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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A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT. February 2004. 1890. 1908. 1890. 1908. 1930. 1930. 2003. Swendsen Farm. Agriculture. Swendsen Farm Agriculture. Area: 68.5 acres Crops: Corn Hay Pumpkins. Current Management Practices. Herbicides and Pesticides Liming - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

February 2004

Page 2: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

1890 1908

1930

1890 1908

1930 2003

Page 3: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Swendsen Farm

Legend

Corn

Dam

Forested Border

Hardwood-thick shrub

Hay

Hedgerow

Hemlock-Hardwood

Lake

Mixed Wood

Mowed Field

Pumpkins

Red Maple Mesic

Red Maple Swamp

Thick Hedge

Upland Hardwood

Wetland

Rivers

µ0 430 860 1,290 1,720215

Feet

Page 4: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Agriculture

Page 5: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Swendsen Farm Agriculture

•Area: 68.5 acres •Crops:

-Corn-Hay-Pumpkins

Page 6: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Current Management Practices

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

Page 7: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Management Recommendations

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

Page 8: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Forests

Page 9: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Forest Communities

1. Hardwood-Thick Shrub

2. Hemlock-Hardwood

3. Mixed-Wood 4. Red Maple Mesic 5. Red Maple

Swamp 6. Upland

Hardwood

1 2

3 4

5 6

Page 10: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective: Maintain Forest Health

Considerations:•Potential pathogens•Invasive species

Recommendations:•Monitor for hemlock woolly

adelgid and beech bark disease•Eradicate invasive species

where feasible

Page 11: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective: Watershed Health

Considerations:• Vegetation traps sediments and

prevents sediment loading of streams

Recommendations:• Maintain riparian buffers

Page 12: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective: Wildlife Habitat

Considerations:•Food Sources•Shelter

Recommendations:•Maintain variety of food sources

and habitats

Page 13: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective: Aesthetics

Considerations:•Beautiful stands enhance the

visitor experienceRecommendations:

•Create and maintain aesthetically pleasing stands

Page 14: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT
Page 15: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Wetlands

Page 16: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objectives

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

Page 17: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

• Maintain buffers • Restrict recreational

activity • Monitor pond and

wetlands for invasive species

• Encourage community groups to pursue wetland projects

Page 18: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Wildlife

Page 19: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Taxa Total Abundant

Common Uncommon

Rare Endangered

Amphibians

16 0 11 3 2 0

Reptiles 20 4 13 2 0 1

Birds 165 9 90 62 23 1

Mammals

52 5 31 12 3 1Potential Wildlife in Non Forested Areas of Swendsen Farm (source: NEWILD)

Taxa Total Abundant

Common Uncommon

Rare Endangered

Amphibians

15 0 11 2 2 0

Reptiles 20 4 11 4 0 1

Birds 152 6 80 46 19 1

Mammals

51 3 30 14 3 1

Potential Wildlife in Forested Areas of Swendsen Farm (source: NEWILD)

Page 20: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Bog Turtle Clemmys muhlenbergii

Indiana Myotis Myotis sodalis

Source: Bern W. Tryon/Knoxville Zoo

Source: Corbis.com

Source: Merlin D. Tuttle Bat Conservation International

Endangered Species

Page 21: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Management Recommendations

• Maintain habitat diversity• Maintain species that provide

food and shelter• Develop strategies to enhance

habitat connectivity

Page 22: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recreation

Page 23: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective

To open up Swendsen Farm as a passive

recreation resource for the general public.

Page 24: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Choice of Recreation

n=202

n=201n=198

n=204

n=196

n=198

n=200

n=200 n=196

0

20

40

60

80

100

Recreational Activitiy

Per

cent

age

of R

espo

nden

ts w

ho

Sup

port

that

Act

ivity

Page 25: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

• Mark property boundaries

• Include a recreation clause in the agricultural lease

Page 26: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

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

Page 27: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

• Build a parking lot• Create a trail

system

Page 28: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

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

Page 29: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

• Appoint a property steward

• Publicise opening of the property to the public

• Approach community groups regarding use of the property

Page 30: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Education

Page 31: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Objective

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

Page 32: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Local Schools

• Bethlehem Elementary School

• Woodbury Middle School

• Nonnewaug High School

Page 33: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Recommendations

• Forge relationships with the local schools

• Develop interpretive materials• Promote educational activities

on the property

Page 34: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Priorities for 2004-2005

Page 35: A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT

Melissa Aikens

Jessica Barnes

Alvaro del Campo

Elizabeth Petruska