The last Open Space and Recreation Plan Public Forum will be held on 6/20/2023 from 6 PM - 8 PM in the Municipal Building Council Chambers.
Town staff will present a draft of the 2023 Open Space Recreation Plan and will be seeking feedback from the community.
Learn more here: https://t.co/Z6hnh8K7Fi
https://t.co/nS2CwhK5pJ
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| Open Space and Recreation Plan Public Forum - June 20, 2032 at 6 PM |
Patrick GallagherChairman
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| Request for Determination - 21 Grove Street NuStyle - Conservation |
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| Notice of Intent - 10 Echo Bridge Road - Conservation |
Across Massachusetts, spring is the season of movement. Hibernating animals emerge from their winter resting areas in search of food and mates. Turtles are no exception. >From mid-May to early July, thousands of turtles throughout Massachusetts travel to new areas to find food and nest. You may see turtles on roadways, in your backyard, or other unexpected locations as they move across the landscape to find resources they need to survive. Even if it's not apparent to you where they're headed, turtles have a keen sense of direction and may be on their way to wetlands or open, upland sites such as lawns, gravel pits, or roadsides for nesting. If you find a turtle, do not move it far away.
Why did the turtle cross the road?
Protecting adult turtles during this vulnerable time can make a big difference. "Adult turtles can live past 80 years. Young turtles and eggs, on the other hand, have a variety of predators and a low chance of reaching adulthood," says Dr. Mike Jones, MassWildlife State Herpetologist. "This is why it's especially important to protect older adult turtles from cars, especially during this time of year when turtles are crossing roads more frequently." Losing any adult turtles, particularly adult females, is a serious problem that can lead to the eventual local extinction of a population.
What to do if you see a turtle in or near a road:
Be safe. Do not risk getting hurt or causing harm to others by unsafely pulling off the road or trying to dodge traffic. If the opportunity to safely move a turtle from the road occurs, move it in the direction it was heading and off the edge of the road. The turtle is trying to get to habitats and resources it needs and knows. Do not take turtles home or move them to a "better" location; turtles should not be moved more than 100 yards from where they are found.
Handle with care. Most turtles should be grasped gently along the shell edge near the mid-point of the body. However, snapping turtles are fast and have very powerful jaws that can inflict a bad bite. A snapping turtle can reach your hands if you lift it by the sides of its shell. If you must move a snapping turtle, use a broom to coax it into a plastic tub or box. Never lift a snapping turtle only by the tail; this can injure their spine.
Slow down, be observant. Watch for turtles on roadways bordered by wetlands on both sides. These areas are commonly used as crossing points. If you see one turtle crossing, there's a chance that others will be crossing soon as well.
Report busy crossing locations. Let the Town of Franklin - Conservation and MassWildlife know If you see multiple turtles crossing the road or if you see multiple turtles that have been hit by cars. Email location information to natural.heritage@mass.gov and bgoodlander@franklinma.gov.
Spread the word and help protect our native turtles. In addition to five species of sea turtles that frequent our coastal areas, Massachusetts is home to ten native species of terrestrial and aquatic turtles. Six of the 10 species are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Learn more in our native turtles here.
MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. "Why did the turtle cross the road?" Mass.gov, 05/03/2023, https://www.mass.gov/news/why-did-the-turtle-cross-the-road
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/why-did-turtle-cross-road
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| No rain in the forecast for this Earth Day Celebration at DelCarte - Sunday, May 7 from 9 AM to 1 PM |
Folks may recall, Sunday, April 23 we experienced quite a bit of rain. It had been forecast so the cancelation went out on Friday, ahead of the weekend. That event has now been rescheduled for Sunday, May 7 (and apparently we will see much better weather)!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/rescheduled-earth-day-delcarte-sunday-may-7-9am-1pm
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| Earth Day at DelCarte was RESCHEDULED for Sunday, May 7 from 9 AM to 1 PM |
The Conservation Commission will hold its Eighth Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) focus group meeting this Thursday, May 4 from 6-7 PM in Town Council Chambers.
