Fort Devens Integrated Natural Resource Mgmt
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FINAL – INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN Devens Reserve Forces Training Area Devens, Massachusetts Prepared for: USAG Fort Devens 30 Quebec Street, Box 10 Devens, Massachusetts 01434‐4479 Prepared by: Bluestone Environmental Group, Inc. 675 Lancaster Avenue Berwyn, PA 19312 September 2019 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan Signature Page Devens Reserve Forces Training Area Devens, Massachusetts This lntegrated Natural Resource Management Plan meets the requirements of the Sikes Act (15 USC 570a et seq.)as amended. Approving Officials: HALTER. Ll NDSEY. ELIZABETH..I 1 Disitaly sisned by 11370332s8 20191 010 370332e8 31155,!i|3i51,:.1?'5lH LTC Lindsey E. Halter Date Commander, Devens Reserve Forces Training Area OcI Tom pman Date Project Leader - Ne England Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mark Tisa Da Director Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) This Page Intentionally Left Blank Integrated Natural Resourced Management Plan‐FINAL September 2019 Devens Reserve Forces Training Area Revision 0 Table of Contents Signature Page Signature Page .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iv Appendices ................................................................................................................................................... v 1. Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................... 1 2. Goals, Objectives, and Measures of Effectiveness .............................................................................. 2 3. Installation History ............................................................................................................................... 4 4. Natural Resource Management History .............................................................................................. 4 4.1. Land Management ....................................................................................................................... 5 4.2. Woodland/Forest Management .................................................................................................. 5 4.3. Fish and Wildlife Management .................................................................................................... 6 5. Installation Overview ........................................................................................................................... 6 5.1. Maps ............................................................................................................................................. 6 5.2. Installation Information ............................................................................................................... 7 5.3. Regional Land Use and Setting..................................................................................................... 8 5.4. Natural Environment .................................................................................................................... 9 5.4.1. Climate .................................................................................................................................. 9 5.4.2. Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 9 5.4.3. Topography ........................................................................................................................... 9 5.4.4. Geology ............................................................................................................................... 10 5.4.5. Hydrology............................................................................................................................ 10 5.4.6. Ecoregions ........................................................................................................................... 10 5.5. Public and Affiliate Access ......................................................................................................... 11 5.6. Unique Natural Resources ......................................................................................................... 11 6. Natural Resource Management Program Elements ......................................................................... 12 6.1. Geographic Information System Development ......................................................................... 12 6.2. Climate Change Management .................................................................................................... 13 6.3. Soil Conservation and Erosion and Sedimentation Control ...................................................... 15 6.4. Water Resource Management ................................................................................................... 19 6.4.1. Surface Water ..................................................................................................................... 19 6.4.2. Stormwater ......................................................................................................................... 21 6.4.3. Groundwater ...................................................................................................................... 21 i Integrated Natural Resourced Management Plan‐FINAL September 2019 Devens Reserve Forces Training Area Revision 0 6.4.4. Drinking Water ................................................................................................................... 22 6.4.5. Wetlands ............................................................................................................................. 22 6.4.6. Floodplains ......................................................................................................................... 27 6.5. Sensitive Species Management ................................................................................................. 28 6.5.1. Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species ...................................................... 33 6.5.1.1. Northern Long‐Eared Bat (Federally Threatened, State Endangered) ......................... 34 6.5.1.2. Small Whorled Pogonia (Federally Threatened; State Endangered) ............................ 35 6.5.2. State Listed Species and Species of Concern ..................................................................... 35 6.5.2.1. Grasshopper Sparrow (State Threatened) ..................................................................... 35 6.5.2.2. Blanding’s Turtle (State Threatened) ............................................................................. 36 6.5.2.3. Eastern Whip‐poor‐will (State special concern) ............................................................ 37 6.5.2.4. Monarch Butterfly (under review) ................................................................................. 38 6.5.2.5. New England Blazing Star (State special concern) ........................................................ 38 6.6. Migratory Bird Management ..................................................................................................... 39 6.7. Fish and Wildlife Management .................................................................................................. 40 6.7.1. Fish and Wildlife Species Known to Occur on DRFTA ....................................................... 41 6.7.1.1. Fish .................................................................................................................................. 41 6.7.1.2. Mammals ........................................................................................................................ 41 6.7.1.3. Birds ................................................................................................................................ 42 6.7.1.4. Reptiles and Amphibians ............................................................................................... 42 6.7.1.5. Invertebrates .................................................................................................................. 42 6.7.2. Hunting Program ................................................................................................................ 43 6.8. Vegetation Management ........................................................................................................... 44 6.8.1. Grasslands ........................................................................................................................... 45 6.8.2. Forests ................................................................................................................................. 46 6.8.3. Invasive Plants .................................................................................................................... 47 6.8.4. Urban Landscapes .............................................................................................................. 47 6.9. Integrated Pest Management .................................................................................................... 48 6.9.1. Forest Pests ........................................................................................................................