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

www.itemlive.com/articles/2012/06/06/news/news03.prt

Occupy

In light of the Occupy Together movement, our actions here in fighting off corporations from destroying Spring Pond Woods has had its own battle for a year and a half now.  The battle was encouraged by the voices of hundreds.  Thank you for signing the petitions, and sending letters to local and state officials.  The battle to protect this pristine forest, wetlands and campground is not over.

Here is a brilliant video, posted once again, made by a few Salemites on Driscoll's Corporate Priorities for Salem, in building over dedicated green Open Space.  Lowe's has withdrawn from building here since this video was made, but the threat of development still continues.

SaveCamps.org suggests Camp Lion place a Conservation Easement on Property

'Save Camps, The Blog to Save Boy Scout, Girl Scout and Outdoor Camps for Kids:  From LandChoices.org', writes an article on Camp Lion with an interview of Leslie Courtemanche.  Save Camps offers suggestions to the board members of Camp Lion on how to save the camp by placing a conservation easement on the property.

Article
Camp Lion in Salem, MA saved by Volunteers... and the Economy
www.savecamps.org/?p=329

In SaveCamps.org own words:
"SaveCamps.org has written before about the possibility of protecting this camp through a conservation easement. I hope the dropped plans for the Lowe’s store will make the board members of Camp Lion more agreeable to exploring this option. For now Camp Lion is saved and it would seem we have the economy and a lot of dedicated volunteers to thank. Thanks and good luck with your continued efforts in Salem."

News: residents worry about future flooding from loss of woodland

The Daily Item
Lynn residents: Big Box plans will worsen flooding
by Chris Stevens, October 15, 2011
link: www.itemlive.com/articles/2011/10/15/news/news04.prt

Fractures

Continuing with the inquiry of underground waterways from the previous post 'Intro:  Watertable', there are some indications from test borings and field observations concluding there are in fact numerous fractures in the rocky hills which highly likely serve as aquifers connecting to other waterways.  Not only is there a concern with protecting surface drainage from pollution, there is a concern with protecting the water table below the surface and saturation levels, especially in valleys where intermittent streams run and connect in seasons or years of high flooding.

From topographical maps, and site studies, the locations of streams and the water table in the valleys and pockets of the hills can be seen, especially in 'wet seasons'.

3d model of site, using data extracted from Mass GIS, using the program Vectorworks, drawn by yours truly.

One would typically assume ledge and rocky hills do not allow for water to percolate through the ground, but taking a closer look at the site conditions, it is easy to tell from a cliff's edge that indeed there are many fractures which run through the rock....  In some cases these fractures result in springs and contain or carry water through.  We will study the location of some fractures, from the test borings in a later post.

Blasting is a concern which others have expressed, which might affect the existing underground waterways.  There will be blasting needed over an enormous area to level the hilltop for a proposed Lowe's (25'± deep) and the ledge around a proposed expanded Wal-mart (45'± deep), which could create further fractures and disrupt existing connecting waterways around Spring Pond, The City of Peabody's reservoir.  The concern includes the Dibiasi subdivision which has already begun blasting on the Marlborough Rd side, moving further into the woods.  

News: Lowe's pursues to build on wetlands in Florida and looses

Here is somewhat of a similar case with Lowe's wanting to construct on wetlands near important watershed area (as we have here surrounding Spring Pond Reservoir).

 In Florida, the zoning of an area was amended to permit Lowe's (just like here in Salem) to build on wetlands near the outskirts of important waterways.  Earlier this year, the multi year battle ended with Lowe's loosing the case, after the company tried to appeal the restrictions in court.

Links: http://summitcountyvoice.com/2011/03/02/florida-court-nixes-lowes-development-near-everglades/

http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/parks-open-spaces-wild-places/parks-open-spaces-wild-places/victory-gov.-crist-florida-cabinet-hold-the-line-for-the-everglades#idk4besKTQxRs5pUl_M5ADVQ

Wetland impact: East Stream

One of the biggest concerns of the area will be the impact on wetlands by proposed future 'developments'.   For example, one of the streams which flows into a waterfall is faced by the threat of a Lowe's building.  The impact to this stream alone is highly likely to exceed the 5,000 sf max. allowance in Massachusetts for impact on wetlands.

According to documents, the Lowe's impact on wetlands is said to be "4,585 sf".  

Refer to ENF report for numbers: www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepadocs/2010/010610em/nps/enf/14532.pdf

Refer Salem Citizens website for drawings and numbers:  salemcitizens.org/issues/Lowes/Front%20End%20Charts.pdf 

The summary of BVW "A", "B" and "C" in the image below equals 4,585 sf.

However...

