Attachment_07_MIMA_APP-F_Wetland_Delineations.pdf

Wetlands Delineation & Permitting ● Wildlife Studies ● Herpetology ● Vernal Pool Ecology ● Botany ● Aerial Imagery

Wetland Resource Area Evaluations Minute Man National Park Boardwalk

Replacement Project Concord & Lincoln, MA

Extent of Sites delineated for Minute Man National Park Boardwalk Replacement Project.

Prepared for:

Minute Man National Park 174 Liberty Street

Concord, MA 01742

March 10, 2022

Minute Man National Park, Concord/Lincoln Wetlands Evaluation for Boardwalk Repairs i

Contents Introduction

A.1 Site Delineations and Mapping

B. Sites Reviewed and Findings

B.1. Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook, Concord (Figure 1.)

B.2. Perry’s Field Boardwalk – Concord, MA (Figure 2.)

B.3. Oak Boardwalk – Concord, MA (Figure 3.)

B.4. Olive Stow Boardwalk, Concord, MA (Figure 4.)

B.5. Elm Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 5.)

B.6. Smith Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 6.)

B.7 Vernal Pool Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 7.)

B.8 Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 7.)

B.9 Minute Man Visitor Center Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 8.)

C. Summary

D. Site Orthophotographic Figures (1 – 8)

Figure 1. Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook, Concord

Figure 2. Perry’s Field Boardwalk, Concord

Figure 3. Oak Boardwalk, Concord

Figure 4. Olive Stow Boardwalk, Concord

Figure 5. Elm Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln

Figure 6. Smith Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln

Figure 7. Vernal Pool Boardwalk, Lincoln

Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk, Lincoln

Figure 8. Minute Man Visitor Center Boardwalk, Lincoln

Introduction

In support of the National Park Service’s plan to repair and improve the boardwalk trail system within Minute Man National Park Oxbow Associates, Inc. (OA) examined nine sections of the boardwalk as defined and described in a document by Kyle Zick Landscape Associates, Inc., “NPS MIMA Boardwalk Inspection”, dated 08.20.2020, all of which bisect one or more regulated wetland resource areas. Site inspections and delineations were conducted between September 24 and October 1, 2021. The delineations and site examinations were conducted under favorable conditions without snow cover or ground frost.

The boardwalk sections occur in Concord (4 sites) and Lincoln (5 sites), Massachusetts within property under fee ownership of Minute Man National Park/NPS

The nine boardwalk sections examined and delineated for wetland resource areas are:

1. Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook, Concord.

2. Perry’s Field Boardwalk, Concord.

3. Oak Boardwalk, Concord.

4. Olive Stow Boardwalk, Concord.

5. Elm Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln.

6. Smith Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln.

7. Vernal Pool Boardwalk, Lincoln.

8. Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk, Lincoln

9. Minute Man Visitor Center Boardwalk, Lincoln

A. Methods

A.1 Site Delineations and Mapping

Following preparation of GIS maps for each boardwalk site utilizing ArcView/ESRI software and MASS GIS imagery and datalayers the seven properties were examined individually September and October, 2021, prior to significant frost conditions.

At the respective sites the area of interest was examined for relevance to each boardwalk feature and its anticipated replacement. Specifically, all areas within approximately 125 horizontal feet from probable activity associated with the replacement of boardwalks in, or near wetlands were scrutinized. In particular, it was desirable to determine if wetlands boundaries associated with the various sites might deflect back toward the boardwalk system, thus projecting additional buffer zone on the work area. Where the trend of the wetlands boundary consistently projecting away from the area of interest, flags were placed to the extent where no additional buffer zone would be significant to site work.

The jurisdictional wetlands associated with the boardwalk repairs were delineated using methods for delineating inland wetlands in accordance with the standards of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL, Ch. 131 §40) and the Concord Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Article 43), and/or Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Article XVIII) as applicable. This involved assessing plant community characteristics, soils and hydrologic characteristics at the various project locations. Photographic documentation of the sites was used to support the delineations as well.

B. Sites Reviewed and Findings

B.1. Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook, Concord (Figure 1.)

The Merriam’s Corner boardwalk section intersects wetlands associated with Mill Brook approximately 250 feet east of the intersection of Lexington and Old Bedford Roads. Mill Brook is a perennial stream and in the vicinity of the boardwalk crossing is serviced by a stone box culvert beneath Lexington Road approximately 25 feet south of the existing boardwalk.

There are several resource areas associated with the Merriam Corner Boardwalk location including: Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW; 301 CMR 10.55), Riverfront Area (RFA;

310 CMR 10.58), inland Bank (310 CMR 10.54), Land Under Waterbodies and Waterways (310 CMR 10.56) and Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF; 310 CMR 10.57).

BVW and Mean Annual High Water (MAHW – determines extent of RFA) were field delineated. It is presumed that these boundaries and the resource area or buffer zone they project are likely of significance to permitting and review for the anticipated boardwalk work.

That portion of mapped floodplain (BLSF) that intersects the boardwalk and part of the trail (red line, Fig. 1), does not have an associated Base Flood Elevation (Zone “A”).