This meeting will also be available via Zoom. Zoom login information can be found here.
In case you'll miss the Thursday meeting or would like further discussion, you are also invited to attend OSRP Office Hours Friday, May 5 between 10 and 11am in the third floor training room (Room 326A) at Town Hall or via Zoom.
Bring your ideas and see you there!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/2023-osrp-focus-group-meeting-habitat-protection-ecosystem-restoration-other
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| 2023 OSRP Focus Group Meeting - Habitat Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, Other Conservation Lands - Thursday May 4 |
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| Earth Day at DelCarte on Sunday, April 23 from 9 AM to 1PM |
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/earth-day-delcarte-sunday-april-23-9am-1pm
Join the Town of Franklin and the Franklin Area Moms Club for a weekend of Earth Day celebrations.
Starting on Saturday, April 22, 9 AM - 12 PM with the clean up of over 25 areas across Town. Meet at Beaver Pond and pick up your bags/gloves and maps. First 100 participants will receive an earth day t-shirt. DPW will be giving away tree samplings, coffee and bagels.
Wrap up the day with a Environmental Extravaganza on the Town Common from 11 - 1 PM.
On Sunday, the Conservation Department is sponsoring an event at DelCarte on Pleasant Street.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/news/earth-day-2023
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| Earth Day 2023 is spread over the weekend here in Franklin |
Vernal pools play an integral part in the function of our Franklin ecosystem and are commonly found throughout the entirety of the landscape. In fact, it is quite hard to travel around Town without being at most one mile away from a vernal pool. Many vernal pools are found in wooden areas near our homes, schools, and businesses; and can be found during the spring months by following the calls of spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). Keep reading for more vernal pool information and remember - due to the delicate nature of the vernal pool egg masses and wildlife, please do not contain, pick up, carry, or remove them. It is unlawful and causes undue harm and stress to the egg masses and animals.
What are Vernal Pools?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)
Vernal pools are temporary bodies of fresh water that provide important habitat for many vertebrate and invertebrate species. "Vernal", meaning spring, are filled by spring rains and snowmelt, after which they dry during the summer months. Spring aside, many vernal pools are also filled by autumn rains (i.e, "autumnal pools") and persist throughout the winter. These autumnal pools are semi-permanent and do not dry every year.
Vernal pools are often very small and shallow; in fact, many vernal pools that support rich communities of vertebrate and invertebrate animals may measure only a few yards across! However, vernal pools of several acres also occur throughout Massachusetts.
Where are Vernal Pools found?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)
Vernal pools are common throughout Massachusetts and occur in almost every town in the state. Vernal pools are found across the landscape where small woodland depressions, swales, or "kettle holes" collect spring runoff or intercept seasonally high groundwater tables. Although it's common to associate vernal pools with dry woodland areas, vernal pools also occur in meadows, river floodplains, interdunal swales, and large vegetated wetland complexes. Vernal pool habitat can occur where water is contained more than two months in the spring and summer of most years, and where no reproducing fish populations are present. Can you guess why this is?
Why Are Vernal Pools Valuable?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)
Vernal pools constitute a unique and increasingly vulnerable type of wetland. Vernal pools are inhabited by many species of wildlife, some of which are totally dependent on vernal pools for their survival. Vernal pools do not support fish because they dry out annually or at least periodically. Some may contain water year round, but are free of fish as a result of significant drawdowns that result in extremely low dissolved oxygen levels. The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) and the four local species of mole salamander (Ambystoma spp.) have evolved breeding strategies intolerant of fish predation on their eggs and larvae; the lack of established reproducing fish populations is essential to the breeding success of these species. Other amphibian species, including the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus), spring peeper (P. crucifer), and gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor), often exploit the fish-free waters of vernal pools but use a variety of different wetland types. Vernal pools also support rich and diverse invertebrate faunas. Some invertebrates, such as the fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus spp.), are also dependent upon vernal pools. Invertebrates are both important predators and prey in vernal pool ecosystems. Vernal pools are an important habitat resource for many birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including many species listed under the MA Endangered Species Act (M.G.L c.131A).