...as one studies the amount of wetland vegetation within these given boundaries and measures the drawings, the amount of wetland affected exceeds 5,000 sf by a great number.  In my own personal investigation of the drawings, I've taken a conservative measurement to find the bvw wetland alteration is minimally 7,170± sf (excluding 'bank' area, and expanded work in buffer areas).  Others have found these numbers to be higher.  

A big question (for me at least) remains.  Are the flags in the field correctly drawn in plan?  It is discovered that some of the flags have duplicate numbers, and some of the measurements between the flags were shorter in distance than shown on the plan.  Theoretically, if this is true, this could possibly mean that the stream in plan is extended at the thinner portion, causing the top thicker end of the stream on paper to be excluded from the calculations of the affected area?  This is only a question.  The only way for me to understand the conditions in the field is to have someone verify the locations of the flags with a handheld gps locator that has an inch or less tolerance, or other method of survey.  But this investigation for me is not extremely important as we already discovered, that by measuring the drawings, the wetland alterations exceed the allowable limit by a great amount.

To measure the drawings:

Print the drawing below to scale (using the scale bar as a reference) and measure by using a series of triangles to calculate the affected wetland flagged area.  Or import the drawing into a drawing program, using the scale bar as reference, and then trace over the affected area using a polygon tool, resulting in a calculation of the area.  Use the drawing below found on Salem Citizens website (click here).

Watershed concerns

Here is a bird's eye view from Spring Pond, looking east toward Highland Ave.  The base 3d imagery is taken from Google Earth showing the topography of the high ridge, wetlands and streams downhill to Spring Pond.  A light-blue color is added to highlight the wetlands and streams.  Note:  Videos following the stream uphill will be posted in the coming weeks.

A proposed Super Wal-mart expansion wishes to blast the ledge around the existing Walmart on Rt. 107, pushing the development further back toward the water shed.  A proposed Lowe's wishes to blast the hill top, and place a building over a flowing stream and waterfall, displacing existing Camp Fire facilities.

Click on each image to view.  

Raw image, unhighlighted...

Potential Vernal Pool study, at night

Last evening, on Tuesday April 5th, three others including myself, traveled into the edge of the woods to study a Mass DEP listed Potential Vernal Pool area. 

In the dark, Leslie, Calvin, Rich and I heard a forceful, ever-present chorus of frogs.  Spring Peepers, American Toads and other special Frogs can be heard now in the evening.  The videos below capture the sound of frogs and images of bugs observed in the pools.  

Alert: Traffic might extend into quiet neighborhoods of the Fay Estate, Lynn

The Fay Estate neighborhood, off Western Ave, may need to be aware of this...

If the proposal of Lowe's is approved, the beloved camp ground currently located off Highland Ave will be forced to move and could possibly (temporarily?) use the grounds in the rear off Fay's Ave. This will create traffic congestion in a quite neighborhood where there is currently little to none.   400-2000 children will be transported back and forth through the road of Fays Ave.  For those who are used to strolling the peaceful roads, walking with friends, pets or strolling with children, or whose children currently play safely on the roads, using basketball hoops, bicycles or play other sports, please be aware of this possible change highly likely to occur if the deal between Camp Lion and the big-box retailer goes through.   For further inquiry or addressing concerns regarding the possible impact of traffic issues extending into these quiet areas, please contact the City of Lynn Traffic Department or Ward Councilor Trahant, who has done an excellent job in protecting the community regarding this issue from day one.

The camp is currently facing a tremendous challenge in raising millions to rebuild the facilities, if their goal will be accomplished at all.  This is one of the reasons why so many are hoping the camp ground will be able to remain at its current home off Highland Ave.  

Please spread the awareness.


Signed,
 A concerned citizen who has no affiliation with either camp organization.

News: City of Peabody will look into the impact of Lowe's to Spring Pond

Salem News:

To read more click on article above.

peace

Bald Eagle sightings

An important message by a conservationist:

         "There have likely been sightings of a young bald eagle here.  Three different people have reported the sightings last week in the area.  Currently, there are nesting locations along the Merrimac River and the population is increasing.  Therefore the Bald Eagles are going to need to travel further & further to forage.  Spring Pond Woods and Lynn Woods are perfect given the large water land tracts, large water bodies and large pines."

Please keep a lookout for the Bald Eagle!!!   Please report sightings to Natural Heritage, Mass Audubon and/or please contact  peace@springpondwoods.com, tel. 617.418.3009, to let us know.

p.s.  I have to admit, I've been a big dumby to not think of this sooner.  I am no expert on birds, while this has been mostly Leslie Courtemanche's expertise.  After researching through images of what a juvenile bald eagle looks like (example left), I now believe one came into my sight a month ago.  I remember its cute spiky hair and orangey beak.  The bird seemed rare and different from the other birds usually seen in Spring Pond.  Mersini, an European flora naturalist, has seen the same bird, and has been telling me of an adult bird with a white head, and a brown and white body, possibly living off the path.  The description of the adult bird, sounds like a bald eagle. Many have seen hawks and turkey vultures flying around the area as well.  There may be an increasing amount of bird sightings on the Lynn and Salem side to come, since acres of woods on the Peabody side have burnt.

