Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook Reservations Management Plan 1996 The Trustees of Reservations 572 Essex Street Beverly, MA 01915-1530 59 Contents Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook Reservations Management Plan __________________________________________________________ i. Acknowledgments .....................................................................................Page 1 I. Executive Summary.................................................................................. Page 2 II. Introduction...............................................................................................Page 7 III. Natural Resource Management.................................................................Page 10 IV. Historic Resource Management................................................................Page 22 V. Visitor Services.........................................................................................Page 29 VI. Chickering Pond Area...............................................................................Page 40 VII. Land Acquisition and Conservation .........................................................Page 52 VIII. Plan Implementation.................................................................................Page 55 IX. Appendices ...............................................................................................Page 57 Maps Included: 1. Property Trail Map (located in front pocket) 2. Vegetation Map 3. Natural and Historic Resources: Highlights and Issues 4. Regional Open Space 5. Chickering Pond: Existing Conditions 6. Chickering Pond: Conceptual Master Plan Photographs and Drawings: Photographs were provided by Betsey Horovitz, Lisa Vernegaard, and The Trustees archives. Illustrations of amphibians are by Abigail Rorer; illustration of Tufted Titmouse are by Charles Joslin; all are reprinted from New England Wildlife by Richard M. DeGraaf and Deborah D. Rudis. i i. Acknowledgments Over the past 100 years, The Trustees of Reservations has worked to protect special places in Massachusetts. These protection efforts have relied upon a strong tradition of collaboration between professionals, volunteers and other conservation organizations. The following management plan for Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook Reservations offers yet another example of that successful partnership. Many people have contributed their valuable time, have shared their expertise, and have offered their advice and friendship during this lengthy process. Carrying the load was a committee that consisted of volunteers from the local community and several Trustees staff members. Committee members included: Volunteers: Staff: Paul Horovitz, Chair Lisa Vernegaard, Associate Director for Steven Brown Planning and Ecology Robert Costello Tom Foster, Southeast Regional Supervisor William Goldthwait Mark Bailey, Superintendent, Charles River Jane Hayes Valley Management Unit Eric O’Brien Caroline Standley Electa Tritsch Robert (Ridge) White In turn, the committee worked with several other professionals and community members to develop the plan. Skip Burck, of Richard Burck Associates was able to take the committee’s ideas for improving the Chickering Pond area and turn these ideas into a sound landscape design. Elissa Landre, the director of Massachusetts Audubon’s Broadmoor Sanctuary, and Jim Earley, the director of Hale Reservation, provided the committee with critical input as plans for visitor services were developed. Sandi Keyes, the director of Medfield’s Park and Recreation Department worked with staff to develop pilot programs that will facilitate improved use of the properties by the local community. Several Trustees’ staff members also made critical contributions to the plan. Russ Hopping’s plant community inventory and breeding bird survey provided the basis for the natural resource management chapter. Val Talmage, conservation specialist, contributed the chapter on land acquisition and conservation, and provided guidance in the development of the historic resource management chapter. Finally, Kendra Crosby, The Trustees’ GIS specialist, developed and produced the many high quality maps that are included in the report. Because of their participation and thoughtfulness, and for their many hours of work on behalf of the project, Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook Reservations will most certainly continue to be a success in The Trustees’ efforts to preserve special places in Massachusetts. Frederic Winthrop, Jr. Director 1 I. Executive Summary Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook Reservations pose terrific opportunities and challenges for The Trustees of Reservations (“The Trustees”). The properties’ 630 acres of rolling woodland, extensive wetlands, and historic landscapes provide enjoyment for thousands of visitors a year and support a diversity of plants and animals vital to the area’s ecosystem. Visitor use and resource management challenges have changed significantly since Dr. Joel Goldthwait’s original donation of land in 1945. Once a local hub of active recreational activity, visitors now come to the properties in search of a chance to quietly enjoy a scenic, natural area. Suburban sprawl pushes against the properties’ boundaries, and the need to protect the natural and historic resources found within those boundaries has become critically important. To keep pace with the changes in visitor use and evolving resource protection challenges, The Trustees worked with a local planning committee to define goals, priorities and specific actions for managing Rocky Woods and Fork Factory Brook. In the following plan, the committee recommends a set of specific actions for the following areas: Natural Resource Protection Historic Resource Protection Visitor Services Chickering Pond Area Rehabilitation Land Acquisition and Conservation These recommendations have been organized into “Critical,” “Desirable,” or “Ideal” categories. This deliberate, phased approach allows The Trustees to respond to changing management issues and opportunities and provides a pragmatic solution to meeting the fiscal requirements of the plan. 2 Critical Management Objectives and Steps Natural Resource Management: • Provide and maintain large, undisturbed forested areas. • Address natural resource issues at Chickering Pond. Historic Resource Management • Complete photographic documentation of all historic sites. • Continue routine monitoring and inspection of sites. • Protect sites from vandalism; if needed, reroute trails, place brush piles or encourage poison ivy to cover and protect site . • Expand the wording in the current regulations to include the following statement: “Disturbing, removing, defacing, cutting or otherwise causing damage to a natural or historic features, sign, poster, barrier, building or other property on the Reservation is prohibited” (addition of “historic”). • Adopt as management policy the consideration of possible impacts to archaeological resources prior to undertaking ground disturbance. • Pursue preservation options with the owners of the Long Acre Farmhouse. • Prior to providing enhanced visitor access to sites (even a simple walking guide), secure important historic features. Limit the associated development activities to minor trail improvements. At sites, secure features, but avoid rebuilding. Consider archaeological impacts. Photo documentation of conditions before and after the work Consider overplanting, covering with brush, etc. to make it less easy to vandalize archeological features. Visitor Services • Link the Rocky Woods trails with the Fork Factory Brook trails. • Repair trail sections prone to erosion. Hot spots include the Tower Trail, portions of the Ridge Trail, and the section of the Echo Lake Trail that leads to Echo Lake. In the case of Tower Trail, staff should investigate other potential routes to lead visitors off of this hill and consider closing Tower Trail itself. • Research alternative trail materials that can be used to replace the asphalt shingles as they deteriorate. • Provide clear directional signs and an accompanying updated map. • Prepare regular press releases that describe the property and public access information. • Continue to administer the visitor use survey to monitor changing patterns in visitor use. • Set up a process for resolving visitor use conflicts. • Conduct or host special events, e.g., fall foliage days, spring Easter-egg hunt. • Work with organized groups that already have a framework for providing educational and/or recreational activities (e.g., Medfield Parks & Recreation Dept., Medfield Historical Society, Appalachian Mountain Club, Scout groups). 3 • Invite Massachusetts Audubon Society at Broadmoor and Stony Brook Reservations to use the properties as part of their school programming efforts. • Continue to host and facilitate existing school programs (e.g., Medfield 3rd grade mock Thanksgiving). • Meet with local teachers and school board representatives to explore ways that the schools can make good, responsible use of the properties. • Continue to invite organized groups of residents from local nursing homes to visit and enjoy the properties. • Develop an access plan for the properties that outlines a strategy for improving access for people with disabilities. • Continue to make available, for a fee, the pavilion and surrounding area for small (<100 people) outing groups. • Participate in an annual meeting with Medfield “representatives” to talk about what The Trustees can do for the town. This creates a forum to answer questions and offer outreach.