Project Sites & Monitoring Results
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Crowe's Pasture Conservation Area, Town of Dennis
Last Updated: March 14, 2002
Project Site Location
The Crowe's Pasture project site is located at the end of South Street in East Dennis, MA (see map).
Project Summary
The project at Crowe's Pasture is a joint effort between MassWildlife's Upland Program, the Town of Dennis, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Fifteen acres of abandoned pasture were cleared of most invading woody trees and shrubs in February 2000 to reclaim coastal grassland habitat. The area was cleared with a Brontosaurus mower with partial funding from NRCS' Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).
Crowes Pasture prior to clearing (top, left), immediately after clearing (top, right), and seven months after clearing (bottom).
Grasses and forbs quickly colonized portions of the area during the first growing season following the initial clearing. Most notably, a few New England Blazing Star plants (a Special Concern species in Massachusetts) were found growing in the area. The area will be maintained via biennial mowing and possibly prescribed burning. MassWildlife will administer a contract for the first two maintenance mowing cycles. Thereafter, the Town will assume responsibility for maintaining the habitat. Prescribed burning will only occur with approval from and in cooperation with the Town. Additionally, the reclamation area was revisited late in the growing season of 2001 to control invasive exotic vegetation, including bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose. This was followed by a maintenance mowing this past February.
Biological Monitoring Results
Click here for a list of birds and butterflies recorded in and around the project sites.
Photos by (in order of appearance) Brian Reid; the remainder by Jim Oehler.
Questions/Comments?
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