Bald Eagles are an endangered listed species in Massachusetts.  They like to live near large bodies of water, on mature trees... mostly pine.  Spring Pond Woods is noted by the City of Peabody as being an important regional wildlife corridor in Lynn, Peabody and Salem.  Keeping the night sky dark, and the woods intact is highly important (not laughable).

Our search continues through these cold months.

peace on

The ANRAD

Some people have been looking for the ANRAD (Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation) for 488 Highland Avenue, to appeal.  (Here is the link to the document:  http://springpond.us/Reports/ANRAD.pdf )

If anyone wishes to file an appeal, it can be done by either 

a direct abutter to the project, 

an aggrieved person (someone who will be adversely impacted as a result of the construction), 

or a 10 citizen group in the community (if one of the residents had made public commentary before).

For more information on how to appeal, see:  http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/appeals.htm

Issues in the ANRAD report (in my opinion):

• The major wrong in this report is that there is more than 5,000 sq ft of wetland being affected, where only up to 5,000 is allowed.  
• The delineation of a wetland was made in a cold month, an improper time to make a determination.  Back on Dec. 11, 2008, in a meeting with the Salem Conservation Commission, Terry Gensel from ENSR/AECOM requested to classify the designation of a wetland as "intermittent rather than perennial so there will be no surprises to the buyer or seller.  "A site visit was okayed at this request.. in the cold month of Dec-Jan, an improper time to make a determination of a wetland http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_ConCommMin/2008Minutes/S022A5291
• There is no mention of Water Surface Protection Areas (related to water supply) or DEP Potential Vernal Pools, as seen from Mass GIS, which are near or in the project site.  

peace on

Peer Review shows concerns for Spring Pond

The Peer Review, dated July 1, 2010, made by the consultant for the City of Salem, discusses the review of the Kennedy Development Group project for Wal-Mart/ Lowe's on Highland Ave (in Spring Pond Woods).


There are a lot of questions raised in the report.  Most are undetermined.  The biggest regional concern is for the City of Peabody's drinking supply... Spring Pond.  In the report,  it mentions the rear portion of the building site is located within the Proctor Brook catchment of the North River, which may be tributary to Spring Pond.  It is not surprising, these waterways were not presented by the Lowe's/Walmart reps at the latest Salem Public Hearing, as the presentation only argued the project has no affect on Spring Pond.


From the report:

A concern with the above report, should note- to not have the applicant confirm delineation.  Someone with no stake in this project should do this.

Furthermore:

A further study from Mass GIS of an old map, c1900, indicates the streams and brooks on site, connect to Spring Pond.  As shown, Walmart (the old Rich's) is now built on a marsh...thus the flooding issues?  One water way is indicated behind Walmart's Parcel, and the other waterway is downhill from the Lowe's/'camp pad' site.

I wonder if the name of Proctor's Brook originated from the history told of an old landowner, by Spring Pond?

References:  

Peer Review:  http://www.springpond.us/NECE1.pdf

Mass GIS OLIVER:  http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/massgis_viewer/index.htm

Public Parcel included - Let me Repeat

Sorry for the repeat post, but I feel as though the public should be aware that there is Salem Public land involved/ traded for the proposed 'development' to occur.  Officials of the City of Salem are not making this very clear... see here.


This drawing, shows the ownership of the parcels.   Salem's Public Parcel of 4 acres (which was once the Camp's parcel taken by eminent domain) will become a Lowe's parking lot, access road and part of Super Wal-Mart's lot.  (click on images to view.) 

Land Swap- City of Salem is transferring the Salem Public parcel to the retailer.  

Camp Lion is then loosing more land to the City of Salem. 

The proposed Lowe's -  siting over a Salem Public parcel, Camp Lion parcel (pristine woods and wetlands). Super Wal-Mart will propose a similar negative environmental impact, as ledge and trees will be blasted around the site.

More acres of trees will be lost with the new 'camp pad' on Camp Lions, clearing the land for new facilities:  buildings, pool, parking lots, fields, etc.

Save Spring Pond Woods, video update

The video 'Save Spring Pond Woods', created back in April, has been edited with recent images.



peace on

Video... Paving over Salem: Driscoll's Corporate Priority

Video Featuring... 

Paving over Salem: Driscoll's Corporate Priority

An informative video presentation 

 on the impact of the proposed Lowe's/ Super Wal-mart project 

and 

Salem's Zoning

conditions

.....

