Restoration Projects

Habitat restoration is the return of land to its natural, productive state. Due to changes in industry, agriculture, land development many native habitats are now facing significant challenges. Andover Conservation Division is currently engaged in a number of ongoing restoration projects to help preserve Andover's productive ecosystems. Invasive plants, water pollution, and changes in land use are some of the issues the Conservation Division are addressing in Andover.

Ongoing projects

habitat restoration and Invasive Species Management at Retelle reservation

 Last year, Andover Conservation Division applied for and received Capital Improvement funds to implement a 6-year habitat restoration and invasive species management plan for one reservation. The primary goal of the management plan is to prioritize land for invasive species management and begin the process of habitat restoration. 

Retelle Reservation is a 54 acre reservation. It is a mosaic of White Pine forest, grassland, shrubland, and young forest. It is also home to a number of rare and threatened species, and it is one of Andover's most population reservations for recreation. It is for these reasons that Retelle Reservation was chosen for this project. The Retelle Reservation Habitat Restoration and Invasive Species Management Plan will designate 8 acres of habitat at Retelle Reservation to prioritized for management.

The plan outlines management in four phases.

1) mechanical clearing of invasive species

2) rototilling the soil and reseeding with native plant seed.

3) spot treating new invasive species growth with herbicide

4) three years of follow-up herbicide treatments in conjunction with annual or biennial mowing. 

Once all 8 acres has been reseeded and receive follow-up herbicide treatments, the area will be monitored and managed for invasive species. Follow-up management will include regular mowing, hand pulling, and herbicide spot treatments.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect from Asia. It was first detected in Michigan in 2003 and populations have been spreading east and south since then. EAB borers through ash trees and lays its eggs in sapwood. When the larva emerges, it eats its way through the tree, killing it in the process. At Retelle Reservation, EAB has caused 90-95% ash mortality. 

Under the Retelle Reservation Habitat Management Plan, the dead ash trees infected with EAB will be cut and chipped. Healthy ash trees will be treated with pesticide injections. The purpose of treating the healthy ash trees is to preserve trees which may potentially have an immunity to the insect. 

Invasive plants are one of the primary threats to New England habitats. These plants, imported from other countries, create monocultures and outcompete native species. They may also directly damage natural resources by releasing toxins into the soil, pulling down healthy trees, and changing soil chemistry which changes the entire natural community. The impact of invasive plants creates a domino effect of negative environmental impacts.

The management of invasive plants is one of the primary challenges the Management Plan addresses. It does this through mechanical and chemical treatment followed by mowing and herbicide treatments.

The result of  invasive species on a landscape is an overall degradation of natural resources and a decrease in biodiversity. Biodiversity is important in New England landscapes because it create habitat resilience. Habitat resilience is the ability of a community to respond to disturbances such as  blight, floods, fires, or storms. Biologically diverse communities can respond to disturbances with new, healthy plant growth, rebounding populations of wildlife, and evolved immunity. Increases in habitat and biological diversity are two of the long-term goals for management at Retelle Reservation. 

For more information on the Retelle Reservation Habitat Restoration and Invasive Species Management Plan, please email Conservation Land Manager, Michael Murray michael.murray@andoverma.us 

dead ash covered in bittersweet Above: White ash (Fraxinus americana) entangled with Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus).west side Above: Oriental bittersweet climbing a tree with Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) beneath.


Merrimack River Pollution remediation

For the past three years Andover Conservation Division has been deploying containment booms on the Merrimack River. Containment booms are large floatable devices designed to collect trash as it flows downstream. We have partnered with Clean Harbors to deploy four booms to be emptied once a month from spring to fall. After each trip, we have collected substantial amounts of trash. We have also enlisted the assistance of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and they will be joining future clean-ups. 

In addition to the containment booms, the Conservation Division has also held a yearly Merrimack River Clean-up. The timing of the clean-ups is often dependent on lowering of the river by Patriot Hydro to conduct maintenance on the Essex Dam. This provides a limited window for the clean-ups to take place. If you would like to be contacted for Merrimack River Clean-Ups please email CDPconservation@andoverma.us

Doyle Link Trail Rerouting and Restoration

Doyle link is one of Andover Conservation’s most diverse landscapes. Vernal pools, Red Maple swamps, perennial streams, and Pine-Oak forests are a few of the habitat features found in the 100 acre property. The Doyle Link trail system is an important part of the reservation and includes the Bay Circuit Trail. Side trails and unofficial bike paths have caused soil compaction and eroded valuable amphibian and mammalian habitat. 

We are currently in the process of closing many side trails to allow the land to recover. At the same time, we will be creating new loop trails and connections to increase access while at the same time preserving the integrity of the land. These trails will be well marked. 

The new trail system will include a central trail running through the middle of the reservation with points of connection to Doyle Link Trail, which runs the perimeter of the reservation. A new loop trail on the western portion will also be added.  

For question please contact the Land Manager: michael.murray@andoverma.us 

doyle link trail reroute

Above: map of plan for new trail system 

FUTURE INITIATIVES 


GRASSLAND EXPANSION AT VIRGINIA HAMMOND RESERVATION

Ten years ago, former Commissioner Kevin Porter applied to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to create Stewardship Plans for Wood Hill/Bald Hill Reservation; Virginia Hammond Reservation; and Fish Brook North Reservation. The Wood Hill/Bald Hill Stewardship Plan was recently updated and is in the process of being implemented.

Part of the Virginia Hammond Reservation Stewardship Plan recommended the expansion of the current grassland habitat. Early successional habitat is growing increasingly rare in Massachusetts. This has eliminated habitat for many grassland birds such as Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and Vesper Sparrow. These birds require at least 10 acres of grassland habitat for nesting. Currently, the Virginia Hammond field is 5 acres. Our goal is to expand it to ten acres and create a bird sanctuary to encourage the return of grassland birds.

INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL AT Doyle Link

Invasive plants are one of Andover Conservation Divisions primary land management priorities. One area we have prioritized for invasive plant removal is Doyle Link Reservation. Much of the 100 acre reservation has few or no established invasive plant populations. However, many of the areas abutting roads and neighborhoods have growing Burning bush (Euonymous alatus) populations. This is in part due to ornamental plantings of Burning bush spreading from yards into Doyle Link. We want to prevent these plants from penetrating the interior of the Reservation. The goal of treatment at Doyle Link will be to contain the further spread of Burning bush and preserve the interior wetlands and forests.