Horsley Witten Group Sustainable Environmental Solutions 90 Route 6A • Sandwich, MA • 02563 Phone - 508-833-6600 • Fax - 508-833-3150 • www.horsleywitten.com Town of Yarmouth Open Space and Recreation Plan December 2007 Prepared for: Town of Yarmouth Open Space Committee and Recreation Division 1146 Route 28 South Yarmouth, MA 02664 Submitted by: Horsley Witten Group, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 PLAN SUMMARY .................................................................................1 SECTION 2 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................3 2.1 Statement of Purpose .......................................................................................... 3 2.2 Planning Process and Public Participation.......................................................... 3 SECTION 3 COMMUNITY SETTING......................................................................5 3.1 Regional Context ................................................................................................ 5 3.2 History of the Community .................................................................................. 7 3.3 Population Characteristics .................................................................................. 9 SECTION 4 ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY and ANALYSIS........................15 4.1 Geology, Soils, and Topography ...................................................................... 15 4.2 Landscape Character......................................................................................... 16 4.3 Water Resources ............................................................................................... 20 4.3.1 Salt Water Bodies ..................................................................................... 22 4.3.2 Fresh Water Bodies................................................................................... 22 4.3.3 Surface Water Quality............................................................................... 25 4.3.4 Floodplains................................................................................................ 27 4.3.5 Wetlands ................................................................................................... 27 4.3.6 Groundwater Resources............................................................................ 29 4.4 Vegetation......................................................................................................... 31 4.5 Fisheries and Wildlife....................................................................................... 33 4.6 Scenic Resources and Unique Areas................................................................. 36 4.7 Environmental Challenges................................................................................ 40 4.7.1 Contamination Sites.................................................................................. 44 4.7.2 Water Resources ....................................................................................... 44 4.7.3 Wastewater Impacts.................................................................................. 45 4.7.4 Stormwater Impacts.................................................................................. 45 4.7.5 Chapter 40B.............................................................................................. 46 4.7.6 Other Environmental Concerns................................................................. 46 SECTION 5 INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONS. and REC. INTEREST.............47 5.1 Private Lands .................................................................................................... 49 5.1.1 State-Assessed Agricultural and Forested Land ....................................... 50 5.1.2 Areas Significant for Water Resource Protection..................................... 51 5.1.3 Priority Areas for Protection of Rare Species........................................... 51 5.1.4 Private Recreation Lands .......................................................................... 51 5.2 Public and Nonprofit Lands.............................................................................. 52 5.2.1 Public Open Space Land........................................................................... 52 5.2.2 Public Recreation Areas............................................................................ 56 SECTION 6 COMMUNITY GOALS .......................................................................61 6.1 Description of Process and Results................................................................... 61 6.2 Statement of Community Open Space and Recreation Goals .......................... 62 SECTION 7 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS.......................................................................65 7.1 Summary of Resource Protection Needs .......................................................... 65 7.1.1 Enforce Laws for Wetlands Protection..................................................... 65 7.1.2 Critical Areas in Need of Special Protection ............................................ 67 7.1.3 Wildlife Corridors and Strategies for Their Protection............................. 68 7.1.4 Managing Information for Future Acquisition ......................................... 68 7.1.5 Proper Use and Policing............................................................................ 68 7.1.6 Property Integration.................................................................................. 69 7.1.7 Capital Costs and Funding........................................................................ 69 7.2 Summary of Community’s Needs..................................................................... 70 7.2.1 Recreational Needs ................................................................................... 70 7.2.2 Future Land Use Needs............................................................................. 72 7.2.3 Affordable Housing Sites and Other Needs.............................................. 72 7.2.4 Managing Growth/Areas in Need of Revitalization or Redev.................. 73 7.2.5 Access to and Awareness of Conservation Lands .................................... 74 7.3 Management Needs, Potential Changes of Use ................................................ 74 7.3.1 Coordination of Town Boards .................................................................. 74 7.3.2 Maintenance of Assessor’s Database........................................................ 74 7.3.3 Use of Conservation Lands....................................................................... 75 7.3.4 Conservation Easements ........................................................................... 75 7.3.5 Transfer of Development Rights............................................................... 76 SECTION 8 GOALS and OBJECTIVES..................................................................77 SECTION 9 FIVE YEAR ACTION PLAN ..............................................................78 SECTION 10 PUBLIC COMMENTS.........................................................................88 SECTION 11 REFERENCES/RESOURCES .............................................................89 LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1. Yarmouth Population Characteristics 10 Table 3.2. Yarmouth Demographics 10 Table 3.3. Yarmouth Demographics in 2006 11 Table 3.4. Income Statistics for Yarmouth 11 Table 4.1. Pond Characteristics 23 Table 5.1. Unprotected Private Yarmouth Lands 49 Table 5.2. Protected Private Yarmouth Lands 49 Table 5.3. Chapter 61A and B Lands 50 Table 5.4. Land Bank/CPA Open Space Acquisitions 53 Table 5.5. Town of Yarmouth Recreation Lands 56 Table 7.1. ADA Transition Plan 71 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1. 1971 Land Use 13 Figure 3.2. 1999 Land Use 13 Figure 4.1. Scenic Resources 38 Figure 4.2. Geologic Index of Cape Cod 40 Figure 4.3. Nitrogen Loading Analysis – Mapped Results 43 Figure 4.4. Modeled Nitrogen Loading Calculations 43 LIST OF MAPS Map 0: Regional Locus 6 Map 1: Zoning District 14 Map 2A: Soils and Geologic Features 17 Map 2B: Soil Types 18 Map 3A: Unique Landscape Features 41 Map 3B: Scenic Resources 38 Map 4A: Water Resources A 28 Map 4B: Water Resources B 30 Map 4C: Drainage Boundaries 21 Map 5: Open Space and Recreation Land 48 Map 6: Action Plan 87 APPENDICES Appendix A Rare and Endangered Species Appendix B Town of Yarmouth Open Space and Recreation Lands Matrix Appendix C Americans with Disabilities Act Evaluation Documents Appendix D Soil Type Key This page is left intentionally blank. SECTION 1 PLAN SUMMARY This updated 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) is a complete revision of the Town of Yarmouth’s 2001 Open Space Plan, in order to meet the State of Massachusetts 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plan Requirements. This OSRP has been revised to reflect the current conditions and concerns in Yarmouth. The update builds upon the earlier plan by continuing to inventory recreational and natural resources of the community, and incorporating the goals of protecting these unique resources for both its citizens and visitors, and protecting and acquiring open spaces. The updated OSRP seeks to address these goals simultaneously, where possible, by encouraging preservation of open space and allowing opportunities for its enjoyment through modest improvements and access for recreation. Pursuant to the guidance provided by the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services (DCS), the OSRP will serve the community as a whole as a detailed reference for various information critical to the proper