The Vernal Pool Boundary
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)
The shallow edges of vernal pool habitat represent one of the most ecologically valuable portions of these habitats. These areas are generally the first to thaw in the spring and provide access to the pool for the earliest breeding species. These shallow water zones also tend to be significantly warmer than the deeper portions of a vernal pool throughout the spring. Egg masses of early breeding amphibians benefit from the warmer water temperatures at the pool edges that promote rapid egg development.
For more information on Vernal Pools, please see here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidelines-for-the-certification-of-vernal-pool-habitat/download
To report a Vernal Pool near you, please contact the Conservation Agent via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone at (508) 520-4847.
Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/vernal-pools-important-part-franklin-landscape
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| Vernal Pools - An Important Part of the Franklin Landscape |
Please note that the Converse and Conserve Workshop will now take place in Room 326A at Town Hall, instead of Council Chambers.
Your land is a part of your legacy. Deciding what will happen to your land after you are gone is the next critical step of being a good land steward and furthering that legacy. Who will own your land and how will it be used? What will your legacy continue to be? These are questions that the "Converse and Conserve" workshop on Wednesday, March 29 from 4p-6p at Town Hall, Room 326A can answer for you.
Join the Franklin Conservation Department, Franklin Assessor's Office, Franklin Agricultural Commission, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Metacomet Land Trust, and DDCRW Law in learning about your options. Come learn about applicable tax incentive programs for forestland, agricultural land, and open space; learn about resource management for your natural environment; and even learn how to endow your land to ensure its lifelong protection. Estate planning, whether for now or for the future, is not just for the wealthy or for those who own "estates" – if you own land, then estate planning is a necessary and valuable step to ensure that the legacy of your land is a positive one!
Food and beverages will be provided by Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen.
RSVP for a free gift.
For more information or to RSVP contact bgoodlander@franklinma.gov/(508) 520-4847
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/converse-and-conserve-workshop-location-change-room-326a
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| Converse and Conserve Workshop - Location Change: Room 326A |
Your land is a part of your legacy. Deciding what will happen to your land after you are gone is the next critical step of being a good land steward and furthering that legacy. Who will own your land and how will it be used? What will your legacy continue to be?
These are questions that the "Converse and Conserve" workshop on Wednesday, March 29 from 4 PM - 6 PM at Town Hall, Council Chambers can answer for you.
Join the Franklin Conservation Department, Franklin Assessor's Office, Franklin Agricultural Commission, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Metacomet Land Trust, and DDCRW Law in learning about your options. Come learn about applicable tax incentive programs for forestland, agricultural land, and open space; learn about resource management for your natural environment; and even learn how to endow your land to ensure its lifelong protection. Estate planning, whether for now or for the future, is not just for the wealthy or for those who own "estates" – if you own land, then estate planning is a necessary and valuable step to ensure that the legacy of your land is a positive one!
Food and beverages will be provided by Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen.
RSVP for a free gift.
For more information or to RSVP contact bgoodlander@franklinma.gov/(508) 520-4847.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/converse-and-conserve-workshop-come-learn-about-programs-allow-your-property-work
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| Converse and Conserve Workshop - Come Learn About Programs That Allow Your Property to Work for You and Create a Family Legacy |
a. A Chapter 40B primer by the state Department of Housing and CommunityDevelopment (DHCD) https://www.mass.gov/chapter-40-b-planning-and-informationb. A staff memo and slideshow will be forthcoming at the meeting.
a. Friendly 40B process -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2a._-_friendly_40b_process.pdfb. Median Income Qualifications -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2b._-_median_income_qualifications.pdfc. 121 Grove Street Application -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2c._-_121_grove_st._application_redacted.pdfd. 121 Grove Street Site Plan -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2d._-_121_grove_st._site_plan.pdfe. Planning Board comment letter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2e._-_planning_board_letter.pdff. Conservation Commission comment letter ->
The agenda doc contains remote participation info -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2023-02-22_edc_agenda_.pdf
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| Chapter 40B primer by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) |
Last Thursday, the Franklin Future Leaders planted big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in biodegradable pots to help supply native grasses for the recently permitted turtle nesting habitat at the DelCarte Conservation Area, a component of the DelCarte Biodiversity and Buffer Zone Restoration Plan. The Leaders will be nurturing the seedlings at their respective homes until later this Spring, whereupon the Leaders will plant the grown grasses at DelCarte. The Conservation Department and Commission want to thank the group for their volunteer efforts, service, and advocacy!
