A $12,000 request to be used for fencing and treating invasive plant species at Sprague’s Cove adjacent to Silvershell Beach was approved by the Marion Conservation Commission at their meeting on Wednesday evening. The area is a storm water retention area that was overgrown for years, resulting in an impact to the integrity of the dikes and berms in the area.
Approximately $5,000 will be spent on eradicating fragmites, an invasive species that has spread into and around the finger dikes. The remaining $7,000 will be used to construct a split rail fence with wire backing behind it along the parking area at Silvershell Beach.
Board member Steve Gonsalves discussed the issue of maintenance on both sides of the fence, which will be ongoing. “Let’s do it right and make sure the fenced area doesn’t get overgrown, causing more problems,” he said. “This is taxpayer money, and we want to make sure we’re addressing issues that will come up over time.”
In other business, the committee discussed a Request for Determination of Applicability to construct an 18-by-26-foot addition to the northeast corner of the Saltonstall Architects building at 380 Wareham St. The proposed addition is located in a flood zone and located approximately 62 feet away from the delineated wetland line. Will Saltonstall addressed the Commission.
The proposed addition would be set on six pre-cast concrete posts installed via backhoe. At issue was the proposed parking area, which the board felt was encroaching upon the wetland area. The board agreed to revisit the area to discuss the request.
Next up was a Request for Determination of Applicability by Frank Cerkovitz, Lot 39 Cross Neck Road, to convert cranberry bogs into wetlands as mandated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
At issue is an old cranberry bog being abandoned and left to nature’s way.
“Trees will grow in the bog,” Cerkovitz said. “I have a 10-year plan to keep fragmites [an invasive species] out.”
Cerkovitz said he plans to monitor the transformation of the bog to a natural setting. Water levels, which were kept in check when the area was a bog, are now flowing freely, creating a water flow conducive to fish and wildlife activity.
The board continued a request from Warren P. Williamson IV and Lee H. Williamson, southerly of 125 Converse Road, who filed a Notice of Intent to perform the following activities within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to a Bordering Vegetate Wetland: construct a portion of a deck, install a portion of a drainage pipe, and perform land clearing and grading associated with the construction of a dwelling located outside the Buffer Zone.
The continuation was rescheduled for 7:40 pm on June 26.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
