HomeMy WebLinkAboutSMP-Mill Road PreserveStewardship Management Plan for Mill Road Preserve
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Town of Southold
Stewardship Management Plan for Mill Road Preserve
Latest Revision: April 14th, 2015
Adopted by the Town Board on April 21st, 2015 by resolution 2015-359.
Properties included in plan:
SCTM# Location Project Funding Acquisition Pursuant To
1000-106.-6-20.3 245 Bayview Ave McGunnigle CPF Chapter 185
Purposes of Property Acquisition
The property was purchased for open space purposes.
Prohibited Activities
All activities not related to the purposes of the property acquisition are prohibited.
Use of motorized vehicles and equipment is prohibited with the exceptions of: vehicles and equipment
necessary for approved stewardship work; emergency/public safety vehicles; motorized
wheelchairs/scooters for the handicapped; and registered vehicles used by visitors to access the designated
parking area on the preserve for parking purposes only.
The creation of new trails except as outlined in the Allowed Activities section below.
Trapping of wildlife with the exception of Town approved trapping of diseased wildlife and feral cats.
Fireworks.
Weddings, parties, reunions, flea markets, swap meets, antique shows, car shows.
Camping, fires, bonfires.
Sports whether organized or “pick up” in nature.
Paintball and other similar war games.
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Town Approval of Activities
No activities related to the purposes of the property acquisitions are allowed on the properties without the
explicit approval of the Town Board except for the activities listed in the Allowed Activities section
below.
Allowed Activities
Section I Public Uses
Access shall be from dawn to dusk unless posted otherwise or approved per the Town Approval of
Activities section above.
Hiking, jogging, walking.
Cross country skiing.
Nature walks/surveys, bird watching, citizen science surveys.
Star gazing.
Pets are allowed as per the Policy Pertaining to Pets on Town Preserves. See Appendix 5.
Deer hunting per the Town’s Deer Management Program.
Participation in the General Activities outlined below.
Section II General Activities
Inventories of the property including flora, fauna, trails, trash, archaeological features, structures and any
other aspects provided that conducting such inventories does not alter or damage the properties.
Invasive species control and removal provided a formal invasive species plan using Best Management
Practices is approved and followed. The invasive species plan will be updated, expanded and amended as
needed based on monitoring of the property for the extent of invasive species present. See Appendix 6.
Clean up of man made trash provided such clean up does not damage the properties.
Section III Infrastructure
Signage – the following signage is allowed: entrance sign, trail head kiosk, Town open space signs,
posted/no hunting signs, safety signs, rules/regulations signs, directional trail signs and Deer Management
program signs.
A parking area constructed of crushed stone or a similar material with fencing to delineate the area is
allowed at the trail head as depicted in Appendix 1 and may be maintained as needed.
The trails as depicted in Appendix 1 shall be maintained as the official trail system. The trails shall be
maintained so they are approximately 4 to 8 feet wide and passable with vegetation not to exceed six
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inches in height. As needed the trails may be mowed and trimmed, fallen branches/trees that block or
partially block the trails may be removed, sections of the trails that have been damaged by erosion or
ATVs may be restored and leveled using soil or wood chips, areas of the trails subject to becoming wet
and muddy may be covered with a layer of wood chips. Wood chips may also be used to reduce or
eliminate the need for regular mowing of the trails. Trail maintenance will be kept to the minimum
necessary to maintain the trails in a condition that allows the public to use the trails safely. See Appendix
6 for additional trail maintenance standards related to invasive species that encroach on the trails.
The trails or any sections thereof may be closed to the public should any unsafe conditions exist or for the
purposes of protecting native flora and fauna. Signage denoting such closures is allowed.