For more information on the DelCarte Biodiversity and Buffer Zone Restoration project and to follow the progress, visit here. To see how you can help, please contact the Conservation Agent at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov.
Thanks again, Franklin Future Leaders!
Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/thank-you-franklin-future-leaders-planting-grasses-delcarte-turtle-nesting-habitat
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| Thank You Franklin Future Leaders for Planting Grasses for the DelCarte Turtle Nesting Habitat |
FM #939 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 939 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023.
Five members of the Finance Committee participated (4 absent); present in the Council Chambers were M Hamilton, N Corbosiero, Chair G Conley, N Riley, T Hansen.
The Finance Committee continued their 'deep dive' series to hear about the permit organizations within the Town of Franklin and their first view of the stormwater credit manual currently in draft.
These departments account for the "local receipts" portion of the Town revenue stream. The departments in order of presentation were Building & Inspections, Community Planning and Development (including Conservation) and Health.
Interesting to note that while MA general law does not require us to have a police or fire department, it does mandate these other departments.
The meeting recording runs 1 hour and 56 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting Feb 8, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-939-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-02-08-23
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Meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_-_feb_8_2023.pdf
Draft stormwater credit manual -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/draft_stormwater_utility_credit_manual_rev_3_10.24.22_watermark.pdf
Franklin TV Video link ->
https://www.youtube.com/live/cWmkflTkiMs?feature=share
My notes in one PDF (including screen grabs of the presentations)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a-PEcRqSbqUS-9YEEv4tAgGBb32ksUOo/view?usp=share_link
Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| multiple views of Derek Adams and Kate Sjoberg talking about storm water |
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| multiple views of Derek Adams and Kate Sjoberg talking about storm water |
Happy World Wetlands Day, Franklin!
We admit that every day is World Wetlands Day over here at Franklin Conservation. It's all we talk about! And why wouldn't we? Wetlands provide us humans with a myriad of benefits including, but definitely not limited to:
Franklin Conservation wishes you a very happy World Wetlands Day and encourages you to go outside - at some point, perhaps not today - and visit one our many waterbodies. We have plenty - just look at the map below!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/happy-world-wetlands-day-franklin
This session of the radio show shares my introductory conversation with the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent Breka Li Goodlander, CWS, PWS. We had our conversation via conference bridge.
This session we spend time talking about the Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) now being updated
OSRP is part of the Master Plan, a plan for a plan
Inventory of open space & recreation assets
Input from community to build plan, feedback from community on plan draft
Series of focus groups, public forums, survey, etc. used to gather the input
The conversation runs about 16 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Breeka Li. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-922-town-of-franklin-open-space-recreation-plan-overview-01-12-23
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Open Space & Recreation plan update https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/2023-open-space-and-recreation-plan-update
Schedule of focus group meetings, follow up office hours, public forums, etc. -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/case-you-missed-it-2023-osrp-first-focus-group-meeting-sports-and-rec-programming
Mass Gov OSRP website: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/open-space-and-recreation-plans
OSRP Masswoods handbook: https://masswoods.org/sites/masswoods.org/files/pdf-doc-ppt/Open%20Space%20Handbook.pdf
Mass Open Space Network: https://www.massopenspace.org/ (Many free, introductory webinars for homeowners re: Open Space, estate planning, Chapter 61, etc.)
Conservation page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation
Contact info -> Conservation Agent/Natural Resource Protection Manager
(508) 520-4847
For project updates and other Conservation related news and information, you may subscribe for Conservation updates https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Town of Franklin begins planning to update the Open Space and Recreation Plan |
