TOWN of SHUTESBURY Open Space and Recreation Plan Update 2015 – 2022 Cover Photo: Ames Pond as viewed from the overlook on Mt. Mineral, fall 2004. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY..................................................................................1 SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................5 A. Statement of Purpose..........................................................................................5 B. Planning Process and Public Participation.......................................................5 SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING......................................................................11 A. Regional Context...............................................................................................11 B. History of the Community.................................................................................11 C. Population Characteristics...............................................................................13 D. Growth and Development Patterns..................................................................14 Patterns and Trends........................................................................................14 Infrastructure..................................................................................................16 Long-term Development Patterns……………………………………………...…17 SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS........................19 A. Geology, Soils and Topography......................................................................19 Geology..........................................................................................................19 Bedrock Geology.........................................................................................19 Surficial Geology.........................................................................................19 Soils...............................................................................................................21 Topography....................................................................................................26 B. Landscape Character........................................................................................27 C. Water Resources...............................................................................................28 Surface Water.................................................................................................28 Connecticut River Watershed.......................................................................29 Adams Brook Sub-watershed......................................................................29 Sawmill River Sub-watershed......................................................................30 Ames Pond........................................................................................30 Lake Wyola........................................................................................30 Dudleyville Marsh................................................................................34 Roaring Brook Sub-watershed.....................................................................34 Chicopee River Watershed...........................................................................34 Protected Surface Waters, Watershed Areas and Wetlands............................35 Living Waters Core Habitats and Supporting Critical Watersheds....................39 Vernal Pools...............................................................................................40 Groundwater...................................................................................................41 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Flood Hazard Areas.................................................................................................44 D. Vegetation..........................................................................................................46 Brief Description of History and Diversity of Vegetation in Shutesbury..........46 Interior Forest Blocks and Forest Cores..........................................................48 Rare Plants, BioMap Core Habitats and Exemplary Natural Communities.......52 E. Fisheries and Wildlife........................................................................................54 Shutesbury Wildlife Inventory.........................................................................54 Mammals....................................................................................................55 Birds...........................................................................................................56 Amphibians and Reptiles..............................................................................57 Fish............................................................................................................58 Invertebrates...............................................................................................58 Wildlife Habitat and Associated Recreational Opportunities in Shutesbury....59 Rare Wildlife Species and BioMap Core Habitats............................................60 Important Wildlife Habitat as Reevaluated under BioMap2..............................62 Core Habitats..............................................................................................63 Critical Natural Landscapes..........................................................................64 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments...............................................65 G. Environmental Challenges...............................................................................68 SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST....................................................77 A. Introduction........................................................................................................77 B. Protected or Temporarily-protected Parcels...................................................78 Public Lands.......................................................................................................78 Private Lands......................................................................................................80 C. Unprotected Parcels..........................................................................................84 Town-owned Lands..............................................................................................84 Private Lands or Lands Owned by Non-profit Groups..............................................86 SECTION 6: COMMUNITY VISION.........................................................................89 A. Description of Process.......................................................................................89 B. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals.............................................89 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS.......................................................................91 A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs...................................................91 B. Summary of Community's Needs.................................................................92 C. Management Needs, Potential Change of Use.............................................93 SECTION 8: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................95 SECTION 9: SEVEN-YEAR ACTION PLAN...........................................................97 SECTION 10: PUBLIC COMMENTS.....................................................................109 SECTION 11: REFERENCES....................................................................................... LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Shutesbury’s Population and Percent Change in Population from 1970 to 2010......................................................................................15 Table 2: Summary of Shutesbury Lands with Permanent, Limited or Temporary Protection...................................................................................................82 Table E-1: Open Space Parcels Permanently-Protected from Development........E-1 Table E-2: Information on Town-owned Conservation Lands………………………E-5 Table E-2: Open Space Parcels with Limited Protection from Development.........E-6 Table E-3: Privately-Owned Open Space Parcels with Temporary Protection from Development................................................................................E-7 Table E-4: Unprotected Land of Conservation or Recreation Interest...................E-13 LIST OF REQUIRED MAPS Map 1: Regional Context Map 3: Zoning Map 4A: Bedrock Geology Map 4B: Surficial Geology iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Map 4C: Soils Grouped by Limitations for Septic Systems Map 5: Unique Features Map 6: Water Resources Map 7: Inventory of Lands of Conservation & Recreation Interest Map 8: Action Plan LIST OF ADDITIONAL MAPS Map A1: Historic 1830 Map Map A2: 1830 Forests and Mills Map Map C: 2005 Land Use Map D: Existing Infrastructure Map F1: Vegetation Map Map F2: Fish & Wildlife Map F3: BioMap2 Map F4: Habitat of Potential Regional or Statewide Importance APPENDICES Appendix A: Supplemental Information on Chapter 61, 61A and 61B Appendix B: Shutesbury 2006 Open Space and Recreation Survey Appendix C: Comments on Shutesbury’s 2006 Open Space and Recreation Survey Appendix D: Shutesbury 2006 Open Space and Recreation Survey Results Appendix E: Detailed Inventory of Protected and Unprotected Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest Appendix F: ADA Access Self-Evaluation iv SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY The