FORESTMANAGEMENTPLAN forthe Henderson-SwaseyTownForest Exeter,NewHampshire Preparedfor: ExeterConservationCommission Exeter,NewHampshire Preparedby: CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester MorenoForestryAssociates POBox60,CenterStrafford,NewHampshire03815 (603)335-1961 October25,2011 ___________________________ CharlesMoreno,NHLPF#115 ConsultingForester ReportCopy#________ a FORESTMANAGEMENTPLAN forthe HENDERSON-SWASEYTOWNFOREST Exeter,NewHampshire October25,2011 Copyright2011byCharlesA.Moreno ALLRIGHTSRESERVED Theauthorofthisforestmanagementplan,CharlesA.Moreno,certifiesthatthe contents of the plan, except where footnoted, but including all written material, maps(baseinformationreferenced),planformatandorganization,areoriginalto theauthor. Thepurposeofthisplanistoprovidenaturalresourcesinformationandforestand wildlife management recommendations to the Exeter Conservation Commission, citizens of Exeter, and others interested in the management of the Henderson- SwaseyTownForestinExeter,NewHampshire.Nopartofthisplan,includingall writtenmaterial,maps,planformatandorganization,istobecopiedorreproduced foranyotherpurpose,particularlycommercialpurposes,withoutpropercitationto theauthor,CharlesA.Moreno,ConsultingForester. CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester Strafford,NewHampshire(603)335-1961 Henderson-SwaseyTownForest,Exeter,NewHampshire b ForestManagementPlan October2011 TABLEOFCONTENTS Page I. MAPS MAP–PROPERTYLOCUS.........................…....................................1 MAP–PHYSICALFEATURES…………………………………..…2 MAP–FORESTTYPES………………………....................................3 MAP–WILDLIFEHABITATS……………………………………....4 MAP–MANAGEMENTRECOMMENDATIONS..…….…………5 MAP–SOILS..........................................................................................6 II. INTRODUCTION Abstract…………………………………………………………………7 PropertyInformation Location………………................................................................7 Geography……………………………………………………….8 ReferenceInformation..................................................................8 DeedRestrictions………………………………………………..9 III. OBJECTIVES,RECOMMENDATIONS,&LOGISTICS PropertyManagementObjectives…….……………………………..10 LandManagementRecommendations CapsuleSummary........................................................................12 ProjectFunding………………………………………………………..13 ProjectSchedule……………………………………………………....14 ManagedAreasandReserveAreas Introduction……………………………………………………..15 ManagementZones……………………………………………..15 PropertyAccess AccessPoints……………………….……………………………17 InteriorAccess……………………….…………………………..17 AccessStrategyandRationale ForestManagementAccess……………………….………..18 RecreationalAccess…………………………………..…….18 AccessRecommendations……………………………………….19 RecreationalUse…………………………………………………..……19 TrailRecommendations………………………………………….20 IV. NATURALRESOURCES SoilTypes………….................................................................................21 WaterResources..........................................................…………….......23 CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester Strafford,NewHampshire,(603)335-1961 ©2011ALLRIGHTSRESERVED Henderson-SwaseyTownForest,Exeter,NewHampshire c ForestManagementPlan October2011 WildlifeHabitat CoreHabitats……………………………………………………25 HabitatAssociations…..…………………………………….…..27 HabitatManagement……………..……………………………..27 WildlifeHabitatRecommendations…………….………………28 ForestResources EcologicalCharacteristics ForestStructure…………………………………………29 SpeciesComposition……………………………………30 ForestManagement ManagedAreasandReserves………………….………..31 SilviculturalTreatments...................................................31 SilviculturalOutlook........................................................32 HarvestCycle...................................................................32 TreatmentSchedule..........................................................32 BestManagementPractices……………………………..33 V. FORESTTYPES ForestTypesIntroduction…….………………………………….…..34 ForestTypeDescriptionsandPrescriptions WhitePine/Hardwood……………………………………….…..35 UplandHardwood…..……………………………………….…..37 MixedHardwood……………….………………………….……39 Hemlock/Hardwood………………………………………….….41 Hemlock/Pine/Hardwood………………………………………..43 Early-Successional/YoungForest……………………………....45 VI. APPENDICES A. NHNaturalHeritageBureauReport…………………..…………….47 B. ProfessionalCredentials…………………………………….…..