Appendices
1. Trail System Map
2. Fauna Inventory
3. Flora Inventory
4. Mill Road Preserve Bird Species Listing
5. Policy Pertaining to Pets on Town Preserves
6. Invasive Species Plan
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Appendix 2
Fauna List for Mill Road Preserve
Prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension
Mammals
□ Opossum Didelphis marsupialis
□ Raccoon Procyon lotor
□ Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
□ Eastern Cottontail Sylivagus floridanus
□ Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
□ Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans
□ Star-Nosed Mole Condylura crisata
□ Short-Tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda
□ Little Brown Bat Myotis lucificus
□ Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
□ Feral Cat Felis domestica
□ White-Footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus
□ Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
□ Muskrat Ondatra zibethica
□ White Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Reptiles and Amphibians
□ Eastern Box Turtle Terrapine carolina carolina
□ Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
□ Brown Snake Storeria dekayi dekayi
□ Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum
□ Ring-Necked Snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
□ Red-Backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus
□ Red-Spotted Newt Notophthalmus viridescens
□ Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer
□ Grey Tree Frog Hyla versicolor
□ American Toad Bufo americanus
□ Fowler’s Toad Bufo fowleri
Birds
□ American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
□ Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
□ Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
□ American Robin Turdus migratorius
□ Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
□ Wood Thrush Hylocichia mustelina
□ Red-Bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
□ Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
□ Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
□ Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
□ Black-Capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus
□ Tufted Titmouse Parus bicolor
□ Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hymenalis
□ Yellow-Rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
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□ Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
□ Ring-Necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
□ Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
□ Bobwhite Quail Collinus virginianus
□ Canada Goose Branta canadensis
□ Black Duck Anas rubripes
□ Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
□ Wood Duck Aix sponsa
□ Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
□ Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
□ Great Egret Ardea alba
□ Snowy Egret Egretta thula
□ Whippoorwill Caprimulgus vociferus
□ Common Nighthawk Chordeilus minor
□ Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
□ American Kestrel Falco sparverius
□ Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
□ Sharp-Shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
□ Coopers’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
□ Osprey Pandion haliaetus
□ Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
□ Eastern Screech Owl Otus asio
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Appendix 3
Flora List for Mill Road Preserve
Prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension
Aceraceae (Maple Family)
Acer plantanoides Norway Maple
Acer rubrum Red Maple
Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)
Rhus copallinum Dwarf or Winged Sumac
Toxicodendron radicans Poison Ivy
Apiaceae (Carrot Family)
Daucus carota Queen Anne’s Lace; Wild Carrot
Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)
Apocynum cannabinum Indian Hemp
Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)
Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla
Asclepidaceae (Milkweed Family)
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow
Euthamia graminifolia Lance-leaved Goldenrod
Euthamia tenuifolia Slender Fragrant Goldenrod
Hieracium caespitosum Meadow Hawkweed
Hieracium sp. Hawkweed
Leontodon autumnalis Fall Dandelion
Solidago Canadensis Canada Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa Wrinkled Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens Seaside Goldenrod
Symphyotrichum dumosum Bushy Aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Calico Aster
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii New York Aster
Taraxacum officinale Common Dandelion
Balsaminaceae (Touch-Me-Not Family)
Impatiens capensis Jewelweed
Betulaceae (Birch Family)
Betula populifolia Gray Birch
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)
Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle
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Celastraceae (Bittersweet Family)
Celastrus orbiculatus Asian Bittersweet
Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family)
Commelina communis Asian Dayflower
Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood
Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Cyperus sp. Flat Sedge
Dennstaedtiaceae (Bracken Fern Family)
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-Scented Fern
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Dryopteridacae (Wood Fern Family)
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern
Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster Family)
Elaeagnus umbellate Autumn Olive
Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel
Vaccinium corymbosum High-bush Blueberry
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Baptisia tinctoria Wild Indigo; Horsefly Weed
Lespedeza capitata Bush Clover
Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust
Trifolium pretense Red Clover
Trifolium repens White Clover
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
Fagus grandifolia American Beech
Quercus alba White Oak
Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak
Quercus prinus Chestnut Oak
Quercus velutina Black Oak
Juglandaceae (Walnut Family)
Carya glabra Pignut Hickory
Lauraceae (Laurel Family)
Sassafras albidum Sassafras
Monotropaceae (Indian Pipe Family)
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Monotropa uniflora Indian Pipe; Corpse-plant
Myricaceae (Bayberry Family)
Comptonia peregrine Sweet Fern
Morella pensylvanica Northern Bayberry
Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape Family)
Epifagus virginiana Beechdrops
Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family)
Phytolacca Americana Pokeweed
Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Pinus thunbergiana Japanese Black Pine
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Digitaria sanguinalis Large or Hairy Crabgrass
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Pennisetum glaucum Yellow Foxtail; Pearl Millet
Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem Grass
Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)
Polygonum pensylvanicum Pensylvania Smartweed
