State forests & parks in the northeastern Connecticut valley region

148 Pages·1996·9.6 MB·English

by  Massachusetts. Dept. of Environmental Management

Digitized by the Internet Archive
2013
in
http://archive.org/details/stateforestsparOOmass

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STATE FORESTS & PARKS
IN
THE NORTHEASTERN
CONNECTICUT VALLEY REGION
DRAFT DRAFT
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management
December, 1996
LEGEND
PicnicArea, Fireplaces&Tables
Betti House
Woods Roads
Gravel Road
Main Highway
Forest Boundary
TO SOUTH ROYALSTON
STATE FORESTS & PARKS
IN
THE NORTHEASTERN
CONNECTICUT VALLEY REGION
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii
INTRODUCTION
Mission
1
Management Planning Objectives 1
Regional Context
2
Overview of State Forests & Parks 4
Recent Acquisition in Warwick 8
NATURAL RESOURCES
Forestry & Wildlife Management 11
Fisheries 14
Rare Species & Priority Habitat Areas 15
Land Stewardship Zoning 15
Zoning Map 21
Carrying Capacity 24
Regional Open Space Conservation
2 8
LAKES & PONDS
Background 31
Existing Conditions 31
Analysis 32
Lake & Pond Locus Map 33
.
Lake & Pond Descriptions and Recommendations 3 7
Beaman Pond 3 7
Lake Dennison
3 9
Dunn Pond 4
Laurel Lake 42
Sheomet Lake 44
Ruggles Pond 45
Wickett Pond 46
Regional Recommendations 47
Swimming Suitability Assessment 47
Richards Reservoir & Riceville Pond 48
RECREATION
Background
4 9
Existing Opportunities 50
GOALS Visitor Surveys 51
Sandler Associates Survey 52
Visitor Attendance 53
Attendance Graphs 54
SCORP
5 6
Management Goals & Objectives 56
Recommendations
5 7
Maps: Erving Campground & Wendell Cabins 58
TRAILS
Background
63
Management Goals & Objectives 63
Recommendations
64
Long-Distance Trail Map 69
Bed & Breakfast List 71
STAFF ORGANIZATION
Current (FY 96) Staffing 73
Recommended Organization with Current Staffing Level 74
Enhanced Staffing Organization 75
Park Rangers 76
CAPITAL REHABILITATION & IMPROVEMENTS BY PARK
Vehicles & Equipment 77
Otter River 77
Lake Dennison 78
Birch Hill 79
Federated 79
Ware River Rail Trail 79
Gardner Heritage V.C. 79
Dunn Pond 79
Erving 79
Mt Grace 80
Warwick 80
Wendell 80
M&M Trail 80
Potential Long-range Recreation Improvements 81
CAPITAL REHAB & IMPROVEMENTS BY TYPE OF PROJECT 82
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 87
REFERENCES & SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 89
APPENDICES
A Mass. State Forest Road Classification System 93
B Fisheries Supplemental Information 97
C Carrying Capacity 99
D Gap Analysis Explanation 109
E Park Visitor Survey Results 111
F Millers River Recreation 113
G Massachusetts Heritage Discovery Network 117
H Greenway & Trails - 1996 DEM Grants Recipients 122
I Dam Descriptions & Recommendations 123
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