…..49 CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester Strafford,NewHampshire,(603)335-1961 ©2011ALLRIGHTSRESERVED MAPS LocusMap ofthe Henderson-SwaseyTownForest 2000±feet Exeter,NewHampshire 240.5±±±Acres USGSTopographicMap,“Exeter”Quadrangle Mapofthe HENDERSON-SWASEY TOWNFOREST Exeter,NewHampshire ± 240.5 acres 700±feet SHOWINGWILDLIFEHABITATS WildlifeHabitatsKey Forest Early-successional&youngforest Mastproduction(acorns,beechnuts, hickorynuts,etc.) Mesichardwood Transitionalsoftwood-hardwood Densesoftwoodthermalcover Wetland Riparian Freshwatermarsh/emergentwetland Shrub-scrubswamp Forestedwetland VernalPool MAPRESEARCHEDandDRAWNBY: CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester CenterStrafford,NH(603)335-1961 September2011ALLRIGHTSRESERVED MAPREFERENCES: AerialPhotos:USGS1998;andNHDOThighresolution2011orthophotograph. PropertyReconnaissance: CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester,May-Sept2011. ReferenceSurvey: >“Henderson-SwaseyPark,Exeter,N.H.”,byRogerP.Sloan,4/30/73.RCRD#D-4046. Mapofthe HENDERSON-SWASEY TOWNFOREST Exeter,NewHampshire ± 240.5 acres 700±feet SHOWINGMANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS RecommendationsKey IncludingManagementZones Bounds 1 –Survey&demarcate 2 –Blaze&paint Roads&Trails 3 –Constructsecondlanding 4 –Maintainwoodsroads 5– Consolidatetrails 6 –Erosioncontrol WaterQuality 7 –Avoidstreamcrossover 8 –Protectriparianzone 9 –Protectwetlands ManagementZones ReserveAreas Full Modified Silvicultural Area#1 Area#2 Wildlife/Ecological Early-successional management Invasivecontrol MAPRESEARCHEDandDRAWNBY: MapLegend CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester CenterStrafford,NH(603)335-1961 PropertyLine LandingSite(Existing) September2011ALLRIGHTSRESERVED ParkingArea P LandingSite(Proposed) WoodsRoad FortRock X MAPREFERENCES: AerialPhotos:USGS1998;andNHDOThighresolution2011orthophotograph. Trail Marsh/Scrub-Shrub PropertyReconnaissance: Swamp CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester,May-Sept2011. TreeLine ReferenceSurvey: SeasonalStream >“Henderson-SwaseyPark,Exeter,N.H.”,byRogerP.Sloan,4/30/73.RCRD#D-4046. INTRODUCTION Henderson-SwaseyTownForest,Exeter,NewHampshire 7 ForestManagementPlan October2011 TheHENDERSON-SWASEY TOWNFOREST Exeter,NewHampshire INTRODUCTION TheHenderson-SwaseyTownForestisa240.5±acrecommunity-ownedforestthatliesabout onemilenorthofdowntownExeter.Conservedintheearly1970’s,withadditionalparcelsadded inrecentyearstotheoriginalacreage,thetractprovidesthetownwithvaluableopenspacefor public recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection. Together with an adjacent communityproperty,“TheOaklands”,whichliesnorthoftheRoute101,Exeterownsnearly 500±acresofpreeminentconservationlandincloseproximitytoitsdensely-settledcenter. AnextensiverecreationaltrailnetworkpassesthroughtheTownForest’sscenicuplandforest,as well as along its wetlands, and past the local landmark known as “Fort Rock.” The tract containsavarietyofforest/wetlandcovertypesand habitats. The property is also a headwater watershedforthenearbySquamscottRiver. Thisforestmanagementplanisintendedasaguide for the management and protection of the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest’s natural resources,aswellastoaddresscommunityuseand recreational activity onthe property. The planis basedondetailedforestanalysisinconcertwiththe objectivesoftheExeterConservationCommission, Theruggedrockformationknownas“FortRock”. whichisresponsibleforthemanagementoftheproperty.Theplanisa“working”document; over time it will likely require updating to reflect ongoing management activities, unforeseen naturaldisturbancesandconditions,aswellasevolvingcommunityinterests. PROPERTYINFORMATION LOCATION The Henderson-Swasey Town Forest is located in Exeter, New Hampshire, west of Newfields Road,andlessthanamilefromthetowncenter.Themainaccesspointisattherailroadbridge overpassonNewfieldsRoad,northoftown,whereagravelroadleadstoaparkingarea.The propertyoccupiestheopenspaceroughlyboundedbytherailroadtracksandthenoworformer FortRock(Henderson)Farmonthesouth,Route101onthenorth,andtheExeterIndustrialPark onthewest.TheSquamscottRiverflowsjusteastoftheproperty. CharlesMoreno,ConsultingForester Strafford,NewHampshire(603)335-1961 ©2011AllRightsReserved Henderson-SwaseyTownForest,Exeter,NewHampshire 8 ForestManagementPlan October2011 GEOGRAPHY ThelandissituatedontheGulfofMaineCoastalLowland1, about 10±milesinlandfromthe AtlanticOcean,andliesnearthenortherlyextentoftheAppalachianoak-pineforest2.Soilsin this region, where climate is moderated by the sea, are formed from glacial tills and marine depositsandareunderlainbymetamorphicbedrock.Thelandisgenerallyleveltomoderately sloped,withelevationsrangingfromabout40to160±feetabovesealevel. REFERENCEINFORMATION Acreage:TOTAL–240.5±Acres Uplandforest–203.9±acres Wetlands– 30.8±acres Clearings– 5.8±acres TaxMaps:ExeterTaxMap39,Lots2and3;Map40,Lot13;andMap49,Lot8. AerialPhotos:1998USGS;NHDOThighresolutionorthophotography2010. Deeds: Recorded at the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds (RCRD), with the Exetere ConservationCommissionnamedasGrantee. >Initialconveyance,17±acres.grantedbytheExeterIndustrialDevelopmentCorporationon