Forested Wetlands (as is much of Holbrook Town Forest) are highly valued for there contribution to clean water.
Here is a little information about the wetland bylaws, which Holbrook adopted in 1994.
http://maccweb.org/bylaws/holbrook_bylaw.doc
No person shall remove, fill, dredge, build upon, degrade, or otherwise alter resource areas protected by this by-law, or cause, suffer, or allow such activity to continue or allow such fill or other alteration to be left in place, without the required authorization pursuant to this by-law.
The term “alter” means to change the conditions of any area subject to protection by this by-law and shall include but not be limited to one or more of the following actions upon areas described in this by-law:
(a) the removal, excavation or dredging of soil, sand, gravel or aggregate material of any kind;
(b) the changing of pre-existing drainage characteristics, flushing characteristics, salinity distribution, sedimentation patterns, flow patterns and flood storage retention areas;
(c) the drainage, disturbance or lowering of the water level or water table;
(d) the dumping, discharging or filling with any material which could degrade the water quality;
(e) the driving of piling, erection of buildings or structures of any kind;
(f) the dumping, discharging or filling with any material which may degrade water quality;
(g) the placing of any object or obstruction whether or not it interferes with the flow of water;
(h) the destruction of plant life, including the cutting of trees;
(i) the changing of water temperature, biochemical oxygen demand and other natural characteristics of the receiving water;
(j) any activities, changes or work which pollutes any body of water or groundwater;
(k) the application of pesticides or herbicides in a freshwater wetland or within the 100’ buffer zone of the freshwater wetland.
Any person who violates any provision of this by-law, or regulations, permits, or administrative orders issued thereunder shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300, upon approval by the Board of Selectmen. Each day or portion thereof during which a violation continues, or unauthorized fill or other alteration remains in place, shall constitute a separate offense, and each provision of the by-law, constitute a separate offense.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Winter in the Town Forest
Town Forest CommitteeWill meet on the following Wednesdays at 7:30
in the Conservation Office (Town Hall-Upstairs)
January 21
February 18
March 18
Please join us!
For more information email forest@holbrookmassachusetts.us
Or call the selectmen’s office at 767-1212
The Friends of Holbrook Town Forest remind you that conditions are lovely on the bright, sunny days of winter to cross county ski or hike in the Town Forest. Dress warm, bring water and enjoy the picturesque and quiet landscape in our own backyard! Maps are available at the Conservation Office, 2nd Floor of Town Hall, or on this site.
We hope to see you in the Forest!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Boston Globe Says THE Choice Location in Holbrook is:
The Town Forest!
According to the Community Snapshot in the Boston Globe on January 11, 2009
Choice location: Holbrook Town Forest is a 115 acres of natural paths and backs onto the Cranberry Pond area of Braintree.
We thank the Globe and welcome them to visit the Holbrook Town Forest anytime!
Tiny sundews need to eat, too!
Another carnivorous plant in the Holbrook Town Forest is the Drosera rotundifolia , or Sundew. In the bright sunlight these tiny plants glisten and sparkle. They are covered with mucilaginous glands(mucus secreting glands) which produce a stick substance to trap insects on the surface of their leaves and tentacles. Then it extracts nutrients from their bodies. Yum!
The Pitcher Plant Lives and Eats in the Town Forest!
This carnivorous rare plant, feeds on insects that are trapped in its bulbous pitcher like leaves.It is found in acidic bogs and fens. The highly modified leaves are covered with downward pointing hairs on the inside to keep their lunch (generally flying insects, flies, bees and wasps) from escaping. Insects that enter the leaf eventually drown, providing the pitcher plants with important nutrients.
The Chestnut Oak
One of the most common trees in the Town Forest is the Chestnut Oak(Quercus prinus). Everything about this tree is big! The deeply furrowed bark is it's most notable characteristic.