A Joyce Jr. Production

Wetlands connected to Spring Pond

"A toxic dump in the rear of commercial lots is typical", a local Conservation Commissioner once said.  If this is "typical", how come commercial businesses are allowed near important waterways?

A big Lowe's commercial development is proposed to be constructed uphill from Spring Pond.  How much of an impact on wetlands connecting to Spring Pond, will this project have?  

Studying the history of the waterways, the streams from the hills historically connect to Spring Pond.  A historical map, c1900 shows just this. Today the streams appear to of grown, creating more wetland areas in the hills, with the exception of an old marsh being eliminated where Walmart now stands.  The streams are low or dry now in these drought summer months, to be able to make a determination.  Comparing the stream from the old map to the current map conditions, this gives concern that the proposed Lowe's lot, access road and retention pond is too near uphill from important waterways that potentially connect to Spring Pond.  I hope this raises concern to not repeat the precedent costs from 1996, where the City of Peabody had to pay to clean the sludge from the Coolidge Avenue Water Treatment Plant that accumulated at the bottom of Spring Pond.  Here is a map of the existing wetlands and streams, overlain with the proposed Lowe's/ Super Wal-mart development.

(Map created using the software Vectorworks Designer: Architect/ Landmark/ Renderworks, using data extracted from Mass GIS Oliver, and an image file of proposed development.)

There are many precedent environmental crimes to be concerned about.  Is it safe to say, award winning systems that corporations tout about, will fail again as they have in the recent few months?

• Lowe's was fined a penalty by Mass DEP in April 2010 for polluting groundwater in Pembroke:  http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/press/0410lowe.htm
• Lowe's developer penalized by Mass DEP in May 2010 for violation of a wetland:  http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/press/0510lowe.htm
• Lowe's fined $137,500 by EPA for failure to adequately control storm water run-off at 4 Mass construction sites:  http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/8b770facf5edf6f185257359003fb69e/24d5823b8d610b6685257382000a0ce3!OpenDocument&Start=5&Count=5&Expand=5
• Lowe's fined for dumping a pesticide next to a wetland, where employees dumped 12 bottles of Ortho Diazinon concentrate behind the store.  Each bottle could make 12 gallons of pesticide spray, classified as a significant spill:  Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel, Oct 27 1998
• In winter months, typically the sludge in dirty snow from commercial parking lots is shoveled toward the rear of lots.  In this case, the sludge could be shoveled toward the downslopes.  To add, one Lowe's parking lot was found to have elevated levels of PAH-benzo(a)pyrene in the asphalt:   source- Austin American-Statesman, Feb. 4, 2003
• Someone polluted in the rear of Walmart's lot in Salem, right here.  Hope the store was informed:  http://www.springpondwoods.com/2010/06/polluter-watch-dump-on-wetlands.html

Thanks to a few friends for sharing some of this info.

Peace on

Pine Barren

We can understand from looking at Mass GIS data, there are no records of endangered species sited directly in the Pine Barrens.  However, because a Pine Barren is known to typically have more than a few endangered species thriving in it, how can we be for certain there are no endangered species in this area?  Shouldn't there need to be a full study of the site, on site, to be certain before it is destroyed?  There is one certified vernal pool in the vicinity of connecting wetlands and there are 8 potential vernal pools in abutting wetlands, whereby demonstating the presence of species that are threatened.  The signs of possibility are too high to ignore.


Another question is that an arborist has helped identify unique trees not common in Mass. These trees have been planted here from different parts of the world filling 200 acres and are still thriving. We need to report these uncommon trees that enrich the Pine Barrens and the rest of the region.


A third question is, sightings of hawks and vultures are increasing in these woods year after year. The habitat conditions here of ecological diversity include a mix of dry pine barrens and wetlands on high hill tops and low valleys, with tall trees in unfragmented woodland by a lakelet. We have found a few downy feathers and site of a large nest in the area. Doesn't this increase the importance of saving the largest Pine Barren in Salem?  Pine Barrens offer a unique habitat community, and is severely threatened in Massachusetts by development.  I've also read a Pine Barren helps filter water.  I wonder if it does help filter water before reaching Spring Pond?  


This map shows locations of wetlands, certified and potential vernal pools along the hilly topography... overlain by the proposed threat of a new Lowe's and expanded Super Wal-mart.  As observed, the proposed Lowe's is siting over a wetland marked having a potential vernal pool, and the access road and basins are too near (if not over) wetlands and surface water protection areas.

This map was created in the software Vectorworks Designer: Architect/ Landmark/ Renderworks, using data extracted from Mass GIS, and an overlay of the proposed 'development'.  For analysis of the existing conditions of the site see OLIVER, Mass GIS.


Previous post:   Walking through a Pine Barren



Peace on