LONG RANGE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SANDY NECK BARRIER BEACH February 2003 Long Range Natural Resource Management Plan for Sandy Neck Barrier Beach February 2003 Prepared for: Town of Barnstable Office of Marine and Environmental Affairs 1189 Phinneys Lane Centerville, MA 02632 Prepared by: Woods Hole Group 81 Technology Park Drive East Falmouth MA 02536 (508) 540-8080 and Watershed Institute at Boston College 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 (617) 552-1563 Woods Hole Group February 2003 Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ vii 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 2.0 NATURAL RESOURCES AND HISTORY OF SANDY NECK ...................... 4 2.1 Geology ................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Hydrology.............................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Wetland Resource Areas ....................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Land Under the Ocean ................................................................................ 7 2.3.2 Coastal Beaches.......................................................................................... 7 2.3.3 Coastal Dunes............................................................................................. 7 2.3.4 Barrier Beaches......................................................................................... 11 2.3.5 Coastal Banks............................................................................................11 2.3.6 Salt Marshes.............................................................................................. 11 2.3.7 Land Containing Shellfish ........................................................................ 11 2.3.8 Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife (for coastal wetlands) ..................... 11 2.3.9 Bordering Vegetated Wetlands................................................................. 12 2.3.10 Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife (for inland wetlands) ...................... 12 2.4 Rare and Endangered Species.............................................................................. 12 2.5 Other Biological Resources................................................................................. 17 2.6 Archaeology and Recent Human History............................................................ 20 2.7 Organizing Sandy Neck Into Management Zones............................................... 20 3.0 APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS................................... 25 3.1 Local Permitting Process..................................................................................... 25 3.2 State Permitting Process ...................................................................................... 27 3.3 Federal Permitting Process .................................................................................. 28 4.0 STAKEHOLDERS ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY NECK............................. 30 5.0 MANAGEMENT OF ORV USE AND ACCESS CORRIDORS ..................... 32 5.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................. 32 5.2 Management Alternatives.................................................................................... 33 5.2.1 No Action.................................................................................................. 33 i Woods Hole Group February 2003 5.2.2 Reducing or Prohibiting ORV Use on Sandy Neck.................................. 33 5.2.3 Improvements to the Existing Trail Network ........................................... 37 5.2.3.1 Enhanced Beach Trail Access............................................................. 38 5.2.3.2 Movement of Access Trail.................................................................. 38 5.2.3.3 Inland Trail to Trail 2.......................................................................... 38 5.2.3.4 Spur Trails and Corral Parking ........................................................... 39 5.2.3.5 Bi-pass for Nickerson Property........................................................... 39 5.2.3.6 Inland Trail East of Sugar Foot to Trail 5........................................... 40 5.2.3.7 Marsh Trail Fortification.....................................................................40 5.3 Management Implications ................................................................................... 40 6.0 MANAGEMENT OF OTHER ACCESS CORRIDORS.................................. 42 6.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................. 42 6.1.1 Parking ...................................................................................................... 42 6.1.2 Boat Access............................................................................................... 42 6.1.3 Emergency Access.................................................................................... 42 6.2 Management Alternatives.................................................................................... 43 6.2.1 Parking Improvements.............................................................................. 43 6.2.2 Regulation Recreational Boating.............................................................. 43 6.2.3 Improved Boat Access (Ferry Service)..................................................... 43 6.2.4 Emergency Access.................................................................................... 43 6.3 Management Implications ................................................................................... 44 6.3.1 Parking ...................................................................................................... 44 6.3.2 Boat Access............................................................................................... 44 6.3.3 Emergency Access.................................................................................... 44 7.0 MANAGEMENT OF COTTAGE SITES .......................................................... 45 7.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................. 45 7.2 Management Alternatives.................................................................................... 46 7.3 Management Implications ................................................................................... 46 7.3.1 Environmental........................................................................................... 46 7.3.2 Regulatory................................................................................................. 46 7.3.3 Town Resources and Staff ........................................................................ 46 ii Woods Hole Group February 2003 7.4 Economic............................................................................................................. 47 8.0 MANAGEMENT OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES........................ 48 8.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................. 48 8.2 Management Alternatives.................................................................................... 48 8.3 Management Implications ................................................................................... 49 8.3.1 Environmental........................................................................................... 49 8.3.2 Regulatory................................................................................................. 49 8.3.3 Town Resources and Staff ........................................................................ 49 8.4 Economic............................................................................................................. 49 9.0 MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES........................................ 50 9.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................. 50 9.2 Management Alternatives.................................................................................... 51 9.2.1 Beach front and foredune.......................................................................... 51 9.2.2 Primary and secondary dunes ................................................................... 52 9.2.3 Interdune communities (vernal pools & bogs).......................................... 52 9.2.4 Maritime forests........................................................................................ 52 9.2.5 Salt marsh.................................................................................................. 52 9.2.6 Establishing biodiversity oversight........................................................... 52 9.3 Management Implications ................................................................................... 54 9.3.1 Environmental........................................................................................... 54 9.3.2 Regulatory................................................................................................. 54 9.3.3 Town Resources and Staff .......................................................................