A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

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A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT
February 2004
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1890
1908
1890
1908
1930
1930
2003
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Swendsen Farm
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Agriculture
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Swendsen Farm Agriculture

• Area 68.5 acres
• Crops
• Corn
• Hay
• Pumpkins

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Current Management Practices

• Herbicides and Pesticides
• Liming
• Crop Rotation
• Soil Erosion Control

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Management Recommendations

• Maintain and improve drainage system
• Review pesticide application plan
• Develop an edge management plan
• Maintain and enhance field species diversity

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Forests
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Forest Communities
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• Hardwood-Thick Shrub
• Hemlock-Hardwood
• Mixed-Wood
• Red Maple Mesic
• Red Maple Swamp
• Upland Hardwood

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Objective Maintain Forest Health

• Considerations
• Potential pathogens
• Invasive species
• Recommendations
• Monitor for hemlock woolly adelgid and beech bark
  disease
• Eradicate invasive species where feasible

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Objective Watershed Health

• Considerations
• Vegetation traps sediments and prevents sediment
  loading of streams
• Recommendations
• Maintain riparian buffers

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Objective Wildlife Habitat

• Considerations
• Food Sources
• Shelter
• Recommendations
• Maintain variety of food sources and habitats

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Objective Aesthetics

• Considerations
• Beautiful stands enhance the visitor experience
• Recommendations
• Create and maintain aesthetically pleasing stands

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(No Transcript)
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Wetlands
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Objectives

• Preserve wildlife habitat
• Maintain high water quality
• Maintain ecosystem health
• Promote aesthetics
• Preserve species diversity

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Recommendations

• Maintain buffers
• Restrict recreational activity
• Monitor pond and wetlands for invasive species
• Encourage community groups to pursue wetland
  projects

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Wildlife
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Potential Wildlife in Non Forested Areas of
Swendsen Farm (source NEWILD)
Potential Wildlife in Forested Areas of Swendsen
Farm (source NEWILD)
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Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Indiana Myotis Myotis sodalis
Source Corbis.com
Endangered Species
Source Merlin D. Tuttle Bat Conservation
International
Bog Turtle Clemmys muhlenbergii
Source Bern W. Tryon/Knoxville Zoo
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Management Recommendations

• Maintain habitat diversity
• Maintain species that provide food and shelter
• Develop strategies to enhance habitat connectivity

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Recreation
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Objective
To open up Swendsen Farm as a
passive recreation resource for the general
public.
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Choice of Recreation
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Recommendations

• Mark property boundaries
• Include a recreation clause in the agricultural
  lease

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Recommendations

• Designate recreational options
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Fishing
• Bird and scenic observation sites
• Skating
• Cross country skiing
• Picnicking

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• Recommendations
• Build a parking lot
• Create a trail
• system

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Recommendations

• Develop signage
• - Welcome sign
• - Steep slope warning signs
• - Pesticide application signs

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Recommendations

• Appoint a property steward
• Publicise opening of the property to the public
• Approach community groups regarding use of the
  property

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Education
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Objective
To investigate the potential for utilizing
Swendsen Farm as an educational resource for
schools and the community.
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Local Schools

• Bethlehem Elementary School
• Woodbury Middle School
• Nonnewaug High School

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Recommendations

• Forge relationships with the local schools
• Develop interpretive materials
• Promote educational activities on the property

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Priorities for 2004-2005
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Melissa Aikens Jessica Barnes Alvaro del
Campo Elizabeth Petruska