Agenda - 06-23-2004-8b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Human Created and Maintained Habitats 33 Open Fields The open field portion of the site comprisa~ pporo'X~n'adu lion when the Allisons puc' ~hased their western half of the site were already in gr P P property, the eastern half of the site, in 1963 ones o°theu new homes iteoand for btu berry forest (an acre or two per year) making p p ed an active production. They moved into their ]neawdditionto bluebetrry production, throe samall-scale farm has blueberry farm until the Pasty ast several eazs. Currently all the open been primarily operated for hay production during the P Y of herbaceous and fields aze maintained as neatly mowed open space except for a narrow margin woody vegetation around the perimeter of the 1,6-acre pond. The turf vegetation is predominately fescue with significant Presence of native broom sedges (Androaoson species) with common native and introduced herbaceous species present oldenrods~Solida os P~ P) and ~g 1~~e1 sage (salvia lyratal- hem-ml ~'~ell-------- a wl~ans~' g species). Birds observed over the open field included three black vultures, apparently in courtshrp, a red- tailed hawk and one turkey vulture (separate sighting from the black vultures)., A flock of 12 or more Juncos were obseo d dBird actiprty onithencdhoselylmowp fields wasrhowever generally very vicinity of the small p spazse during the periods of site inspection. The residents of the property did report a good bit o activity around their bird feeder close to their residence, but reported nothing other than the common residential feeder bird sightings including bluejays, cazdinals, sparrows and juncoes.. 1.6-acre Pond Tn 1975 a 1,6-acre pond was constructed on the lower southwestern portion of the open fiel , Before construction the pond site was a consistently moist 'site fed by a very modest spring- The 4-inch drainpipe at the pond surface maintains the level of this rain modest spring-fed pond. Observations by the adjacent property owners, Mabel and Owen Allison, describe thdeupromng ~y remaining relatively level approximately one foot below the overflow pipe opening even periods and observed that in its almostthree-decade history, floodingmonths of the growing during periods ofheavy rainfall, has never occurred.. During the dry season, there is no flow into Four Mile Branch from the pond The outside surface of the dam of the pond sited on the western edge has a dense co orous tangle approximate 6 - 8 year old tree saplings of mostly sweet gum accompanied by a vig of blackberry. More sizeable (approximately 20-year or more age) specimens of red cedar, ash and red maple aze well established aloong~ f ~ stly 3e 6 yeaz old swe t gum saplings and er edge of the pond dam contains a heavy g herbaceous vegetation, including grasses, sedges, rushes and several LudwiQia species. On two separate visits to the site 11 and 9 lesser scaups were observed on the pond and on two other visits a pair of wood ducks was observed, .26-acre Pond The very small rain fed pond just east of the central gravel drive dividing the open fie serves primarily as a catch basin for runoff and never remains full due to w 2Q04 when four sepazate site leak in the pond bottom. D od Dever contained more~han a foot or two of water within the visits were conducted, the p lowest central portion of the reservoir. No significant Horn or fauna presence was observed, Frog