This tree is unusual in southeastern Massachusetts, and typically grows to 70 feet on windy ridges, but can grow twice that high in the right conditions. Its large lobed leaves are up to 8 inches long and a rich deep green. It is among the largest of native American oaks, and a valuable source of food for wildlife with very large acorns. It flowers in May with a 2 -3" display of pale yellow calyx. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/picts/qprinusfruit.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_oak
This tree is unusual in southeastern Massachusetts, and typically grows to 70 feet on windy ridges, but can grow twice that high in the right conditions. Its large lobed leaves are up to 8 inches long and a rich deep green. It is among the largest of native American oaks, and a valuable source of food for wildlife with very large acorns. It flowers in May with a 2 -3" display of pale yellow calyx. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/picts/qprinusfruit.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_oak
Friday, December 5, 2008
FIREWISE-Day 2- CHIPPER DAY 2008
FIREWISE CHIPPER DAY 2008
We couldn’t have asked for better weather on Chipper Day, Saturday November 29th. Residents were asked to have their brush curbside, “butt end out” by 8 am. Residents and volunteers from the previous Saturday had gathered large piles of brush along the Forest Corridor. We assisted a few more homeowners that morning as the chipper rolled up the street; together a total of 37 properties were cleaned.
The Firewise Task Force wishes to thank the many homeowners who participated along with the following hardworking volunteers: Tim Grow (CCD), Matt Lewis (CCD) and Eric Kenneally (CCD), Tom McMann (Cub Scouts), Jen Crosby (Friends of the Forest) and Dave Dingledy (Town Forest Committee).
We are grateful to Holbrook Fire Chief O’Brien, and his Department, for their input and ongoing support. Thank you, too, to the Department of Public Works for their assistance and the extra watchfulness of the Holbrook Police Department.
Many thanks go to Norfolk County Forest Fire Patrolman Mike Marquardt for his enthusiasm and for sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise in helping do the job right; under his guardianship we all worked safely. We are also indebted to Michele Steinberg and the support staff at the National Fire Protection Association, who never left us hanging, and gave us access to lots of wonderful informational tools.
And we could not have had a “Chipper Day” without John West, and his son John, of West Tree Service. John’s continued involvement and tireless support for Holbrook, and the Firewise mission are an extraordinary example of giving back to the community. Thank you, John.
All in all over 35 cubic yard of chips and debris was removed by Mr. West and a few more yards were removed after we finished sweeping the streets.
The day was a great success; and we achieved our Turkey Hill Firewise goal for 2008, making all of our homes, and the Holbrook Town Forest, safer from the threat of wildfire. This wonderful group of people worked together with neighbors and community members to potentially help save lives, reduce property damage, and save fire fighting resources for our town.
Thank you all,
Dale Lewis and Pat Greely
Co-chairs, Turkey Hill Firewise Task Force
Holbrook, Massachusetts
We couldn’t have asked for better weather on Chipper Day, Saturday November 29th. Residents were asked to have their brush curbside, “butt end out” by 8 am. Residents and volunteers from the previous Saturday had gathered large piles of brush along the Forest Corridor. We assisted a few more homeowners that morning as the chipper rolled up the street; together a total of 37 properties were cleaned.
The Firewise Task Force wishes to thank the many homeowners who participated along with the following hardworking volunteers: Tim Grow (CCD), Matt Lewis (CCD) and Eric Kenneally (CCD), Tom McMann (Cub Scouts), Jen Crosby (Friends of the Forest) and Dave Dingledy (Town Forest Committee).
We are grateful to Holbrook Fire Chief O’Brien, and his Department, for their input and ongoing support. Thank you, too, to the Department of Public Works for their assistance and the extra watchfulness of the Holbrook Police Department.
Many thanks go to Norfolk County Forest Fire Patrolman Mike Marquardt for his enthusiasm and for sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise in helping do the job right; under his guardianship we all worked safely. We are also indebted to Michele Steinberg and the support staff at the National Fire Protection Association, who never left us hanging, and gave us access to lots of wonderful informational tools.
And we could not have had a “Chipper Day” without John West, and his son John, of West Tree Service. John’s continued involvement and tireless support for Holbrook, and the Firewise mission are an extraordinary example of giving back to the community. Thank you, John.
All in all over 35 cubic yard of chips and debris was removed by Mr. West and a few more yards were removed after we finished sweeping the streets.
The day was a great success; and we achieved our Turkey Hill Firewise goal for 2008, making all of our homes, and the Holbrook Town Forest, safer from the threat of wildfire. This wonderful group of people worked together with neighbors and community members to potentially help save lives, reduce property damage, and save fire fighting resources for our town.
Thank you all,
Dale Lewis and Pat Greely
Co-chairs, Turkey Hill Firewise Task Force
Holbrook, Massachusetts
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