Section IV: Environmental Inventory and Analysis A. Geology, Soils and Topography Geology and Topography Glacial deposits formed the shape of Cape Cod. Approximately 25,000 years ago the Canadian Ice Sheet reached its southernmost point at Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Three lobes of ice covered Cape Cod: the Cape Cod Bay Lobe, the South Channel Lobe, and the Buzzards Bay Lobe. About 15,500 years ago the sheets of ice began retreating, depositing rock debris, known as drift, as they receded. Drift ranges from till, an unstratified mixture of fine to coarse material, to deposits sorted by the flow of water and spread across the landscape. The drift deposited by the ice created the major landscape forms found in Falmouth and the Cape: moraines, outwash plains, kames (knobs), and kettle holes. Moraines are terminal ridges that represent the edge of a glacier. As the glacier retreated, drift was churned up and deposited in a ridge. The Buzzards Bay Moraine runs northeast from the Elizabeth Islands through Woods Hole to Sandwich. Outwash plains slope gradually away Map 4-1: Geologic Map of Cape Cod from the Buzzards Bay Moraine to the sea (Figure 4- 1). They are formed by sand Lake deposits and gravel deposits left by water streaming out of the Younger ice-contact deposits melting glacial lobes. Kames and kettles are known as ice Younger outwash deposits contact features. Kames are knobs of drift deposits left by Moraine deposits debris once embedded in ice. Kettles are holes in the ground Older outwash deposits formed by large ice blocks. Kettle holes that reach Older ice-contact deposits groundwater form many of the ponds and lakes found on Source: USGS; Geologic map of Cape Cod (generalized from detailed the Cape. mapping by K. F. Mather, R. P. Goldthwait, L. R. Theismeyer, J. H. Hartshorn, Carl Koteff, and R. N. Oldale). The Cape Cod landscape continues to be shaped by natural forces. Wind has winnowed silt and sand from exposed glacial sediments to form an almost continuous layer across the drift surface. Over centuries, vegetation has recycled this drift, turning it into a layer of sandy topsoil. Soils Soils are formed through the interaction of time, climate, parent material, topography, and plant and animal life. In Barnstable County, the parent material and topography, as it relates to drainage, account for many of the differences among the soils (Map 4-2, also find and enlarged map at the end of the appendix section). Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 25 June 2014 Map 4-2 Soils The formation of soils is a continuing process and generally takes several thousand years for significant changes to take place. The soils of Barnstable County have developed in the last 15,000 years. The soils are considered to be relatively young with Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 26 June 2014 slight alteration of parent material and weak soil horizon development. The interaction of the five factors listed above also result in the development of a soil profile. A soil profile is a vertical section of the soil beginning at the surface and extending down into the unconsolidated underlying material to a depth of 60 inches. A soil horizon is a layer of soil, approximately parallel to the soil surface, with distinct characteristics. The physical and chemical characteristics observed within the soil profile are the basis for differentiating one soil from another (Figure 4-2). Suitability for each soil type is classified on a three-tier scale of limitations (slight, moderate, and severe) based on the ability of the soil to support a proposed use. This scale, developed by the Soil Conservation Service, has been uniformly adopted for planning use (Figure 4-3). From a functional perspective, this scale can assist in open space and recreation planning in a number of ways. Prime agricultural soils have been identified, and can be reserved for farming. Wetlands soils can be identified and protected as conservation areas. Maps of soils with limitations for septic system disposal due to impermeability, saturation, or severe slopes can be used to guide future development. Figure 4-2: Soils Found in Falmouth Category Type Symbol Comments Sands Beaches 9 Hooksan-Dune Complex Sand Pits 9, GP Sandy Loams Better farmland soils Barnstable Very stony Belgrade Very fine Hinckley 136 A-E Gravelly, fine Merrimac Fine Nantucket 323B Stony Sudbury Fine Silty Loams Boxford Enfield Coarse Sands Carver 51 A-E 231 B-E Freetown 7 Cranberry Bogs Loamy Sands Deerfield 54A Farmland soil of local significance Eastchop Pipestone Plymouth Coarse-very stony Mucks Wetlands Soils Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 27 June 2014 Berryland Freetown-ponded 99 Fresh water marsh Freetown-Swansea 1, 2 Ipswich, Pawcatuck, 3 Mantunuck Peats Plymouth-Barnstable Rolling, very-to- Complex extremely bouldery; moraine Urban Land Man made Udorthents Dumps; Landfills Udipsamments 6 Source: Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions [Online WWW]. Available URL: "http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html" [Accessed 10 February 