Swendsen Farm Management Plan - Enhancing Agriculture, Forests, and Wildlife Habitats

1. A Management Plan for Swendsen Farm, Bethlehem, CT February 2004

2. 1890 1908 1890 1908 1930 1930 2003

3. Swendsen Farm

4. Agriculture

5. Swendsen Farm Agriculture • Area: 68.5 acres • Crops: • Corn • Hay • Pumpkins

6. Current Management Practices • Herbicides and Pesticides • Liming • Crop Rotation • Soil Erosion Control

7. Management Recommendations • Maintain and improve drainage system • Review pesticide application plan • Develop an edge management plan • Maintain and enhance field species diversity

8. Forests

9. Forest Communities 2 1 • Hardwood-Thick Shrub • Hemlock-Hardwood • Mixed-Wood • Red Maple Mesic • Red Maple Swamp • Upland Hardwood 3 4 5 6

10. Objective: Maintain Forest Health • Considerations: • Potential pathogens • Invasive species • Recommendations: • Monitor for hemlock woolly adelgid and beech bark disease • Eradicate invasive species where feasible

11. Objective: Watershed Health • Considerations: • Vegetation traps sediments and prevents sediment loading of streams • Recommendations: • Maintain riparian buffers

12. Objective: Wildlife Habitat • Considerations: • Food Sources • Shelter • Recommendations: • Maintain variety of food sources and habitats

13. Objective: Aesthetics • Considerations: • Beautiful stands enhance the visitor experience • Recommendations: • Create and maintain aesthetically pleasing stands

15. Wetlands

16. Objectives • Preserve wildlife habitat • Maintain high water quality • Maintain ecosystem health • Promote aesthetics • Preserve species diversity

17. Recommendations • Maintain buffers • Restrict recreational activity • Monitor pond and wetlands for invasive species • Encourage community groups to pursue wetland projects

18. Wildlife

19. Potential Wildlife in Non Forested Areas of Swendsen Farm (source: NEWILD) Potential Wildlife in Forested Areas of Swendsen Farm (source: NEWILD)

20. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Indiana Myotis Myotis sodalis Source: Corbis.com Endangered Species Source: Merlin D. Tuttle Bat Conservation International Bog Turtle Clemmys muhlenbergii Source: Bern W. Tryon/Knoxville Zoo

21. Management Recommendations • Maintain habitat diversity • Maintain species that provide food and shelter • Develop strategies to enhance habitat connectivity

22. Recreation

23. Objective To open up Swendsen Farm as a passive recreation resource for the general public.

24. Choice of Recreation

25. Recommendations • Mark property boundaries • Include a recreation clause in the agricultural lease

26. Recommendations • Designate recreational options • Hiking • Horseback Riding • Fishing • Bird and scenic observation sites • Skating • Cross country skiing • Picnicking

27. Recommendations • Build a parking lot • Create a trail • system

28. Recommendations • Develop signage • - Welcome sign • - Steep slope warning signs • - Pesticide application signs

29. Recommendations • Appoint a property steward • Publicise opening of the property to the public • Approach community groups regarding use of the property

30. Education

31. Objective To investigate the potential for utilizing Swendsen Farm as an educational resource for schools and the community.

32. Local Schools • Bethlehem Elementary School • Woodbury Middle School • Nonnewaug High School

33. Recommendations • Forge relationships with the local schools • Develop interpretive materials • Promote educational activities on the property

34. Priorities for 2004-2005

35. Melissa Aikens Jessica Barnes Alvaro del Campo Elizabeth Petruska