City of Methuen Master Plan

Natural Resources, Open Space, and Recreation
Woody shrubs such as buttonbush, alder, silky dogwood, and red maple, and white ash saplings
characterize Shrub Swamps. They typically provide preferred habitat for the following species: Blackcrowned
night heron, common snipe, glossy ibis, common yellowthroat, common grackle, song
sparrow, swamp sparrow, and American goldfinch. Common mammals include Virginia opossum, little
brown bat, eastern cottontail, and raccoon.
Ponds are small bodies of water that are characterized by emergent vegetation such as cattails or
floating-leafed plants, or both. Vernal pools are small ponds that are not connected to streams or other
water bodies. Thus, they depend on snowmelt and rainwater and usually become dry by late summer.
Twenty-five Certified Vernal Pools are identified on the Habitat Map. Vernal pools are critical habitats
for salamanders, wood frogs, and a wide variety of other wildlife. Salamanders and wood frogs migrate
from surrounding forested uplands to these pools in the spring to breed. Without these vernal pools we
would lose these animals. Many more potential vernal pools may exist, but have not been documented.
Ponds and vernal pools also provide preferred habitat for the following wildlife species: Bullfrog,
pickerel frog, eastern painted turtles, little brown bat, big brown bat, mink, and beaver.
Rare Species
The most recent list published by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
notes seven occurrences of rare or endangered plants and animals in Methuen. The two listed plants are
alternate flowered milfoil (Myriophyllum alterniflorum 1883) and Andrews' bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii
1951). The gentian and milfoil are both listed as Endangered. The date after each species name
indicates the last time the species was seen in Methuen.
The seven state-listed animal species that have been found in the city include: Endangered – bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus 1999); Threatened –Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii 2004) and a clubtail
dragonfly (Stylurus spiniceps 2004); Species of Special Concern – wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta 2003), blue
spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale 2004), another clubtail dragonfly, called the cobra clubtail
(Gomphus vastus 2004), and a dragonfly called the umber shadowdragon (Neurocordulia obsoleta 2004).
An intensive natural history inventory may find additional rare species have not been noted within
Methuen. It is likely that there are other important wildlife habitats and many more vernal pools in
Methuen. Such an intensive natural history inventory would give Methuen better information about its
natural resources and should be done. The Conservation Commission could host a “bio-blitz” where a
team of volunteers spends a weekend canvassing the town looking for special habitats and inventorying
species.
Riparian Corridors
The Massachusetts Resource Identification Project designated “natural land riparian” corridors along
waterways and wetlands. These 100-meter natural corridors are thought to provide avenues of
movement for some wildlife species and fulfill other ecological functions.
Given the soil limitations as outlined above, especially the steep slopes the City
FUTURE
should consider adopting a slope protection bylaw to reduce impacts of
development on the remaining land in Methuen. A slope protection bylaw would
also help to preserve the semi-rural quality of Methuen by reducing the visual impact of development on
forested hills.
PLANS/NEEDS:
In order to preserve the natural resources of Methuen, the City should consider revising its Zoning
Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations in accordance with the Low Impact Development (LID)
Page 131