2004]. Figure 4-3: Soil Limitations Carver Plymouth- Coarse Loamy Barnstable Sands Sandy Loam Silty Loam Sands Sands Mucks Complex Urban Commercial Buildings Severe Moderate Severe Severe Slight Severe Severe Unclassified Septic Tanks Severe Moderate Severe Severe Slight Severe Severe Unclassified Homesites Severe Slight Moderate Slight Severe Moderate Unclassified Roadways Severe Slight Severe Moderate Slight Severe Moderate Unclassified Sanitary Landfills Severe Slight Severe Severe Moderate Severe Severe Unclassified Landfill Cover Severe Severe Severe Severe Moderate Severe Severe Unclassified Sand-Gravel Source Severe Slight Severe Moderate Moderate Severe Moderate Unclassified Depth to Water Table Shallow Deep Moderate Deep Moderate Shallow Deep Unclassified Agricultural Capability Class Low Med-High Low Low High Low Low Unclassified Farmland Local Soil Type None None None None Significance None None Unclassified Woodland Suitability Unsuitable Medium Medium Low High Unsuitable Medium Unclassified Camping Areas Severe Moderate Moderate Moderate Slight Severe Moderate Unclassified Severe- Playgrounds Severe Severe Moderate Moderate Slight Severe Severe Unclassified Source: Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Soil Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts; March 1993. Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 28 June 2014 B. Landscape Character Map 4-3 Unique Features The scenic resources of Falmouth are great assets for the residents and visitors of the town. The diversity of landscape features—forests, freshwater and coastal ponds, beaches, hills, coastal plains, glacial moraine, ocean vistas, harbors, historic structures, and compact villages— combine to create a memorable visual experience. The Falmouth Historical Commission has prepared a list of landscapes considered to be important for preservation. Among areas identified are: the Shoreline from Trunk River Beach to Manauhant Beach along Vineyard Sound, and the cranberry bogs at the intersection of Old Barnstable Road and Old Meeting House Road. Falmouth Town Meeting has also adopted a list of 40 scenic or coastal roads that have significant trees, stone walls, or view sheds within the layout. These roads are granted additional protections that can be found in Chapter 178 of the Falmouth Town Code (Map 4-3, also find an enlarged map at the end of the appendix section). C. Water Resources The glacier-formed topography, along with an average annual rainfall of 40 inches provides for abundant freshwater ponds, tidal ponds, wetlands, harbors, and groundwater. These resources provide a wide variety of benefits ranging from recreation to public drinking water supplies. Watersheds A watershed is a geographic area where all of the surface and groundwater drain to coastal estuaries, Vineyard Sound, or Buzzards Bay (Map 4-4, also find an enlarged map Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 29 June 2014 Map 4-4 Coastal Pond Recharge at the end of the appendix section). The advantage of planning for a watershed is that water quality can be improved, or protected, by controlling the development and pollution that occurs within the watershed. As the groundwater travels through the watershed, sediments and pollutants are picked up and transported to the ponds, rivers and estuaries. Naturally vegetated areas filter the water and suspend the sediments and pollutants, while paved areas increase the risk of pollution, and increase the velocity of the water, which can lead to erosion and increased sediment load. There are a number of groups monitoring and researching water quality in the watersheds, including the local Pond Watchers, the Massachusetts and National Estuary Programs, the Cape Cod Open Space & Recreation Plan - FINAL 30 June 2014 Commission, the Coalition to Save Buzzards Bay, and the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve. Surface Water The surface water resources, including: wetlands, ponds, rivers, estuaries and the ocean provide valuable open space for passive and active use. The waters are used for fishing, shellfishing, swimming, boating, mooring sites, and docks. A wide range of flora and fauna, including a number of rare and endangered species depend on adjoining wetlands, and the Conservation Commission administers the Wetlands Regulations to ensure that development is set back from water bodies and a proper buffer is maintained. Falmouth continues to have almost 200 acres of cranberry bogs that are flooded annually. Massachusetts defines ponds measuring ten acres, or more, as “great ponds.” Under this designation, land under the pond is held in public ownership and controlled by the state. These ponds are generally open to the public. Ponds smaller than ten acres are designated as “lesser ponds” and can be privately owned. In some cases, as with the Town Forest that surrounds Long Pond, significant areas of shoreline are in public ownership. In the 1960s the Conservation Commission began a program to acquire land for public access to every pond in Falmouth. While limited, most ponds are accessible to public for fishing, canoeing or swimming.