2026 Conservation Plan

Year 1, 2026
– Assessment, Invasives, Design, Education, and Building Volunteer Base

Action Goal 1: Baseline, education, set trajectory and overall design

Strategy

• Baseline assessments:
  • Stream Habitat Assessment
    • Upstream at beginning of property
    • Midpoint at Lafayette Crossing
    • Special note on canopy cover
  • Water Quality Testing
    • Upstream at beginning of property
    • Downstream at end of property
• Streambank erosion mapping
• Invasive species inventory
• Develop key steward knowledge
  • Begin certifications
  • Team support
• Build conservation plan, overall design and timeline

Action Goal 2: Invasive Control

Strategy

• Begin invasive removal (spring 2026):
  • Bush honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven, Wintercreeper, Bradford pear
  • Other herbaceous invasive species: poison hemlock, garlic mustard (pull and bag both)87u

Action Goal 3: Riparian restoration; slow/prevent erosion, reconnect vegetation to water

Strategy

• Install natives that will shade the upstream portion, about 100 ft.
  
  • Fast growing natives like Elderberry

• Streambank stabilization:
  • Live staking (willow, dogwood, elderberry)

Action Goal 4: Install native plants

Strategy

• Create designated stream access zones
• Install native trees and shrubs along Big Elm Tributary where honeysuckle & invasives removed
• Consider some key placements along the meander‑core wetland to offset removal of honeysuckle screen along back fences of homes

Action Goal 5: Pollinator Garden, Native Meadows, Cut Flower Garden

Strategy

• Identify areas and mark
• Herbicide x min 2, ideal 4 - OR - solariation Spring through Fall.
• Border with Arborist Chips

Action Goal 6: Soil Regeneration Testing

Strategy

• Can coincide with pollinator and meadow establishment
• Identify areas and mark: one for regeneration vs standard grass that is mown
• Baseline soil samples and testing; Mark permanent sampling points
• Map site (sun, drainage, rock density)
• Signage and documentation

Action Goal 7: Build & Educate Volunteer base

Strategy

• Community engagement:
  • 4 Educational Events /site walks
    • Stream Habitat Assessment – RUSS, March 28
    • How to use iNaturalist / How to work on your own schedule - BEVERLY
    • How to identify invasives / How to work on your own schedule
    • Creating spaces - RUSS/TRICIA
    • Natural Play Areas - RUSS/TRICIA
    • How to remove winter creeper – JERRY W
• Recruit, build contact list, develop partner groups
• Signage
• Establish recurring volunteer workday schedule
  • March– November; 2^nd and 4^th Saturday mornings 10 - 12 (except July and August due to heat)
  • Invasive removal, Trash removal, Native planting

Action Goal 8: Maintenance & Stewardship Strategy

Strategy

• Invasive checks: 2× per year
• Tree care: Mulching, watering first 2–3 years
• Stream access points only—no general bank trampling
• Meadow mowing (if applicable): 1× annually (late winter)
• Volunteer stewardship days to build long‑term success

Action Goal 9: Secure funding

Strategy

• Always reapply for Lexington Stormwater Quality Grant (2027 - May 1, 2026 deadline)
• Document list of potential grant sources and deadlines

• • Lexington Stormwater Quality Grant (Priority)
  • NRCS (eligible only for EQIP) – applied 2026
  • CAIP (eligible due to farm #) – applied March 2026
  • FCCD educational grant

✅ Administrative Deliverables:

• Site plan

• Priority restoration map

• Volunteer plan

• Grant applications

• Events