In the field there are four (4) alpha-numeric flag series; two depicting BVW and two depicting MAHW. The flag series are: D1 through D4 (BVW), J1 through J5 (BVW), R1 through R4 (MAHW) and S1 through S4 (MAHW). The accompanying Figure 1 shows the approximate extent of buffer zone and Riverfront Area associated with the resource areas.

Clockwise from upper-left: Photo 1. View of box culvert beneath Lexington Road, view to the south from boardwalk. Photo 2.

View to the north of Mill Brook from the boardwalk. Photo 3. View east from the boardwalk toward Old Bedford Road. Photo 4.

View to the east from the boardwalk.

During the course of the aggregate delineations, Mill Brook was affected by beaver damming and the area of interest was temporarily flooded so as to inundate the adjacent BVW as well as parts of the adjacent gravel footpath.

The boardwalk in this vicinity is shrouded by deciduous trees, and the Mill Brook Channel is approximately 6-10 feet broad with muddy banks, with numerous deadfalls in and across the channel. Vegetation within the BVW includes: Red maple (Acer rubrum), American Elm (Ulmus americana), winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) and sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). To the east the plant community includes second growth oaks (Quercus spp.) and poplars. To the west the trail quickly enters an open field leading toward Old Bedford Road.

Excepting the “J” series, topography typically defines the resource boundaries with Mill Brook, a historically manipulated stream channel, dictating the local hydrology. Soils in the BVW consist of 8-9 inches of sandy silt loam underlain by loamy fine sand (10YR 4/3- 4/2).

Cowardin Classification – Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook

The area of interest associated with the Merriam’s Corner Boardwalk contains a section of Mill Brook, a perennial stream within the upper watershed of the SuAsCo and

Merrimack drainages. This portion of Mill Brook is a perennial stream with unconsolidated, predominantly sandy bottom, described per the Cowardin classification system as R3UB2.

The perennial stream is bounded, in the area of interest by palustrine deciduous wetland (PFO1C); a discrete floodplain forested community consisting of young second growth elements with an understory supporting moderately dense deciduous shrub growth.

B.2. Perry’s Field Boardwalk – Concord, MA (Figure 2.)

The Perry’s Field Boardwalk perpendicularly spans a discrete area of BVW with a mucky, excavated intermittent stream, located west of Perry’s Field and to the east of a paved NPS parking lot, north of Lexington Road. Perry’s Field remains in agricultural use, portions of which are within jurisdictional resource area. A stone dust path section of the Minute Man trail, begins at the eastern end of the boardwalk and borders the field on the west.

Wetland vegetation within the BVW associated with the boardwalk section includes: Red maple, green ash (Fraxinus pensylvanicum), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), northern arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), winterberry holly, sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) and Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).

The anthropogenic ditch is silted in with fine, sapric muck, and was presumably constructed historically to convey flow away from Lexington Road and toward the northern wetland system. There is no perceivable pitch to the ditch in the area of interest under current conditions.

There are three alpha-numeric flag series placed in the field at the Perry Field Boardwalk:

A1 through A5 (west side), B1 through B5, and C1 through C5. The B and C series are separated by the stone dust path bordering on Perry’s Field (Photos 7, 8).

Cowardin Classification – Perry’s Field Boardwalk

The Perry’s field boardwalk intersects an anthropogenic ditch; R4SB5. The feature spanned by the boardwalk was apparently excavated from an area of historically PFO1 now occupied by side cast materials near the boardwalk and bordering on PSS1B to the east; the latter wetland system is beyond the extent of proposed work.

Clockwise from top left: Photo 5. View to the north of Perry’s Field Boardwalk and wetland. Photo 6. Intermittent stream and BVW draining Perry’s Field Boardwalk area. Photo 7. View of east approach to boardwalk. Photo 8. View of trail northeast of boardwalk;

Perry’s Field is to the right of the photograph.

B.3. Oak Boardwalk – Concord, MA (Figure 3.)

The Oak Boardwalk is a discrete, straight section of boardwalk spanning a marginal area of wetlands located approximately 700 feet east of the Manuel Drive cul de sac, north of Lexington Road. This also is the site of an anthropogenic ditch that does not appear to convey flow under current conditions. There is a modern irrigation pipe that parallels the ditch beneath the boardwalk that may provide the function the ditch once did; specifically, conducting irrigation water from the east to fields west of the boardwalk.

The existing ditch beneath the boardwalk is not uniformly pitched so it is unlikely to convey surface water except in extreme conditions. The wetland plant community adjacent to the boardwalk includes: Silky dogwood (Swida ammomum), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), sedges (Carex spp.) and asters and goldenrods. Two flag series were placed in the field; F1 through F4 (east), and G1 through G4 (west).

Cowardin Classification – Oak Boardwalk

The predominant system in this discrete wetland intersection consists of PSS1. We do not consider the subtle ditch feature to function in the transmission of surface water due to historic agricultural manipulations that appear to have initially created the ditch and subsumed it with modernized irrigation facilities.

Clockwise from top left: Photo 9. View east approach to Oak Boardwalk. Photo 10. View of west approach to Oak Boardwalk.

Photo 11. Northeast quadrant adjacent to Oak Boardwalk; the historically excavated ditch is shrouded by the scrub vegetation to the right of the boardwalk. Photo 12. View of southwest quadrant with forested (upland) habitat to the south.

