Article 21 Wildlife Habitat/Biodiversity Study Request "To see if the Town will vote to Authorize the Board of Selectmen to hire an accredited, independent, professional organization to conduct a wildlife habitat and biodiversity study as recommended by the Dover Master Plan of 2012, such study to focus on the effects of the potential development of the land known as Bay Colony railroad line or right of way within the town of Dover on the land and habitat abutting and surrounding said railroad line, or right of way; said study to be completed prior to the execution of any easement, leasehold, license or real property interest related to the aforementioned potential development; to see if the Town will raise and appropriate transfer from available funds, accept gifts or provide by any combination of these methods a sum of money for this purpose; or take any action relative thereto."

Dover rail bed near Hunt Drive What Does Article 21 Mean? The article asks the Town to study the Natural Resources of the area adjacent to the rail bed, prior to authorizing any disturbance of the land. Dover rail bed Dover rail bed near Hunt Drive http://needham.baycolonyrailtrail.org

Dover Master Plan 2012 pages V-4, IX-7 The 2012 Dover Master Plan Favors “Wildlife corridors and areas helping to sustain ecological balance and biological diversity” Encourages the Town to “Create an ecosystem map of Dover and census of species diversity" Recommends the Town to “Develop and implement strategies of habitat management to increase long-term biodiversity" Dover Master Plan 2012 pages V-4, IX-7

Wildlife Habitat Map from UMASS Extension Center for Agriculture (updated 11/11) Identifies “Habitat of Potential and Statewide Importance” The rail bed goes directly through a large area of important Wildlife Habitat Springdale Ave Railbed Hunt Dr

Why is Article 21 Important? Existing Biomaps are out of date Con Com and Eco Tec walked the rail bed in July 2012 during summer conditions and found a number of Wetland Resource Areas (WRA’s) Beals & Thomas walked the rail bed in July 2015 and indicated more extensive wetlands A study over four seasons is necessary to understand environmental impact Wildlife habitat and biodiversity have not been studied

Why is Article 21 Important? “The Centre Street Conservation Corridor” (from Springdale Ave. to Hunt Dr.) represents the largest area of unfragmented open space in Town - over 800 acres Wylde Woods and the surrounding conservation land functions as a critical wildlife corridor. It has been identified as an area supporting regionally rare species (www.tpl.org) The 46 Springdale study identified the forested woodland next to the rail bed as a significant wildlife corridor

Study Before Signing Article 21 provides critical information before disturbing our important conservation land The study will create a baseline of Natural Resources and identify the impact of development on wildlife This should be conducted before the Town surveys the land Once destroyed, biodiversity and habitat rarely recover

Open Space Efforts To Protect Wildlife Are Not Always Compatible With Recreation Bobcat seen on the Sherborn line 3/16 Needham Rail Trail construction & clear cutting http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/03/04/natick-bobcat-sherborn-police/ http://needham.baycolonyrailtrail.org

What are the Important Factors to Consider? Rick Van de Poll, PhD Ecosystem Management Consultants of New England, LLC Est. 1988 Completed natural resource inventories & assessments on over 300,000 acres of private and public land in New England Certified Wetland Scientist, past chair of NH Joint Board of Natural Scientists, current Chair of the Governor-appointed Site Selection Committee for the Aquatic Resources Mitigation (ARM) Fund, practicing wildlife biologist since 1978

From the Biologist’s Perspective – Why do this Study? Very little work has been done to document the viability and movement of wildlife species across open space lands Wildlife habitat has not been studied relative to its diversity and importance for this part of town Wildlife refugia – those places where species reside free from the influences of humans, pets, and other potential predators – are increasingly scarce in Dover

From the Biologist’s Perspective – Why do this Study? Open Space in the upper Trout Brook watershed holds incredible value to the Town Recognized as a potentially important habitat area

From the Biologist’s Perspective – Why do this Study? Open Space in the upper Trout Brook watershed holds incredible value to the Town Recognized as a potentially important habitat area Contains critical upper watershed lands that supply downstream aquifers

From the Biologist’s Perspective – Why do this Study? Open Space in the upper Trout Brook watershed holds incredible value to the town: Recognized as potentially important habitat area Contains critical upper watershed lands that supply downstream aquifers Wylde Woods is connected to several other conservation parcels that make it a source site for wildlife species dispersal

Potential Impacts from a Rail Trail on Wildlife Impacts to Refugia - Increase in edge % - Increased predation - Increase in direct mortality Altered Wildlife Behaviors - Increased energy expenditure - Retreat from preferred feeding areas - Attraction to artificial feeding areas Secondary Impacts VERNAL POOL

Some of the Species of Concern White-tailed Deer Eastern Coyote Red Fox Raccoon Black Bear? Bobcat Fisher Porcupine Mink Species Found

Some Negative Impacts of Trails

Final Thoughts What Land Use Patterns currently exist in the area? Is the proposed rail trail use consistent with these? Will the increased level of activity be for the “greater good” of Dover? Are there alternatives that could provide ample recreational opportunities without compromising unfragmented lands?