HARDWICK, MASSACHUSETTS OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN PREPARED BY THE HARDWICK MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE APRIL, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Plan Summary........................................................................................................................... 1 B. Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3 B1. Statement of Purpose ....................................................................................................................3 B2. Planning Process and Public Participation....................................................................................3 C. Community Setting................................................................................................................... 5 C1. Regional Context ..........................................................................................................................5 C2. History of the Community ............................................................................................................6 C3. Population Characteristics.............................................................................................................8 Environmental Justice Neighborhoods.......................................................................................13 C4. Growth and Development Patterns .............................................................................................13 Patterns and Trends ....................................................................................................................13 Water and Sewer Infrastructure..................................................................................................14 Long-Term Development Patterns .............................................................................................15 D. Environmental Inventory and Analysis .................................................................................. 19 D1. Geology, Soils and Topography..................................................................................................19 D2. Landscape Character...................................................................................................................23 D3. Water Resources .........................................................................................................................24 Quabbin Reservoir......................................................................................................................24 Aquifers ......................................................................................................................................24 Wetlands .....................................................................................................................................25 Flood Hazard ..............................................................................................................................28 Major Water Resources in Hardwick .........................................................................................28 D4. Vegetation...................................................................................................................................31 Forests.........................................................................................................................................31 Agriculture..................................................................................................................................33 Wetland Vegetation and Unique Natural Resources ..................................................................34 D5. Fisheries and Wildlife .................................................................................................................34 D6. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments..............................................................................37 Hardwick Reconnaissance Report ..............................................................................................39 D7. Environmental Challenges ..........................................................................................................42 E. Inventory of Conservation and Recreation Lands ..................................................................... 47 E.1 Overview.....................................................................................................................................47 E2. Inventory Summary.....................................................................................................................49 Permanently Protected Lands .....................................................................................................49 Private Parcels ............................................................................................................................50 E3. Town and Nonprofit Parcels .......................................................................................................53 F. Community Vision.................................................................................................................. 56 F1. Description of Process ................................................................................................................56 F2. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals.........................................................................57 G. Analysis of Needs ................................................................................................................... 59 Hardwick Open Space Plan, 2013 i G1. Summary of Resource Protection Needs.....................................................................................59 G2. Summary of Community Needs..................................................................................................60 G3. Master Plan Survey .....................................................................................................................61 G4. Management Needs, Potential Change of Use............................................................................62 H. Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 64 I. Seven-Year Action Plan.......................................................................................................... 67 I1 Implementation Strategy.............................................................................................................67 I2 Guiding Themes for Preserving Open Space and Improving Recreation Services.....................68 I3 Action Plan Matrix......................................................................................................................71 J. References............................................................................................................................... 76 K. Public Comments.................................................................................................................... 76 APPENDICES Appendix 1 Heritage Landscapes, Hardwick Reconnaissance Report ......................................... 77 Appendix 2 Hardwick Accessibility Policies ............................................................................... 81 Appendix 3 Accessibility Needs at Hardwick Recreation Sites ................................................... 87 LIST OF MAPS Map 1 Infrastructure ..................................................................................................................... 17 Map 2 Zoning, 2012...................................................................................................................... 18 Map 3 Soils and Geologic Features .............................................................................................. 22 Map 4 Water Resources Map 1..................................................................................................... 26 Map 5 Water Resources Map 2..................................................................................................... 27 Map 6 Habitats and Ecosystems ................................................................................................... 36 Map 7 Priority Heritage Landscapes............................................................................................. 40 Map 8 Open Space and Protected Lands ...................................................................................... 52 Map 9 Open Space Plan Action Map............................................................................................ 70 Map 10 Mass Central Rail Trail Project ....................................................................................... 75 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Regional Population Growth ............................................................................................ 8 Table 2: % Population Change ....................................................................................................... 9 Hardwick Open Space Plan, 2013 ii Table 3: Population by Age in 2010 ............................................................................................... 9 Table 4: Population by Race and Hispanic Origin........................................................................ 10 Table 5: Households in 2010 ........................................................................................................ 11 Table 6: Housing Units ................................................................................................................