B.4. Olive Stow Boardwalk, Concord, MA (Figure 4.)

The Olive Stow Boardwalk is located north of Lexington Road and between Manuel Drive and Shadyside Ave, in Concord. The boardwalk traverses approximately 450 feet of BVW and intermittent streams in a meandering path and includes an appended viewing/sitting platform. The wetland contains two, north-flowing, former agricultural ditches (Fig. 4).

According to the current USGS quadrangle of the area and confirmed by field observations, there is no perennial stream associated with the northward-directed associated drainage that is a tributary to Elm Brook.

The character of the wetland between the H and I flag series is variable, ranging from emergent/wet meadow to dense scrub-shrub palustrine wetland. Vegetation across the span of the boardwalk is commensurately diverse and includes: Jewelweed, narrow leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), sensitive fern, cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), purple-stemmed aster (Aster puniceus), goldenrods, northern arrowwood, silky dogwood, dock (Rumex sp.), European buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), red maple and American elm.

Wetland soils examined adjacent to the H series had the following profile: O - 0-18”, 10YR 2/1 (sapric); 18-20”+, 10YR 4/3 LFS.

A typical upland soil profile upgradient of the H series: A, 0-16”, 10YR 2/2, FSL; B 16-

20”+, 10YR 4/3 LFS.

Cowardin Classification – Olive Stow Boardwalk

The 450+/- foot span of the Olive Stow Boardwalk traverses PFO1 (east portion), PSS1 and R4SB5.

Photo 13.(left) View of west end of Olive Stow Boardwalk. Photo 14. (right) View of Olive Stow Boardwalk viewing/sitting platform embedded in emergent wetland vegetation.

Photo 15.(left) View of wet meadow habitat adjacent to the Olive Stow Boardwalk. Photo 16. (right) View of Olive Stow Boardwalk eastern section, bisecting forested wetland

B.5. Elm Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 5.)

The Elm Brook Boardwalk section bisects the Elm Brook floodplain wetland, just east of the Concord/Lincoln town boundary. The primary channel of Elm Brook lies near the eastern limit of the BVW (Fig. 5.); flow is to the north.

Four flag series were placed in the field delimiting BVW and MAHW. Series O1 through O5 delimits the easterly BVW boundary. Series Y1 through Y6 delimits the westerly BVW boundary. Internal to the BVW the Elm Brook MAHW boundary is defined by P1 through P5, and Q1 through Q6 (Fig. 5).

The plant community within the Elm Brook lowland draw is similar to that in the vicinity of the Olive Stow Boardwalk; another crossing of a broad area draining to the north.

Wetland plants within the Elm Brook wetland include: Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), asters, purple loosestrife, raspberry (Rubus caroliniana[?]), asters, silky dogwood, red maple and willows (Salix spp.).

Sampled areas within the wetland not associated with a channel show a thick, dark O horizon subtended by loamy fine sand. Elm Brook runs through a variable, sandy channel beneath the existing boardwalk, near the eastern limits of BVW. It appears that in addition to the surface flow in Elm Brook the major driver of hydrology in the wetland is the discharge of groundwater to the surface from the adjacent elevated topography.

Photo 17.(left) View of Elm Brook Boardwalk to the east. Photo 18. (right) View to the north from Elm Brook Boardwalk.

Cowardin Classification – Elm Brook Boardwalk

The boardwalk bisects the Elm Brook flood plain community that is predominantly emergent and scrub-shrub vegetation (PEM1C, PSS1), within which the perennial Elm Brook (R3SB4) and an unnamed intermittent channel (R4SB5). At the eastern limits of the boardwalk is a small bisected area of wooded swamp (PFO1).

B.6. Smith Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 6.)

The Smith Brook Boardwalk consists of a short, straight length of boardwalk of less than twenty-five feet spanning a discrete, excavated wetland channel located east of Old Virginia Road and west of Hanscom Drive, in Lincoln.

Wetland boundary flag series T1 through T5, and U1 through U4 were used to demarcate the upland/wetland boundary in association with the existing boardwalk. The boardwalk overlies a narrow, intermittent channel, with relatively steep banks. Much of the extended bank of the channel is overgrown with multiflora rose. Other vegetation within and adjacent to the wetland portion of the site incudes: Jewelweed, riverbank grape (Vitis riparia), asters, black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus).

The delineation of the intermittent stream and its limited BVW were necessarily based largely on topography and plant community characteristics; the actual resource area occupying a relatively narrow area relative to the length of the existing boardwalk.

Cowardin Classification – Smith Brook Boardwalk

The Smith Brook Boardwalk intersects a historically manipulated channel draining intermittently to the north toward Hanscom Drive. The applicable Cowardin resource areas are R4SB5 and a minute amount of PSS1E.

Photo 19.(left) View of Smith Brook Boardwalk to the south. Photo 20. (right) View to the east from Smith Brook Boardwalk.

B.7 Vernal Pool Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 7.)

The Verna Pool Boardwalk, though not especially distant from Old Bedford Road, or North Great Road, is relatively remote in terms of access. This feature lies within a forested area of approximately 35 acres, much of it exhibiting low, subtle topography. The trails providing access to the Vernal Pool Boardwalk form a loop that is compromised during moderate to high water conditions.

