGEMENT: GENERAL.................................................................22 3.3 PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................23 3.3.1 Naturally-managed Forests...................................................................................................................23 3.3.1.1 Water Yield................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.3.1.2 Water Quality................................................................................................................................................ 24 3.3.2 Even-Aged Silviculture ..........................................................................................................................26 3.3.2.1 Water Yields ................................................................................................................................................. 26 3.3.2.2 Water Quality................................................................................................................................................ 28 3.3.3 Uneven-Aged Silviculture ......................................................................................................................32 3.3.3.1 Water Yields ................................................................................................................................................. 32 3.3.3.2 Water Quality................................................................................................................................................ 33 3.3.4 Air Pollution Effects on the Forested Watersheds of the Northeastern U.S. .........................................34 3.3.4.1 Acid Deposition ............................................................................................................................................ 35 3.3.4.2 Interaction between Air Pollution and Forests.............................................................................................