The Town of Lincoln, MA - Minutes

Public Hearing - Notice of Intent: Rural Land Foundation, Trapelo & Page Farm Roads (Map 67-Block 3-Lot 3 & Map 68-Block 25-Lot 0). Nadie Rice, working as a consultant to RLF, introduced the project to restore the upper Osborne Pond, owned by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Background work included a wildlife assessment by Brian Butler of Oxbow Associates. Vernal pool species were found but because fish were also discovered it precludes it from being a state-recognized vernal pool. This pond, along with the more grown-in lower pond, and the surrounding wetlands and woodland provide some significant wildlife habitat.

Previously the Commission issued an Order of Conditions permitting the reconstruction of the historic stone bridge that separates the two ponds. This work is almost complete. The neighbors want this project to memorialize Gordon Osborne to proceed and they were strong financial contributors to the permanent protection of the land. The project involves removal of approximately two feet of accumulated sediment from the pond. This material will be stockpiled adjacent to the pond and ultimately spread on LLCT agricultural fields.

Nadie introduced the Beals and Thomas staff who worked on the Notice of Intent, John Thomas, Stacy Barron, and Kerry McSweeney. Geoff McGean and Ken Bassett also attended on behalf of RLF. John Thomas gave an overview of the pond and its characteristics and discussed the infestation of water lilies. In some years the pond almost dries up completely by late summer. Removal of sediment is proposed using a front-end loader. The work will not affect the pond bank except for the single access point. Work is proposed for the end of the summer, the driest time of year, it is not a hydraulic "wet" dredging operation. If necessary, a sump pump will be used to remove water from the pond, discharging into a haybale check dam in the lower basin. The feeder stream (intermittent) is not expected to be flowing during work.

Approximately 2,500 yards of biomass will be removed and stockpiled for dewatering on adjacent upland. The water will infiltrate back into ground and the stockpile work area will be contained with a sedimentation control barrier. The project is expected to take two to three weeks and will achieve a depth of two to four feet in the pond. The effect on wildlife will be minimal because the spring breeders will be gone by this time. The flood and flow characteristics of the pond will not be changed. Groundwater will not be impacted. Pollution control methods involve containing any sediment on site. The access roadway and pond access point on the bank will be restored after the project is complete. The Commission discussed with the applicant's representatives that the restoration of the bank needs to be with native plant species. The applicant was asked to submit a plant list and a vegetation management plan for the land surrounding the pond that would include control of glossy buckthorn.

If nothing is done on this pond it will fill in over time and succeed to marsh and then swamp. Cattails would likely come in first and then, as the water gets shallower, invasive phragmites and purple loosestrife would dominate. This restoration will improve the habitat for fish and any other species that rely on open water. The Commission questioned the lifespan of the proposed work and Mr. Thomas expects that no additional work should be needed for 50-100 years. Beals and Thomas staff will provide oversight, especially during the first couple of days and Nadie Rice will provide daily supervision.

A DEP file number still needs to be issued. Also, DEP needs to review the Water Quality Certification Application. This permit is needed prior to any work. The Commission voted unanimously 4-0 to close the public hearing and will issue an Order of Conditions at the next meeting. Jim Henderson recused himself because he is an RLF board member.

Although both of these are small in size we will be seeing more of these in the coming years. There are not many large unprotected parcels remaining in Town so the next frontier for protecting the character of our community is to work on smaller pieces of the puzzle. Each piece on its own may not be especially unique or contain critical habitat but taken cumulatively they represent a significant interconnected landscape. This landscape is really a mosaic of different land uses and significant natural resource values such as watershed protection and wildlife habitat are protected by smaller house lots. When a typical home in Lincoln is sold it is often torn down and a huge home is built or a huge addition is constructed. With this work often comes the clearing of the surrounding land and conversion into formal lawns and landscaping. This lot-by-lot changing of the face of Lincoln is accelerating and using conservation restrictions on smaller lots is an effective tool for maintaining the vision of Lincoln that most residents expect to be preserved.

Grantors for the Pike CR are John and Mary Pike of 20 Conant Road (Map 107-Block 13). The CR will protect 1.76 acres of an 8-acre lot. This will permanently protect one developable lot out of a potential 3-lot subdivision. The plan is to place another CR in the future on an additional building lot. This area was formally part of the old Browning land and it has field and wetland habitat. Preservation of this land will serve to protect the agricultural landscape in this area and wildlife habitat. Some of the most important vernal pools in Town are located nearby. In addition, the parcel falls within an area with significant private and public conservation holdings.

Grantors for the Thomson CR are Peter Thomson and William Clift and the land is located at 43 Old Sudbury Road (Map 118-Block 3-Lot1). The CR will protect a 1.98 acre house lot. A home currently is on the lot and this CR limits the size of any new construction. Over half of the land will become permanently protected and this land wraps around the existing home. The property was part of the Boyce Farm and it is also located adjacent to a variety of protected land, including Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm, the Coffin-Brown CR, and LLCT land. This land itself will help preserve the agricultural landscape and scenic vistas from both the roadway and nearby trails. A public trail easement is part of this CR for maintaining the existing trail network in the area. Quality wildlife habitat is found on the site including a dense thicket favored by a number of songbirds.

The donations of these two CRs will do their part to protect the Lincoln landscape. The Commission wishes to acknowledge the strong efforts of the Rural Land Foundation and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust towards getting these Restrictions in place. It takes a lot of time and energy to do the necessary work and these two organizations play a critical role in providing long-term stewardship within Lincoln. Even more important is the contribution from the Pike and Thomson families themselves. We all owe a great deal of gratitude to those who are willing to sacrifice some of the dollar value of their land in order to protect the heritage of Lincoln for the benefit of future generations.

Mary Lincoln worked hard to evaluate budgets from previous years and established the FY 2005 zero-growth/no override budget and the preferred/override budget. The zero-growth budget was achieved through several different cuts. Payroll was decreased by $1,000 for the seasonal rangers and by $900 for the administrative assistant (which is currently not filled). Professional services were reduced by $3,650; this includes elimination of appraisal services and consulting services. Various operating expenses including supplies, conference registration and mileage, and clothing expenses accounted for another reduction of $1,825. The Conservation Commission now has the legal authority to charge applicants for consultants that are required for proper evaluation of a permit and this can help offset some of this decrease.

Elizabeth Frumkin and Mary Lincoln are working to on the proposal for use of Community Preservation funds to be submitted by the December 1^st deadline. The Commission will ask for money to be transferred into the Conservation Fund to then be used for open space acquisition. Having the money in the Conservation Fund allows quick access to the money when it is needed for open space protection projects.