The boardwalk is serviced by a relatively unimproved trail that passes through mature second growth deciduous forest on its course to the boardwalk. The boardwalk is inserted into the forested wetland system, snaking between trees and meandering through seasonally inundated terrain. Two series of BVW flags were placed in association with the Vernal Pool Boardwalk; W1 through W6 and X1 through X8 (Fig. 7). At the westward terminus of the boardwalk the ground rises to provide a length of upland along the unimproved trail to the Vernal Pool Lookout (see B.8, below).

Vegetation in the palustrine forested habitat includes: Cinnamon fern, New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), wild sarsaparilla (Auralia nudicaulis), sweet pepperbush, highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), winterberry holly, red maple, and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Soils are typical of palustrine forests that have experienced inundation and innumerable generations of dead throws and tree tip-ups. Soils have numerous small and large cobbles and a variable sapric O horizon belying a shallow fibric duff layer. The BVW extends slightly beyond the existing boardwalk structure at the easterly approach. Due to ground and water contact, and because the boardwalk was apparently deliberately installed for limited wetland impact, the decking is heaved and twisted in places.

Cowardin Classification – Vernal Pool Boardwalk

The boardwalk bisects a relatively uniform area of wooded swamp categorically described as PFO1C.

Photo 21.(left) East approach to Vernal Pool Boardwalk. Photo 22. (right) Midpoint on Vernal Pool Boardwalk.

B.8 Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 7.)

The Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk is accessed via the Vernal Pool Boardwalk (above) and is a termination of the trail ending at an elevated viewing deck and sitting platform that provides the visitor a view from above of an unconsolidated vernal pool within the forested swamp.

Whereas this is in proximity to, and part of the same forested wetland, the vegetation within the vicinity of the overlook is identical to that described in B.7 above. The overlook itself is suspended one to two feet over a seasonally flooded vernal pool affording public access to the feature without deleterious impacts to the wetland or the pool.

Wetland flags V1 through V4 delimit the end of upland on the approach to the platform.

There is no corresponding “opposite” flag boundary because the trail terminates at the vernal pool, essentially in the middle of a swamp.

Cowardin Classification – Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk

Sharing the same palustrine system and proximity with the Vernal Pool Boardwalk (B.7), the character of the extant wetlands is identical; PFO1C.

Photo 23.(left) Viewing platform at the end of the Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk. Photo 23. (right) View of the boardwalk approach to the viewing platform facing south.

B.9 Minute Man Visitor Center Boardwalk, Lincoln, MA (Figure 8.)

The Visitor Center Boardwalk is located immediately east of the Visitor Center parking loop, north of North Great Road in Lincoln. The boardwalk begins within steps of a stone pavilion and intercepts an intermittent stream draining from a relict agricultural pond, south, ultimately to Hobbs Brook. The boardwalk passes through a small grove of historically planted and now overgrown arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis) trees.

The wetland has an incomplete canopy and supports a diversity of herbaceous and woody plants. Prominent species within the wetland include: Red maple, American elm, green ash, speckled alder (Alnus rugosa), European buckthorn, winterberry holly, jewelweed, and tussock sedge (Carex stricta).

Four, alpha-numeric flag series were placed in the field. The east and west banks of the intermittent stream are defined by L1 through L4 and M1 through M4, respectively. The eastern BVW boundary is labeled, K1 through K4 and the west boundary is defined by N1 through N10.

Clockwise from top left: Photo 24. Visitor Center Boardwalk view from west approach; note BVW flags near mid-frame. Photo 25.

Visitor Center Boardwalk meandering through winterberry shrubs. Photo 26. Arbor Vitae copse near BVW boundary on west side.

Photo 272. Intermittent stream beneath the existing boardwalk, view to the north.

Cowardin Classification – Minute Man Visitor Boardwalk

Three classifications of wetland occur and intergrade in and adjacent to the Minute Man Visitor Boardwalk. The predominant feature is the intermittent stream (R4SB5) which is bounded by palustrine forest (PFO1E) and a modest amount of open canopy wetland (PSS1), likely resultant from prior work associated with the boardwalk and trail.

C. Summary

The nine existing boardwalk sites have structures within them that currently serve to protect the wetland resource areas while providing public access and enjoyment. The extant structures have been assimilated into the resource areas over more than two decades since installation and do not currently compromise the statutory interests protected under the Act, and for the most part the features are proportionately de minimus in the landscape. The Vernal Pool Boardwalk may require a modest extension in order to cover the current extent of wetland where there is currently a foot path utilized by hikers. The remaining sites can presumably be upgraded more or less in situ, depending upon structural or safety requirements and specifications for the replacement boardwalk structures.

D. Site Orthophotographic Figures (1 – 8)

Figure 1. Merriam’s Corner/Mill Brook, Concord.

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Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 1. Merriam's Corner Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 2. Perry’s Field Boardwalk, Concord.

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Figure 2. Perry's Field Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 3. Oak Boardwalk, Concord.

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Figure 3. Oak Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 4. Olive Stow Boardwalk, Concord.

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Figure 4 Olive Stow Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 5. Elm Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln.

