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Comprehensive P l a n z o z z <br /> (DRAFT 03/18/22) <br /> NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> DISCLAIMER:This is a working draft and will continue to be updated as the Comprehensive Plan process <br /> evolves. Additional information will be added as stakeholder and public input is gathered. These blue <br /> boxes throughout the draft chapters represent areas of further consideration and study and will be <br /> updated with additional information as it is collected. <br /> 4.1 Introduction <br /> Mashpee is located along the southern coast of the Cape Cod peninsula.With over five miles of coastline <br /> along Nantucket Sound and Vineyard Sound,the Town of Mashpee manages large coastal embayments <br /> and four of the largest freshwater ponds on the Cape. Mashpee is also rich in cultural and historical <br /> resources and is home to the federally recognized Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe,whose people have been <br /> living in Mashpee and the surrounding region for more than 12,000 years. <br /> Mashpee's natural resources have played a defining role in the town's development,settlement pattern, <br /> and character. Mashpee enjoys a variety of important natural features and open space resources, <br /> including the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and upland foreststhat support regional water resources <br /> and habitat.These natural resources in Mashpee play a role in tourism, recreation,economic health, and <br /> the scenic value of the town.As described in the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan: <br /> Natural Areas are generally the region's least developed and most sensitive areas. The vision for <br /> these areas is to minimize adverse development impacts to sensitive resource areas, to preserve <br /> lands that define Cape Cod's natural landscape and contribute to its scenic character, and to <br /> improve the Cape's resilience to severe storms and the effects of climate change. (Cape Cod <br /> Commission, 2018) <br /> For all of these reasons, natural resource management is a critical component of this Comprehensive <br /> Plan and plays an important role in planning for Mashpee's future. Because natural resources span so <br /> many topic areas,this common theme must be reflected in other elements of this plan.As an example, <br /> land use and water supply are inextricably linked to natural resources, making them vital components of <br /> all focus areas of comprehensive planning. <br /> 4.2 Existing Conditions <br /> To establish effective policies to protectthe town's natural resources,a thorough inventory of the town's <br /> natural resources is required. This section includes existing conditions of Mashpee's natural resources <br /> under the following categories: <br /> • Landscape and Scenic Resources <br /> • Shoreline <br /> • Flood Zones <br /> • Wetlands <br /> • Surficial Geology <br /> • Soils and Vegetation <br /> • Wetlands <br /> • Wildlife Habitat <br /> westonandsampson.com 1 Weston <br />