Year 5, 2030
FOCUS – Monitoring, Maintenance, and Adaptive Management

Action Goal 02: Conservation, Maintenance & Stewardship Strategy

Strategy

• Invasive checks: 2× per year
  • Invasive removal
• Manage aggressive natives (Sumac and Black Locust) by thinning and perimeter mowing
• Meadow mowing (if applicable): 1× annually (late winter)
• Tree care: Mulching, watering first 2–3 years
• Stream access points only—no general bank trampling

Action Goal 03: Build & Educate Volunteer Base

Strategy

• Community engagement:
• 4 Educational Events / Site walks
  • The Greenspace in Winter
  • The Greenspace in Spring
  • The Greenspace in Summer
  • The Greenspace in Fall
• Nurture contact list – newsletter, social events
• Signage
  • “You found” plant species info sheets for each identified native plant
  • Invasive species fact sheet and stewardship action info
  • More permanent signage to be determined
• Volunteer stewardship days to build long‑term success

Action Goal 04: Secure funding

Strategy

• Always reapply for Lexington Stormwater Quality Grant
• Document list of potential grant sources and deadlines
  • Lexington Stormwater Quality Grant (Priority)
  • NRCS (eligible only for EQIP)
  • CAIP (eligible due to farm #)
  • FCCD educational grant
  • Apply October 1 - Monarch Milkweed Grant - https://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/free-milkweeds-schools-nonprofits/
  • Youth Project - https://wildones.org/seeds-for-education/sfe-application/ - Opens July 15 – Nov 15

Action Goal 08: Soil Regeneration Implementation

Apply Regenerative Practices (Year 4)

Strategy – increase diversity & stabilize

• Mow early spring
• Overseed gaps
• Pull/manage invasives
• Track: % plant cover, number of species, soil feel (crumbly vs compacted), earthworms / insects

Action Goal 13: Evaluate Work

Strategy

Document:

• Native plant survival
• Bank quality
• Water Quality
• Bat count (citizen science encouraged) – and perhaps other counts
• Pollinator garden / bee count
• Meander-core wetlands
• Monitor spread of aggressive natives – ex Sumac and Black Locust

Action Goal 15: Ensure Longevity Of Conservation Efforts

Strategy

• Monitor & Document:
  • Bank stability
  • Invasive regrowth
  • Tree survival
• Bat and bird activity observations (citizen science encouraged)
• Selective infill planting
• Update maintenance plan for next 5 years

✅ Administrative Deliverables:

Monitoring report

Update Stewardship Plan