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Figure 5. Elm Brook Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Lincoln, MA

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Figure 6. Smith Brook Boardwalk, Lincoln.

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Figure 6. Smith Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park

2021 Orthophotograph Lincoln, MA

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Figure 7. Vernal Pool Boardwalk, Lincoln.

Vernal Pool Overlook Boardwalk, Lincoln

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Fig. 7 Vernal Pool Boardwalk Minuteman Nat. Park 2888

2019 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 8. Minute Man Visitor Center Boardwalk, Lincoln

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Figure 8. Minute Man Visitor Center Minuteman Nat. Park

Lincoln, MA 2021 Orthophotograph

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Wetlands Delineation & Permitting ● Wildlife Studies ● Herpetology ● Vernal Pool Ecology ● Botany ● Aerial Imagery

Wetland Resource Area Evaluations

Proposed Septic Upgrades

7 Sites

Sites review in Concord (red) and Lincoln (purple) – Minute Man National Park Proposed Septic Upgrades.

January 31, 2022

Wetlands Evaluation for Septic System Repairs (7)

Introduction

A.1 Site Delineations and Mapping

B. Sites Reviewed and Findings

B1. East Quarter School - Concord, MA

B2. George Hall House – Concord, MA

B3. Inferrara House and Barn – Concord, MA

B4. Stow Hardy House – Concord, MA

B5. Joshua Brooks House, Lincoln, MA

B.6 Barker House and Garage, Lincoln, MA

B.7 Rego House and Garage, Lincoln, MA

C. Summary

D. Site Orthophotographic Figures (1 – 7); USGS Locus (Figure 8)

Figure 1: East Quarter Schoolhouse, Concord

Figure 2: George Hall House, Concord

Figure 3: Inferrera House and Barn

Figure 4: Stow-Hardy House

Figure 5: Joshua Brooks House and Garage, Lincoln

Figure 6: Barker House and Garage, Lincoln

Figure 7: Rego House and Garage, Lincoln

Figure 8: USGS Site Loci, 1:24,000

In support of the National Park Service’s plan to rehabilitate on-site sewage disposal systems at seven fee owned properties with single family home structures, and/or other improvements, Oxbow Associates, Inc. (OA) examined each property for the presence of jurisdictional wetland areas during December, 2021. The delineations and site examinations were conducted under favorable conditions without snow cover or ground frost.

The seven properties of interest are described as follows

1. East Quarter School, Concord.

2. George Hall House, Concord.

3. Inferrara House and Barn, Concord.

4. Stow-Hardy House, Concord.

5. Joshua Brooks House, Lincoln.

6. Barker House and Garage, Lincoln.

7. Rego House and Garage, Lincoln.

. A. Methods

Following preparation of GIS maps for each property utilizing ArcView/ESRI software and MASS GIS imagery and datalayers the seven properties were examined individually between 4 and 10 December, 2021.

At the sites the area of interest was examined for each property. Specifically, all areas within approximately 125 horizontal feet from the potential soil testing locations (for SDS design) were examined for the presence of indicators of wetland resource areas. In those cases where no jurisdictional wetlands were observed in the area of interest, no further action was taken.

In those areas supporting wetlands in proximity to potential project sites, the wetlands were delineated using standard methods for delineating inland wetlands in accordance with the standards of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL, Ch. 131 §40) and the Concord Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Article 43).

Plant communities were attenuated by frost at the time of the delineations, however in the absence of snow pack and weathering, herbaceous components were largely still identifiable and quantifiable. Photographic documentation of the sites was used to support the delineations as well.

B. Sites Reviewed and Findings

B1. East Quarter School - Concord, MA

The East Quarter School occupies a +/-0.5 acre parcel of NPS fee-owned property with the former school house, paved drive and parking areas and maintained lawn on all sides.

Virtually all the wetland resource area (BVW) is located beyond the parcel boundary.

To the north of the site is an extensive palustrine wetland composed of forested, scrub-shrub and emergent marsh habitat. Recent beaver activity, including a dam near flag Z- 1 (see Fig. 1), as well as other impoundments to the north have altered the local hydrology and water levels appear higher than normal or historic adjacent to the site.

Twelve wetland boundary flags, labeled, “Z1” through “Z12” were placed in the field, oriented from east to west (see Fig. 1). The adjacent resource is Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW; 310 CMR 10.55). The most adjacent wetland is a relict farm ditch to the north of the lawn associated with the School House. Vegetation within the wetland that grades into the maintained lawn includes: Red maple (Acer rubrum), green ash (Fraxinus pensylvanicum), winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), silky dogwood (Swida ammomum), highbush blueberry (Vaccinum corymbosum), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis). Wetland soils exhibited a very dark, deep, sapric “O” horizon greater than 9 inches, with oxidized rhizospheres, subtended by a reduced sandy loam with organic staining from the overlying O horizon, but little evident redox.

Upland vegetation is predominantly associated with the maintained lawn area and in cludes: Red maple, Norway maple (Acer platanoides), sugar maple (A. saccharum), spruce (Picea [glauca?]).

The wetland transitions to maintained lawn beyond the naturalized wetland area described above with a graduated increase in elevation up to the building foundation. A sump pump discharge pipe is located within the lawn approximately twenty-five feet from the BVW.

