HomeMy WebLinkAboutArchived ProjectsDeer Browse Monitoring Program
The Conservation Division has partnered with the Minuteman Technical High School
earth sciences program to develop a long-term deer browse data collection project for
the purpose of measuring the impact of Lexington's deer population on the health of our
forests. Students constructed one deer exclosure and adjacent control plot at Cranberry
Hill Conservation Area in the spring of 2018 and will build two more during the 2018-
2019 academic year. Researchers at Harvard Forest helped design the project; the data
will be used both locally by the Lexington Conservation Division and regionally to help
guide decisions about deer management.
New Shade Street Trail Easement Complete
In the summer of 2017, the Conservation Stewards completed a new trail connection
through a new conservation restriction that runs parallel to Shade Street on land
currently owned by King Street Properties and occupied by Shire. The trail, which
connects Spring Street with an existing fire road and trail system on the property out to
the corner of Shade and Weston Streets, is part of the ACROSS Lexington Route H.
Willard's Woods Daylighting Project
What is Stream Daylighting?
In urban design and urban planning, daylighting is the redirection of a stream into an
above-ground channel. Typically, the goal is to restore a stream of water to a more
natural state. Daylighting is intended to improve the riparian environment for a stream
which had been previously diverted into a culvert, pipe, or a drainage system.
Why Do This Here?
The existing Willard Woods stone drainage culvert was failing and required
replacement. This effort will both accommodate drainage needs but also improve
habitat value. The Willard’s Woods stream daylighting project was identified as a priority
project during Town-wide watershed and stream assessment planning and is a part of
Lexington Public Works efforts across the community to enhance drainage systems in
an ecologically-appropriate way. For more information check out our stormwater site.
The Project Also Includes:
Construction of a pedestrian bridge across the “new” stream.
Construction of a vehicular bridge (for fire access) on the trail to Brent Road.
Lexington Public Works Director: David Pinsonneault
Lexington Town Engineer: John Livsey
Lexington Conservation Administrator: Karen Mullins
Construction Contractor: SumCo
Engineer: Woodard & Curran, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Regina S. Leonard Landscape Architecture & Design
Funding: Town of Lexington
See our informational flyer
Ecological Restoration of the Idylwilde Old
Community Garden Site
The Lexington Conservation Division and Lexington Conservation Stewards are
restoring the old garden site at Idylwilde Conservation Area to improve wildlife habitat,
protect natural resources, enhance access for visitors, and improve the aesthetic quality
of the site.
Work began at the site in the fall of 2014 and is ongoing. To learn more, check out
the land management plan prepared by Parterre Ecological.
New Wayfinding Signage System Pilot Project
The Conservation Stewards have developed a wayfinding signage system featuring
colored directional arrows and informational signs; the system was piloted at Whipple
Hill in 2016.
Signage was installed at Lower Vine Brook in 2017; plans to roll out the system at
Willard's Woods are in the works for 2019.
Meadow Restoration at Joyce Miller's Meadow
UPDATE: June 2018
The Conservation Division and Conservation Stewards completed the ecological
restoration of Joyce Miller's Meadow in June 2018!
The project began in 2016 and involved the removal of approximately 3 acres of dense
understory to re-open the former meadow. Joyce Miller’s Meadow is Town conservation
land situated adjacent to the Arlington Great Meadows and accessible via the
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway.
The project — which improved the site for both wildlife habitat and enhanced recreation
— was funded by the Community Preservation Act through a vote by Town Meeting
2015.
The project involved selective removal of both native and non-native trees and shrubs;
removal methods included both tree and brush cutting as well as herbicide use on
invasive species.
Additionally, the Conservation Division partnered with Grassroots Wildlife
Conservation (GWC) — a Concord-based non-profit organization — to re-introduce
several species of sandplain wildflowers once native to Lexington at the site. Volunteers
from the Lexington Conservation Stewards worked with GWC staff to propagate these
wildflowers in pots over the winter 2017-2016 and 2017-2018; a portion of the plants
were installed in late August 2017 and the remaining flowers scheduled for installation
in late summer 2018. One of the species, New England Blazing Star, is a state-
listed species of special concern. Wildflower restoration work on the site will be ongoing.
Joyce Miller's Meadow — classified as sandplain grassland or shrubland by the Natural
Heritage and Endangered Species Program — evolved through a regime of periodic fire
and boasts abundant populations of little blue stem grass, scrub oak, haircap moss and
lowbush blueberry; the Conservation Division is currently researching the practicality
and potential for using prescribed fire to manage the site in the future.
Before
After
Sandplain Wildflower Restoration
In 2016, the Lexington Conservation Division began a multi-year native wildflower
restoration project aimed at enhancing sandplain grassland habitat in Lexington while
providing important food resources for native insects, butterflies, and other pollinator
species.
The Conservation Division has partnered with Grassroots Wildlife Conservation (GWC),
a Concord-based non-profit organization, on the project; GWC is providing technical
expertise as well as the wildflower seed for the project.
The highlight of GWC’s work will be the propagation of New England Blazing Star, a
state-listed species of special concern. New England Blazing Star was once common to
this area but is no longer found in Lexington.
In 2016, GWC planted approximately 275 sq. ft. of wildflowers, including New England
Blazing Star, wild lupine, yellow wild indigo, and butterfly milkweed on the summit of
Whipple Hill; Lexington’s Girl Scout Troop 71659 assisted with this project.
GWC has also established several areas of sandplain wildflowers at Joyce Miller’s
Meadow and will continue work at the site through 2018 as part of the Conservation
Division’s Conservation Meadow Preservation Program.
Read GWC's Restoration Proposal