Ecological AssessmentEcological Assessment

Former Haverford State Hospital PropertyDecember 15, 2008

Project Goals

1. Conduct Baseline Inventories

Vegetation Selected wildlife (birds) Fish Macroinvertebrates

2. Identify threats to natural features and assess ecological condition of site.

3. Provide stewardship recommendations with consideration for public access and passive recreational uses.

Project Area

124 acres.124 acres.

110 acres forested.110 acres forested.

Darby Creek Watershed.Darby Creek Watershed.

First order tributaries North First order tributaries North and South Brooks feed into and South Brooks feed into Darby Creek.Darby Creek.

Deep valleys along Deep valleys along tributaries.tributaries.

“This [Haverford State Hospital re-development] project constitutes a tremendous opportunity for

Watershed goal achievement.”

“…the site constitutes one of the last remaining relatively undeveloped islands of open space in the Watershed. As

such, its open space functions and values, from water resources quantity and quality to biodiversity and habitat to air

quality and aesthetics, are of tremendous importance and must be maximized.”

Darby Creek Watershed Conservation Plan (2005)

former Haverford State Hospital site

Seeps

7.Marsh / wet meadow

6.Old field / terrestrial meadow

5.Terrestrial shrubland

(multiflora rose) 4.Sycamore-box elder floodplain forest

3.Red maple palustrine forest

2.Red maple terrestrial forest

Vegetation

1.Red oak mixed hardwood / tuliptree-beech-maple forest

1937 aerial photograph(with red oak mixedhardwood forests)

2008 vegetation

Invasive species impact

WildlifeFish

Macroinvertebrates

Stewardship Issue:Invasive Plant Species

Most prevalent:Oriental bittersweet Multiflora roseJapanese honeysuckle PrivetGrape (native) CorktreeMile-a-minutePorcelain-berry

Less common but dominant in many areas: Garlic mustard Japanese stiltgrass Lesser celandine (South Brook) Japanese knotweed (Darby Creek)

Recommendations:Invasive Plant Species

Begin in areas with low invasive species impact (mature forests).

1. Cut vines impacting canopy and understory trees (oriental bittersweet, porcelain-berry).

2. Remove invasive trees (corktree) in upland forests and Japanese knotweed along Darby Creek.

3. Recruit volunteers to help control and monitor invasive plants.

4. Avoid creating additional forest gaps.

Japanese knotweed

Stewardship Issue:Deer Overabundance

Barren understory

The deer are eating the multiflora rose, spicebush, beech –

species typically avoided.Prominent browse line

Recommendations:Deer overabundance

Reduce deer density to perpetuate a healthy native forest with diversity of native shrubs and wildflowers: 1 deer / 64 acres.

1. Continue use of sharpshooters for next few years to significantly reduce deer population to manageable levels.

2. Follow (as needed) with periodic use of sharpshooters or an annual controlled bow hunt - in more remote locations during defined days and times - to maintain population at desired level.

3. Educate the public about the effects of overabundant deer. Post signs informing public of hunting and consider installing deer exclosures.

Stewardship Issue:Water Quality

From Quadrangle parking

From culvert under Route 476.

Drainage bypassing silt fencing near Darby Road

From old road to Darby Creek

Partially blocked culvert – North Brook

Recommendations:Water Quality

1. Stabilize, regrade, and replant eroded drainage areas to eliminate gullies and reduce further erosion. Secure necessary permits.

2. Work with Quadrangle community and Conservation District to explore options for decreasing channel flow to South Brook.

3. Regrade old access road along Darby Creek to drain water away from creek.

4. Consider replacing North Brook culvert.

5. Minimize trail use and other disturbances in riparian buffer zones (100 feet from creeks).

6. Monitor eroded drainage areas as Haverford Reserve is developed.

Stewardship Issue:Hazards and Aesthetics

Old railroad bridgeRemnants of dam

Remnants of ropes course ?

Potential hazard trees near

construction

Recommendations:Hazards and Aesthetics

1. Conduct an assessment of hazard trees near areas of potential public use and address issues with trees posing a danger (certified arborist).

2. Remove attractive nuisances (old railroad bridge, dam, ropes course) and debris before opening park for public use.

Stewardship Issue:Meadow

Woody encroachment

1971 2004

Recommendations:Meadow

1. Conduct a comprehensive botanical inventory of the meadow with frequent visits through the growing season.

2. Expand/restore the meadow to the edge of the red maple forest (~3.5 acres) by removing encroaching woody vegetation from center outward; consider managing using prescribed fire.

3. Limit frequent mowing to the area near the fire ring and the trails.

4. Reroute existing trails and restrict future trails to edge areas. Restrict camping to western and northern meadow borders.

Stewardship Issue:Trail Layout

• Excellent opportunities for bird and wildlife watching, environmental education, access to scenic features.

• Consider sensitive resources.

Sensitive Resource Areas:

Marshes, seeps, riparian forest buffers;

Areas with steep slopes bordering riparian corridors;

Special Plant Resource Areas.

Recommendations:Trail Layout

1. Restrict or minimize trail use in sensitive areas that include wetlands, water resources, steep slopes, and special plant resource areas. Existing trails in these sensitive areas can remain except in the Meadow where they should be moved to the outer expansion area.

2. Limit clearing for new trails by using existing rights-of-way such as the access road/sewer line along Darby Creek.

3. Limit trail use to foot traffic to minimize noise and disturbance in sensitive habitats.

4. Consider highlighting stewardship issues and interesting natural features along the trail route.

Questions / Discussion…