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Conservation staff reports: drought eases to 'mild,' test wells and geotechnical probes planned, invasive bittersweet found
Summary
Conservation staff told the commission that central-region conditions improved to a level-one mild drought effective April 8, Tighe & Bond notified the commission of up to three temporary test wells at the Otter River Pump House and 13 geotechnical probes on Patriots Road, and a resident-supplied photo confirmed invasive oriental bittersweet in East Templeton.
At its April 21 meeting the Conservation Commission received a series of routine agent updates covering drought status, utility testing, roadway geotechnical probes and an invasive-species report.
Drought status: the Conservation Agent said that effective April 8 conditions in the central region, which includes Templeton, improved to a level-one mild drought. The agent advised residents considering wetland delineations to wait until conditions return to normal so results are accurate.
Test wells and pump tests: the commission received notice from Tighe & Bond, on behalf of Templeton Municipal Light and Water, regarding proposed work at the Otter River Pump House on Willow Street. The agent said up to three temporary test wells would be installed with short two-hour pump tests; locations were described as outside jurisdictional resource areas and pump test water would be discharged to nearby vegetated upland to infiltrate on site. The agent said the activity is classified as exempt under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations cited as 310 CMR 10.02 and that work began the week before the meeting and is expected to finish by the end of April.
Geotechnical probes: the agent also reported a notification for 13 geotechnical probes on Patriots Road to support a future water-main replacement; each probe will temporarily impact about 1 square foot of existing roadway, the agent said, and the work is considered minor and exempt from permitting under 310 CMR 10.02 and is anticipated to begin in early May.
Invasive species: a resident contacted the conservation office with photos of a vine on a property in East Templeton; the agent confirmed the plant as invasive oriental bittersweet based on berry characteristics and growth pattern and advised removal that targets the root system while avoiding pulling vines from trees.
Commissioners had no substantive objections and thanked staff for communicating with the utility and residents; no formal actions were taken at the meeting on these items.
