Conservation commission approves Land Bank plans to manage invasive plants at Massasoit Bridge and Almanac Pond sites with conditions

Nantucket — The Nantucket Conservation Commission on Oct. 23 approved two habitat- and land-management permits submitted by the Nantucket Islands Land Bank: an invasive-plant treatment at 2 Massasoit Bridge Road and mowing, targeted sumac management and invasive-species control at the Land Bank’s Beachwood Farm property (39 and 41 Almanac Pond Road).

Both proposals affect buffer areas to bordering vegetated wetlands and lie within areas identified by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) as priority or estimated rare-species habitat. Land Bank representative Liz Phelps told the commission Natural Heritage had reviewed both projects and issued determination letters approving them with conditions.

2 Massasoit Bridge Road (Cypress spurge): Phelps said the cypress spurge occurs adjacent to a parking area and in the maintained lawn near the trail access to Long Pond. The Land Bank proposed combining mowing with targeted application of a wetland-approved herbicide to control the…