Nearly the entire site lies within mapped Bordering Land Subject to Flooding with BFE established. The actual extent of BLSF must be determined by instrument topographic survey if required. Maintaining pre- and post grades may avoid the need for precise establishment of site elevations relative to the Mass. State Plane.

Figure 1 shows the delineated BVW and 25, 50, and 100 foot buffer zones.

Photo 1. East Quarter School view to north of BVW and old agricultural ditch.

Photo 2. East Quarter School view to the ENE across the rear lawn of the school house.

B2. George Hall House – Concord, MA

The George Hall House lies on a +/- 1.4 acre parcel that is now bisected by Manuel Drive (Fig. 2.). The home sits high on the site and near the west property boundary (within the Park) there is an elevation drop to the adjacent agricultural field.

A subtle trough in the southwest part of the property was examined for hydric conditions;

its history is unclear, but there is no evidence of surface or groundwater in recent decades there. Similarly, the area within 100 feet to the west of the property exhibits occasional hydrophytes (e.g., silky dogwood shrubs), but there are no indicators of jurisdictional wetlands extant within greater than 100 horizontal feet of the property boundary. Further north and west there may be resource areas associated with the active agricultural farm.

No wetlands were observed on the property, nor to the adjacent east, west or south (across Lexington Road). The property does not contain mapped BLSF, or mapped Priority or Estimated Habitats.

Photo 3. George Hall House, view to the ENE from lowest portion of the property.

B3. Inferrara House and Barn – Concord, MA

The Inferrara House contains a farm house, a streetside farm stand building, and two additional farm outbuildings (Fig. 3.). The parcel consists of approximately 2.7 acres bounded on the south by Lexington Road and on the east by Shadyside Ave. Wetlands adjacent to the site were previously delineated by OA (A and B series) in association with a proposed trail segment. The most proximate wetlands to the area of interest is the A series, to the northwest of the site where a groundwater seep emerges near the property boundary and stone wall (WF A1).

These flags were re-established. The A series begins at a ground seep that is the headwaters of a north-inclined drainage through mature second growth forest. The spring was likely improved historically as a water source.

Vegetation within the “A” BVW includes: Red maple, American elm (Ulmus americana), white ash (Fraxinus americana), gray birch (Betula populifolia), glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus), silky dogwood, multiflora rose, cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus).

The off-site “B” Wetland Series B (Flags B1-B9) is a BVW located across Shadyside Lane to the east (Fig. 3). This area is also second growth mature hardwood woodland with the exception of the presence of weeping willows (Salix babylonica) and some occurrence of common reed (Phragmites australis).

There appears to be abundant opportunities for the placement of a replacement onsite SDS beyond the jurisdictional buffer zone, including within the old field habitat in the western part of the site. There are no jurisdictional wetlands on the premises.

Photo 4. View across old field at Inferrara House toward Shadyside Ave, to the east. Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) is the dominant weed species in the abandoned agricultural field.

B4. Stow Hardy House – Concord, MA

The Stow Hardy House occupies a +/-0.7 acre lot on the north side of Lexington Road.

The only structure on the lot is the historic home which is serviced by a driveway. The lot and vicinity supports a number of mature black walnut trees within the upland. The “Y” series delineation line (Y1 through Y10) was tied into a prior delineation done in association with the boardwalk rehabilitation project and therefore terminates at flag “H1” (see Fig. 4.).

The majority of the lot is upland; the Stow Hardy House is set on high ground relative to the palustrine system to the east. A finger-like projection of the large wetland system extends into the property in a narrow arc where groundwater discharges to the surface seasonally. There is no robust discharge of groundwater that was observed, more the elevation east of the house just intercepts seasonally high groundwater and the topography forms an angular point (Fig. 4) in the wetland boundary.

Wetland vegetation within the on-site portion of the BVW includes American elm, red maple, green ash, highbush blueberry, sensitive fern and hydrophilic grasses and forbs.

Because of the configuration of the BVW boundary most of the subject parcel is within the 100 foot jurisdictional buffer zone to wetlands. The site contains no mapped Estimated or Priority Habitat, nor certified or potential vernal pools, nor Bordering Land Subject to Flooding, according to current MASS GIS datalayers. Soils within the wetland consist of a dark A horizon 8 to 12 inches in depth subtended by low chroma fine sandy loam with faint redox indicators. Soils transition rapidly with elevation toward the house to a B horizon of 10YR 4/4-4/5.

More than half of the parcel is exclusive of the 50 foot buffer zone.

Photo 5. Stow Hardy House view WNW from near Lexington Rd. Wetland Flags Y5 is near center of image.

Photo 6. View largely opposite of Photo 5; Lexington Rd. is over stone wall to the right of image.

B5. Joshua Brooks House, Lincoln, MA

The Joshua Brooks House occupies a +/- 0.8 acre lot on the south side of North Great Road, Lincoln. It is bounded on the east by Elm Brook and on the west by an isolated vegetated wetland/swale on the west.

