2020 UPDATE TOWN OF DENNIS OPEN SPACE and RECREATION PLAN Table of Contents Section 1. Plan Summary ..................................................................................................................................4 Section 2. Introduction .....................................................................................................................................6 A. Statement of Purpose .............................................................................................................................6 B. Planning Process and Public Participation ...............................................................................................7 Section 3. Community Setting ..........................................................................................................................8 A. Regional Context .....................................................................................................................................8 B. History of the Community ................................................................................................................... 10 C. Population Characteristics .................................................................................................................. 12 D. Growth and Development Patterns .................................................................................................... 14 E. Environmental Justice and Equity ......................................................................................................... 21 Section 4. Environmental Inventory and Analysis ......................................................................................... 23 A. Geology, Soils, and Topography .......................................................................................................... 23 B. Landscape Character ........................................................................................................................... 28 C. Water Based Resources ....................................................................................................................... 28 D. Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................... 41 E. Fisheries and Wildlife ........................................................................................................................... 43 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Features ................................................................................................. 46 G. Environmental Challenges .................................................................................................................... 51 Section 5. Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest ...................................................... 55 A. Public Lands and Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 55 B. Private Open Space Lands and Facilities ............................................................................................... 56 C. Recreational Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 58 D. Recreational Programs ......................................................................................................................... 60 Section 6. Community Vision ........................................................................................................................ 67 A. Description of Process.......................................................................................................................... 67 B. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ................................................................................ 67 Section 7. Analysis of Needs ..................................................................................................................... 68 A. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Needs Assessment .............................. 68 B. Summary of Resource Protection Needs and Resources .................................................................... 68 C. Summary of Community Needs ........................................................................................................... 71 D. Management Needs/Potential Change of Use .................................................................................... 74 E. Waterways Needs ................................................................................................................................. 75 Section 8. Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................... 77 Section 9. Five Year Action Plan .................................................................................................................... 80 1 Section 10. Public Comments ........................................................................................................................ 87 Section 11. References .................................................................................................................................. 88 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................... 91 A. Community Survey ................................................................................................................................ 91 B. Inventory of Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation Parcels ........................................................ 92 C. ADA Transition Plan .............................................................................................................................. 93 D. Letters of Support ................................................................................................................................. 94 2 Table of Figures Figure 1: Town of Dennis Regional Context Map .............................................................................................9 Figure 2: Town of Dennis 1893 USGS Map.................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3: Town of Dennis MassGIS 2016 Land Use Map ............................................................................... 15 Figure 4: Town of Dennis Existing Infrastructure Map ................................................................................. 17 Figure 5: Town of Dennis Zoning Map .......................................................................................................... 20 Figure 6: Town of Dennis 2010 Census Environmental Justice Populations Map ........................................ 22 Figure 7: Town of Dennis MassDEP 10’ Contours Map ................................................................................. 24 Figure 8: Town of Dennis USDA NRCS Soils Map .......................................................................................... 27 Figure 9: Town of Dennis MassDEP Major Watersheds Map ....................................................................... 30 Figure 10: Town of Dennis Major Water Features Map ............................................................................... 32 Figure 11: Town of Dennis FEMA Flood Hazard Zones Map ......................................................................... 34 Figure 12: Town of Dennis MassDEP Wetlands Map .................................................................................... 37 Figure 13: Dennis Fresh Water Courses ........................................................................................................ 38 Figure 14: Town of Dennis Zones of Contribution Map ................................................................................ 40 Figure 15: Town of Dennis Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Layers Map ..................................... 45 Figure 16: Town of Dennis Scenic Resources and Unique features Map ...................................................... 50 Figure 17: Town of Dennis Environmental Vulnerabilities Map (Cape Cod Commission MVP 2019) .......... 54 Figure 18: Large, Unprotected, Undeveloped Land Parcels, Dennis MA, 2019 ............................................ 57 Figure 19: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory Town-wide Map............................................................. 61 Figure 20: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory Dennis Village Map ........................................................ 62 Figure 21: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory Dennis Port Map ............................................................ 63 Figure 22: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory East Dennis Map ............................................................ 64 Figure 23: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory South Dennis Map ......................................................... 65 Figure 24: Town of Dennis Open Space Inventory West Dennis Map .......................................................... 66 Figure 25: Town of Dennis Five Year Action Plan Map ................................................................................. 86 3 Section 1. Plan Summary The Town of Dennis is a community with a careful balance of land preservation, natural resource protection, and economic development. While much of the private land holdings are developed, the town has