Pyrolaceae (Shinleaf Family)
Chimaphila maculate Striped or Spotted Wintergreen
Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Prunus serotina Wild Black Cherry
Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose
Rubus sp. Brambles, Blackberry, Raspberry
Salicaceae (Willow Family)
Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen
Smilaceae (Catbrier Family)
Smilax rotundifolia Roundleaf Greenbrier; Bullbrier
Vitaceae (Grape Family)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper
Vitis labrusca Fox Grape
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Appendix 4
Mill Road Preserve Bird Species Listing as of March 2015 based on eBird
observations beginning in 2007
Seq Species DEC Status Audubon Status
NY SGCN
Status Breeding Status
1 Canada Goose
2 Turkey Vulture
3 Osprey Special Concern
4 Sharp-shinned Hawk Special Concern
5 Red-tailed Hawk
6 Killdeer
7 Herring Gull
8 Mourning Dove
9 Great Horned Owl Probable
10 Red-bellied Woodpecker
11 Downy Woodpecker
12 Hairy Woodpecker
13 Northern Flicker Probable
14 Willow Flycatcher Yellow List Probable
15 Eastern Phoebe
16 Great Crested Flycatcher Probable
17 Eastern Kingbird
18 Yellow-throated Vireo
19 Blue-headed Vireo
20 Red-eyed Vireo Probable
21 Blue Jay Probable
22 American Crow Probable
23 Fish Crow
24 Purple Martin
25 Tree Swallow
26 Barn Swallow
27 Black-capped Chickadee Probable
28 Tufted Titmouse Probable
29 White-breasted Nuthatch
30 House Wren Probable
31 Carolina Wren
32 Golden-crowned Kinglet
33 Veery
34 Swainson's Thrush
35 Wood Thrush Yellow List SGCN
36 American Robin Probable
37 Gray Catbird Probable
38 Brown Thrasher SGCN High
39 European Starling
40 Cedar Waxwing Probable
41 Blue-winged Warbler Yellow List SGCN Probable
42 Black-and-white Warbler
43 Common Yellowthroat Probable
44 Northern Parula
45 Yellow Warbler Probable
46 Blackpoll Warbler
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Seq Species DEC Status Audubon Status
NY SGCN
Status Breeding Status
47 Palm Warbler
48 Yellow-rumped Warbler
49 Black-throated Green Warbler
50 Eastern Towhee
51 Chipping Sparrow
52 Field Sparrow
53 Song Sparrow
54 White-throated Sparrow
55 Dark-eyed Junco
56 Northern Cardinal Probable
57 Red-winged Blackbird Probable
58 Common Grackle Probable
59 Brown-headed Cowbird
60 Orchard Oriole Confirmed
61 Baltimore Oriole Probable
62 House Finch
63 American Goldfinch
64 House Sparrow
Current Status Notes:
NYS DEC
Special Concern: Any native species for which a welfare concern or risk of endangerment has been
documented in New York State.(New York State DEC, 2001).
Threatened: Those designated by the DEC as likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Endangered: Those designated by the DEC as seriously threatened with extinction.
Audubon Watch List
Yellow: This category includes those species that are declining but at a slower rate than those in the red
category. These typically are species of national conservation concern.
Red: Species in this category are declining rapidly, have very small populations or limited ranges, and face
major conservation threats. These typically are species of global conservation concern.
New York Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
High Priority SGCN: The status of these species is known and conservation action is urgent in the next
ten years. These species are declining and must receive timely management intervention or they are likely
to reach critical population levels in New York.
SGCN: The status of these species is known and conservation action is essential. These species are
expected to experience significant declines over the next ten years and will need management intervention
to secure their populations.
Non-SGCN Species of Potential Conservation Need: The trends in abundance and distribution of these
species are poorly known, but there is an identified threat to the species, or the species has a high level of
intrinsic vulnerability. Further research and surveys are needed to determine their actual population status.
Although not classified as SGCN, actions for their conservation will be identified and they will be included
in the State Wildlife Action Plan.
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Appendix 5
Pets on Mill Road Preserve
o Unless posted otherwise, pets are allowed provided that they are leashed and under control
at all times while on the preserve.
o The Town may permanently or temporarily restrict pets from the preserve or designated
areas of the preserve for reasons including, but not limited to, wildlife and nesting habitat
protection and public safety. Such restrictions will be approved by the Town Board and
will be posted at the preserve.
o All pet waste must be picked up and properly disposed of as required by Southold Town
Code.
o Failure to follow pet rules may result in all pets being prohibited from using the preserve.
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Appendix 6
Invasive Species Plan For Mill Road Preserve
The trails at Mill Road Preserve have issues with the following invasive species encroaching and/or
blocking the trails: Autumn Olive, Russian Olive and Oriental Bittersweet. Trimming of these species
has proven ineffective in keeping the trails open as the trimming serves as pruning which causes faster
growth and more seed to be produced. Since these are invasive species that are preventing the normal
growth of native species and creating trail maintenance issues the following maintenance standards will
be followed for these species:
Should any specimens of these species encroach on the trails the entire specimen will be cut down
as close as possible to the ground and either removed from the preserve or cut up/chipped so that it
does not encroach on the trail.
If necessary herbicide may be applied to the stump to prevent new growth. Use of herbicide will
be as per the Town’s Policy for the Use of Pesticides & Fertilizers.
Specimens treated will be monitored for new growth. Should any new growth be detected the
specimen will be cut and treated with herbicide as above.
Where Oriental Bittersweet has been cut off at ground level and it is not practical to pull the rest of
the plant down from where it has climbed the plant will also be cut as high above ground as
practical to prevent the cut portion of the plant from becoming an easy vector for new growth to
climb up again.
Mill Road Preserve also has issues with Mile-a-minute Weed. The following shall apply for the control
of this invasive throughout the preserve:
Where practical it may be mowed or weed wacked to prevent it from covering other species and
producing seed.
It may be removed by hand pulling. If it is removed prior to having viable seeds it may be left off
trail. If the seeds are viable the pulled plants will be placed in plastic bags and allowed to bake in
the sun long enough to kill the seeds.
Any plants or portions of plants that have grown over other desireable plants shall be pulled off to
allow the other plants to grow normally.
The extent of the infestation will be monitored each year and documented with photos to record
the status of the infestation.