Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2016-02-02

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This landcover unit is divided into five sub -units, FF -1, FF -2, FF -3, FF -4 and FF -5. These sub -units are approximate, and serve to better aid the discussion of the vegetation types on the property. They are roughly delineated on the map. 1717-1 (approximately 4.09 acres) The FF -1 subunit is the northernmost floodplain forest subunit, located between the homestead and the Elk River channel and stretching to the east. It is a na row, relatively linear and very disturbed sub -unit. The unit as a whole is low quality, s low vegetative diversity. As the unit contains the area with the old farm se, t e anthropogenic influence on the land is evident. There arewoodp' _ e dumped rock, and wire and posts from old fences in the treeline behind the se. it is unlikely that the area has ever been plowed, it has nonetheless undergo a at dea sturbance, likely including grazing. To the north and west of the old ouse a smal uns from the driveway down to the river. This swale, surr ded b box elder an ckberry, contains many non-native species, including reed c gras eeping Char ie, burdock, buckthorn (up to 13.4 cm dbh), and motherwort. a 'slopes to the Elk River, there is a small trenched outlet that seems to be seepin aline or oil -like substance (Photo 1). The outlet also contains an oran a algal bloom a casionally smells of sulfur. This area likely drains catch basins locat a barn. Th re installed to transport rainwater runoff from the fields. However, s by B n Intertec also found an underground storage tank used to fuel farn uip ndition of the tank is unknown. While the tank is located east of and connection to the outlet in unclear, it is possible th^t�hebkleaking oline or oil. The report cites this as an "environmental conditiremedia ,leak are necessary as it continues to drain into the Elk River The lawn behind the farm onta_i"n'TWw large trees, including an American elm with a 74 cm dbh. T;hDjanK iN ted by reed canary grass under a relatively sparse canopy of la le () and green ash (46.5 cm cbh). To the east of this area, ther an a eeecover before a strip of shrubby vegetation re - ' he fa 'eld - mostly boxelder and hackberry (5.7-25.5 cm dbh), pricky ash, and wivines. hind this fencerow vegetation, the terrain slopes down to the river and conocke fshrubs in a matrix of non-native grasses (mostly brome). Some native vists within this matrix, including pockets of common milkweed. Along the rivelarge buckthorn and honeysuckle form somewhat of a natural fence that is bin paces. A two -track parallels the farm field toward the eastern end of the unit. At the eastern end, a few large bur oaks (:5105.1) overlook the river, hinting at the historical presence of savanna on this unit. Overall, the unit has roughly 50% tree cover as well as a few snags (mostly dead elm) and downed silver maples along the riverbank. The shrub layer is patchy and mostly made up of non-native species, though scattered gooseberry, chokecherry and raspberry are all present. Pocket gopher mounds were found in the lawn behind the farmhouse. This is a good sign, since pocket gophers prefer loose, native soils to compacted, altered soils. They also are a Friends of the Mississippi W.H. Houlton Conservation Area NRMP 34