The only improvements to the parcel are the historic home, driveway and typical lawn landscaping. A stone wall separates the lot from the adjacent forested wetland associated with Elm Brook. Elm Brook is a perennial stream, regulated under the River Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.58) of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. The delineation of the adjacent BVW is largely derived from the fieldstone wall barrier and instances of groundwater breakout within the slope down-gradient of the wall.

The plant community is typical of bottomland palustrine forest in the area with red maple, American elm, winterberry holly, highbush blueberry, cinnamon fern and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). Elm Brook bisects the palustrine forest in a mucky channel with modest banks. Soils within the forested wetland community associated with Elm Brook are typical of a low-gradient palustrine systems, with thick, dark, sapric O horizons overlying a depleted, fine sandy loam mineral soil profile.

There are three flag series placed in the field; virtually all flags are beyond the limits of the property parcel. BVW series A and B are east and north of the property respectively;

A1 through A9, and B1 through B5. Flags C1 through C5 delimit a westerly vegetated swale that appears to be an isolated vegetated wetland, not regulated under the Act.

Although the 200 foot Riverfront Area resource covers nearly all of the premises (Fig. 5), the activities associates with an existing sewage disposal system repair are largely exempt from the performance standards for Riverfront Area as provided at 310 CMR

10.58 (6) (c):

(c) On-site sewage disposal systems in existence on August 7, 1996 and the repair or upgrade of existing systems in compliance with 310 CMR 15.000: The State

Environmental Code, Title 5: Standard Requirements for the Siting, Construction, Inspection, Upgrade and Expansion of On-site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems and for the Transport and Disposal of Septage.

Figure 6 shows the relative configuration of Riverfront Area and buffer zones projected by BVW.

Photo 7. (top) View to the south of Joshua Brooks house and lawn..

Photo 8. (bottom) View to the ESE from fieldstone wall on east side of parcel.

B.6 Barker House and Garage, Lincoln, MA

The Barker House is a one-story, single family home with a detached garage. The site is located north of North Great Road and west of Old Bedford Road in Lincoln (Fig. 6.). The area of interest is a +/- 0.4 acre polygon that excludes and lies east of the home and outbuilding.

The site is naturalizing due to presumed disuse over time. The property lies among mixed deciduous/coniferous second growth forest and lies on an elevated kame terrace that is divided by Old Bedford Road. We estimate that the nearest wetlands lie more than 300 feet west (Elm Brook flood plain) and more than 250 feet to the east.

The property has no wetland constraints relevant to the repair of an on site sewage disposal system.

Figure 9. (top). Outbuilding among overgrown landscaping at Barker House.

Figure 10. (bottom). Wooded cover type dominant east of the Barker home and garage.

B.7 Rego House and Garage, Lincoln, MA

The Rego House is the Ranger Station for Minuteman National Park where law enforcement vehicles and equipment are stored. The area of interest is a polygon of approximately 0.7 acres adjacent (south) of North Great Road and SSW of Bedford Lane.

An abandoned length of Bedford Lane borders on the east of the site.

The site is bounded by upland, oak-dominated second growth woodland and has a storage/work lot to the south and parking and lawn areas adjacent to North Great Road.

The site is absent regulated wetland resource areas.

Of seven sites under consideration, four were found to have wetland resource areas either within the areas of interest provided, or within proximity so as to be of consideration for septic design and permitting. These sites include: East Quarter Schoolhouse, Inferrera House and Barn, Stow-Hardy House and Joshua Brooks House and Garage. With the exception of the Joshua Brooks House, the properties with wetland resource areas present lie in Concord; Joshua Brooks House is in Lincoln.

None of the properties appear to have significant constraints toward approvals of septic system repairs, assuming soil testing is not significantly unfavorable.

Septic system upgrades are generally acknowledged as a positive contribution to the statutory interests protected under the Wetlands Protection Act, and accordingly the Rivers Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.58) provide significant exemption for the replacement of a failed system(s) in compliance with Massachusetts Title 5 Regulations (310 CMR 10.15).

D. Site Orthophotographic Figures (1 – 7); USGS Locus (Figure 8)

Figure 1: East Quarter Schoolhouse, Concord

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Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 1. East Quarter School Minuteman Nat. Park

2019 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 2: George Hall House, Concord

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Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 2. George Hall House Minuteman Nat. Park

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Figure 3: Inferrera House and Barn

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Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 3. Inferrera House & Barn Minuteman Nat. Park

2019 Orthophotograph Concord, MA

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Figure 4: Stow-Hardy House

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Figure 4. Stow-Hardy House Minuteman Nat. Park

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Figure 5: Joshua Brooks House and Garage, Lincoln

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Figure 5. Joshua Brooks House Minuteman Nat. Park

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Figure 6: Barker House and Garage, Lincoln

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Figure 7: Rego House and Garage, Lincoln

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Figure 7. Rego House & Garage Minuteman Nat. Park Ranger Station

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Figure 8: USGS Site Loci, 1:24,000

Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 8. Septic Repair Site Loci Minuteman Nat. Park

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Wetlands Delineation & Permitting ● Wildlife Studies ● Herpetology ● Vernal Pool Ecology ● Botany ● Aerial Imagery

Wetland Resource Area Evaluation Palumbo Farm Building Demolition

Concord, MA

Palumbo Farm, Minute Man National Park – Building Removal Locus.

