Welcome. A moment-to-moment story...

Sketch, letter and a photo of Egret, by Brian

Brian Joyce shares another one of his lovely sketches from Spring Pond.  This one is a view looking north, on the north side of upper Spring Pond.

Brian writes:  "As I was leaving the drawing location I saw something that attracted my photographic attention.  I had my small camera in hand. Then looked across the lake and saw what I thought was an Egret on a rock.  Zooming in to capture the shot the Egret took flight.  The zoom was extended and I was lucky to capture the rest of the pictures.  I think the Egret might have been pointing out a turtle perched on a rock." Brian Joyce

Sketch of upper Spring Pond by Brian Joyce

Egret

Egret flying over turtle on rock


Tales without words

Following the power lines through Spring Pond, on a hill 300'± above sea level, a natural wild corridor opens to the view on both sides.  North through here is the proposed DiBiasi subdivision, to the south is Camp Lion (site of controversial rezoning and formerly proposed development).  In Salem and Peabody is City of Peabody property.  To the west the wildlife corridor runs through Boulderwoods (threatened for 110 new homesites, and beyond there, is the sight of Stone Tower in Lynn Woods.  From Lynn Woods to Salem Woods including all forests in between (Spring Pond, Boulderwoods and other habitat islands in threat), connect as one wildlife corridor region.  


Without much help in protecting the area from public agencies, the 'silent alert' of our disappearing landscape will continue.   The Boulderwoods subdivision might begin initial blasting within days, and has received an Environmental Impact Report waiver, without requiring an accurate environmental study.  The neighbors opposed in Peabody and Lynn should be aware a state representative spoke on the developers behalf, stating  "Solomine satisfied city and neighborhood concerns", and that an Environmental Impact Report be WAIVED.  (News article:  Fennell intervened with state agency on Solomine's behalf, by Chris Stevens for the Daily Item, June 14, 2012)   Note, this is not the district of the politician to speak for constituents here, and I am not a lawyer to ask if this could substantiate another lawsuit.  It is very important the neighbors along Boulderwoods in Peabody are also aware:  Because of pending litigation (2x), the project will likely never be approved on the Lynn side, hence the approval for a second access to the subdivision does not seam realistic.  This means:  If the conditions for approval with the City of Peabody were to require a second access to the subdivision because the narrow path on Bartholomew Street in Peabody could not handle the traffic of 110 homesites, the condition will likely not be met.  The abutters in Peabody should be alerted that they may receive all future traffic from the 100± home sites.  

A species on the Natural Heritage of Endangered Species Program has been heard around Spring Pond, an area adjacent to Boulderwoods. Given the habitat conditions in Boulderwoods where the power lines run through, this leads the search for the same species in this area as well.  If interested in helping listen for this species at the edge of a street or your own property, or along the power lines, please feel free to contact us for further information:  peace@springpondwoods.com

Another concern is that Phaeton/ Cannon Rock is adjacent to Boulderwoods, and there could be other archeological sites here to discover.  In the proposed DiBiasi subdivision area, there are recognized archeological sites, and the state ordered to conduct an extensive site investigation.  Without a full environmental impact review for Boulderwoods, we will not know.

Feel free to contact us, if you wish to help in some way save the remaining greenbelt corridor.  peace@springpondwoods.com

More photos of walking through the power lines, through the wetlands in the valleys.  There were thousands of tiny tadpoles swimming in the pool of water.


To the south, two Turkey Vultures perched on the branches of a cell tower.

Looking for protected species to protect, we found various butterflies, moths, dragonflies, damselflies and amphibians.  Many of these were too fast to photograph, and one or two are questionable species if protected.  (Click on images to enlarge.)




peace on

News: Letter, Large projects threaten ecoregion & Lynn Planning Board challenges Solomine

Letters: 

Large projects hurt our ecoregion, to the Editor of the Daily Item, June 6, 2012, by Katerina Panagiotakis.    Attached letter

South Peabody development threatens area wildlife, to the Editor of the Salem News, June 6, 2012, by Katerina Panagiotakis.  Link:
www.salemnews.com/opinion/x1561304127/Letter-South-Peabody-development-threatens-area-wildlife


News article:
Lynn Planning Board challenges Solomine project
Daily Item, June 6, 2012 by Chris Stevens



Silent alert: expanded threat on wildlife corridor

To the west of Spring Pond, across Lynn Street in Peabody is a connecting area of pristine woods with several unstudied potential vernal pools (purple dots in map), and an area of surface water protection zones extended from Spring Pond.  In this area, Solomine is proposing to construct 110 home sites, breaking ground within days.  What is worrisome is that potential vernal pools have not been studied, the loss of natural area near Spring Pond and the realm that this is an important regional wildlife corridor (as also stated in the City of Peabody Open Space Plan) and may be forever gone.  Along with the threat of the proposed Solomine subdivision in Peabody with a few homes in Lynn, is also the Dibiasi Subdivision, the dreamed Walmart & retail center expansion in Salem, and other subdivision proposals in Swampscott, together may also indefinitely cut off and isolate wildlife areas near the coast.  It appears permitting has been issued for the Solomine project.  What can be done now to save this area?...  Write to City of Peabody officials stating your concern.  It may be late to study vernal pools this season until next year, but there is a chance still to walk the site and look for and report rare species.
Background map data from Mass GIS

'Peabody Open Space Plan 2006':   this area "may be considered as part of a larger wildlife corridor system, allowing pathways for animal migration.  As the observations of bird life in Peabody suggest, the large tract of public and private land in South Peabody serves as a route for over 144 species of migrating birds.... This area, along with open areas in the neighboring cities of Lynn and Salem, is a significant regional resource that supports a great variety of wildlife.
Background map data from Mass GIS
Background map data from Google Earth

Copy from City of Peabody Open Space Plan:





     

Latest news of Solomine proposal: 

Contact  peace@SpringPondWoods.com for more info.

Stone hills

Deep across an upland forest, nearby a downstream waterfall, is an uncommon setting of a hill cloaked with stones.  


To the south rests 3 huge boulders, one at the west, one in the middle and one in the east of a bed of ledge.  The back and underside was used as a burner, and the west-end face seems similar to another stone on site.  

Other random, interesting stones...



June 7, DiBiasi subdivision

Still here, keeping an eye on the DiBiase subdivision of lots, Salem side.  Unsure if on June 7 there is a public hearing, but there are many ways to battle things.  Thank you to a Salem citizen for sharing this notice.