4/29/2004 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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i and the septic system, every attempt should be made to maintain as many of the other trees, which would be easier to protect because most of therm are along the sidelines of the property. The shrub area on the lot is not very dense. He did not find any evidence of dens in the trees or the ground dense, but there is some evidence of past use. He said to keep in mind that March is not the bine of year to make an assessment or bird life and nesting potential, so he could not make any representation that nesng is occurring or has occurred on this site. He did not see evidence of nesting at the time he made the surrey. Michael Talbot said he thinks we should know that Regulation Ira—Coastal Bank, Section states: "Whenever any poron of a coastal bank 1s vegetated, such orron's topography, plant community composition and structure, and soil characteristics provide important food, shelter, migratory and over-wintering areas and breeding, nesting and brood-rearing areas for m4ldlife, especially birds and mammals." Therefore, the question is, "Does this canopy of trees, particularly the large trees mentioned, provide such benefits for wildlife as colte t above." Mr. Gray said the potential is definitely there. Michael Talbot distributed photos of the site to show that along Su nmersea load, there is a continuous canopy of trees. His question was, "Does the existence of this corridor canopy of trees along this portion of Surnmersea adjacent to the marshes of Ockway Bay enhance the wildlife habitat value of the canopy trees in this particular parcel noes it make it more valuable by the fact that there is a continuous quarter of canopy trees along that part of Summer-sea? Mr. Gray said, "Obviously, the more continuous canopy you have, the higher the use potential is likely. again, l can't say for sure that this particular set of trees on the lot nor the trees you reference across the street are presently being used in a manner you described its Regulation 16. It may be appropriate for some more study to be done as the season gets warmer and birds of particular interest here will be more acture. Obviously, a small number of trees does not provide as much wildlife potential as a larger, more dense setting. So the fact that you do have some trees across the street which are part of an overall canopy continuing down the base of the coastal bank on the sues of the salt marsh provides more significant features than if you din"t have the trees across the street." Michael Talbot: "You said there is a continuous canopy of trees that goes down to the salt marshes,, at least on this parcel?" Mr. Gray: "Yes, you have some continuation along both property lines, the trees at the front along the base of the coastal bank, and the trees across the street, so there would be some continuum as a result of that.'" Michael Talbot: "l ou"re also Suggesting that there would be a legitimate purpose in continuing this examination as we go into the nesting season to observe the value" Mr. Gray. "l wouldn't want to suggest that the Commission n unnecessarily delay the project, but obviously its easier to assess animal use at the proper fime of year, and March is not a nesting period. So obviously if you don't see nests from the previous year, you maybe are dravAng the wrong conclusion to say there's no nes ng potential on the lot. Perhaps in May or.June you would have some activity you could pont to. You would want to be checking for small mammals as well."