February 2, 2022

Palumbo Farm – Minute Man National Park, Concord, MA Wetlands Evaluation for Building Removal

Introduction

A.1 Site Delineations and Mapping

B. Findings

C. Summary

D. Site Figures

Figure 1: Palumbo Farm Wetland Delineation

Figure 2 : USGS Locus Map

The Palumbo Farm property, acquired by the National Park Service greater than forty years ago consisted of approximately 50 acres of agricultural land located south of Lexington Road in Concord, MA. The majority of the farm was apparently originally wetland habitat; much of it was historically ditched and drained to provide arable land for farming. Much of that area is now reverting to wetland owing to the abandonment of water control and management associated with agricultural activities.

More or less central to the former farm is an area of slightly elevated terrain, likely created by the introduction of fill, possibly from spoils excavated to create ditches and irrigation ponds. This island of upland was the operational center of farming activities where equipment was stored and agricultural products were packed and processed. Four buildings, in two conjoined pairs remain on the premises and are largely surrounded by deteriorating tarmac. The asphalt was presumably installed to facilitate vehicle traffic and storage over soils that were probably prone to seasonal saturation and instability.

The National Parks Service intends to remove the several relict farm buildings that remain on the Palumbo Farm property; they are in a generally deteriorated state and present potential liabilities. The part of Minute Man National Park containing the farm buildings is currently closed to public access.

The buildings are located on a 17.4+/- acre assessor’s parcel, 9J-4075 (the “Property”).

Virtually all of the Palumbo Farm properties are within mapped Regulatory Floodway and Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (310 CMR 10.57), with BFE established.

There are no Potential, or Certified Vernal Pools within Parcel 9J-4075, nor the adjacent parcels according to current MASSGIS datalayers. Similarly, there is no Estimated or Priority Habitat associated with the former Palumbo Farm property.

A. Methods

Following preparation of GIS maps utilizing ArcView/ESRI software and MASS GIS imagery and datalayers the Property was examined and delineated in between December 4 and 11, 2021.

Only those areas within approximately 100 horizontal feet of the buildings and asphalt apron were delineated. There is no disturbance of land anticipated beyond the +/- 0.75 acre upland island containing the farm buildings.

The field delineation consists of three alpha-numeric flag series (A, B, C). The delineation was conducted in accordance with standards for delineating freshwater wetlands under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Ch. 131 §40; the “Act”) and associated Departmental guidance documents. The Concord Wetlands Protection Bylaw employs the same criteria for resource area boundaries as defined in the Act.

Whereas this is an obviously filled and historically manipulated site, the delineation was responsive to non-native characteristics. Some of the delineated boundaries are coterminous with gravel road shoulders or tarmac. In more naturalized areas standard parameters, examining soil, hydrology and plant community characteristics were applied.

The locations of the wetland resource area boundary flags were recovered using a Trimble GEO XH unit with sub-foot accuracy. These locations and the respective 25, and 50 foot buffer zones are indicated in Figure 1. The entire area of interest lies within less than 100 feet from one or more resource area boundaries.

B. Findings

As described above, the +/-0.75 acre area of interest is surrounded by former agricultural fields. Linear ditches border the fields, documenting the agricultural manipulations of the adjacent land to create tillable land. The fields located to the south of the building island have been abandoned for an extended period and are essentially a shallow marsh community with open water ditches. A branch of Mill Brook, a perennial stream, lies approximately 450 feet south of the area of interest, forming the property boundary between NPS land and Concord conservation land. The net drainage from the area of interest and adjacent fields is to the Mill Brook.

The abandoned agricultural fields north and east of the area of interest have been abandoned for a shorter interval than the wetter areas to the south. To the northwest of the buildings is an area of hardwood forested wetland. A large (>40” dbh) swamp white oak tree (Quercus bicolor) in the vicinity of wetland flag C23 probably predates the agricultural manipulations undertaken on the property and was likely retained as a shade tree. Nearby a large, black willow (Salix nigra), possibly planted there greater than 60 years ago is deteriorating and dropping limbs (adjacent C20).

The westerly building was likely constructed partially within wetlands. The adjacent WNW soil surface exhibits wetland characteristics, but it is isolated by a berm of soil lying between the building and the “C” series wetland boundary. We do not consider this area a regulatable resource due to its isolation and it partially belying the building structure.

Three flag series were placed in the field and are indicated on Figure 1. The “A” series consists of nine flags (A1 – A9), originating on the access road to the building locus. The “B” series (B1 – B9) delimits wetlands east of the access road and predominantly defines agricultural fields, and/or their supporting field ditches. The “C” series (C1 – C23) starts at an agricultural culvert beneath a service road and wraps around the building island to a point parallel with the A8/A9, north of the island.

Vegetation within the wetlands is relatively typical of abandoned lands underlain by hydric soils and includes hydrophilic graminoids (reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea; blue joint, Calamagrostis canadensis), rushes and sedges, cattails (Typha latifolia), asters (Asteraceae), goldenrods (Solidago spp.), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and speckled alder (Alnus rugosa).

Upland vegetation is relatively sparse owing to the fact that much of the upland is surfaced in deteriorating asphalt pavement.