May, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 - PLAN SUMMARY................................................................................................... 1 A. Background...............................................................................................................................................................1 B. Features of the 2006 CROS Plan...............................................................................................................................1 SECTION 2 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 2 A. Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................................................................2 B. Planning Process and Public Participation ................................................................................................................2 SECTION 3 - COMMUNITY SETTING....................................................................................... 3 A. Regional Context.......................................................................................................................................................3 B. History of the Community........................................................................................................................................5 C. Population Characteristics........................................................................................................................................8 D. Growth and Development Patterns ..........................................................................................................................9 SECTION 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ..................................... 13 A. Geology, Soils, and Topography............................................................................................................................13 B. Landscape Character ..............................................................................................................................................15 C. Water Based Resources..........................................................................................................................................19 1. Salt Water Bodies ................................................................................................................................................19 2. Fresh Water Bodies..............................................................................................................................................19 3. Surface Water Quality..........................................................................................................................................21 4. Floodplains...........................................................................................................................................................22 5. Wetlands ..............................................................................................................................................................24 6. Groundwater Resources .......................................................................................................................................25 D. Vegetation..............................................................................................................................................................28 E. Fisheries and Wildlife.............................................................................................................................................29 1. Shellfish ...............................................................................................................................................................29 2. Fin-fish.................................................................................................................................................................30 3. Mammals .............................................................................................................................................................30 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments..........................................................................................................30 G. Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................................................31 H. Archeological Resources.........................................................................................................................................32 I. Environmental Problems .........................................................................................................................................36 SECTION 5 - INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST ...................................................................................................................................... 38 A. Public & Private Conservation Lands ....................................................................................................................38 B. Recreation Department Programs and Bike Ways ..................................................................................................42 C. Inventory of Open Space and Recreation Lands .....................................................................................................45 SECTION 6. COMMUNITY GOALS......................................................................................... 46 A. Description of Process ............................................................................................................................................46 B. Statement of Conservation, Open Space and Recreation Vision.............................................................................47 SECTION 7. ANALYSIS OF NEEDS ......................................................................................... 48 A. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................48 B. Catalogue of Methods of Open Space Preservation ................................................................................................51 1. Fee Acquisition ....................................................................................................................................................51 2. Less-than-Fee Acquisition ...................................................................................................................................52 3. Property Tax Relief..............................................................................................................................................53 4. Private Conservation Organizations.....................................................................................................................56 C. SCORP Compliance................................................................................................................................................56 D. Summary of Needs..................................................................................................................................................57 1. CROS Community Survey and 2005 Planning Survey........................................................................................57 2. National Park and Recreation Standards..............................................................................................................58 E. Management Needs ................................................................................................................................................58 F. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................................59 SECTION 8 - GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS ................................................... 60 SECTION 9 – FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN .............................................................................. 68 SECTION 10 - PUBLIC COMMENTS........................................................................................ 70 SECTION 10 - LETTERS OF REVIEW - LOCAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES............ 71 APPENDIX A: 1999 Open Space Survey Form and Results...................................................... 72 APPENDIX B: 2005 Comprehensive Plan Resident/Taxpayer Survey..................................... 73 APPENDIX C: List of Town Conservation and Open Space Parcels........................................ 74 APPENDIX D: List of Conservation Restrictions ....................................................................... 75 APPENDIX E: Chapter 61, 61A, 61B Parcels.............................................................................. 76 APPENDIX F: Orleans Conservation Trust Parcels................................................................... 77 APPENDIX G: Town Owned Open Space and Recreation Lands ............................................ 78 APPENDIX H: Action Plan Map .................................................................................................. 79 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1: Orleans Pond Inventory .....................................................................................................................................22 Table 2 : Open Space Summary.......................................................................................................................................39