Citizens for Lexington Conservation promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of our natural environment through education and advocacy.
CLC is a non-profit organization in the town of Lexington, Massachusetts.

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>> Recent Newsletter  find newsletters April 1999 through April 2020 Here!

>> Calendar of Events

ARTICLE  ??                     

AMEND GENERAL BYLAWS-RECEIVE APPRAISED VALUE FOR REMOVED TREES

To see if the town will vote to amend Chapter 120 of the Code of the Town of Lexington, Trees, to require that when an applicant applies for permission from the Town to remove a Town-owned tree or Public Shade Tree, the applicant be required to provide an appraisal of the tree's value and, if permission to remove the tree is granted, pay an amount up to the appraised value of the tree to the Lexington Tree Fund;  or act in any other manner in relation thereto.

(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Tree Committee)

DESCRIPTION: This article will ensure that the Town receives a fair value for a removed Town tree.

DRAFT MOTION:  Amend Section § 120-7-B. of the Lexington Tree Bylaw  as follows:

Procedures. Any person seeking to prune or remove a public shade tree or Town tree shall submit an application to the Tree Warden in accordance with any application requirements issued by the Tree Warden.  The Tree Warden shall hold a public hearing on applications for removal, at the expense of the applicant, in accordance with the provisions outlined within General Law Chapter 87. In addition to the public notices required by Chapter 87, the Town shall provide notice of the public hearing using then current Town electronic public notice methods.    If the tree is removed, the Select Board may require the applicant to pay up to the appraised value of the tree, as determined by  a mutually agreed upon member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers trunk formula method, to the Lexington Tree Fund. The permit issued by the Tree Warden may specify schedules, terms, and conditions including, requiring the planting of replacement trees.

ARTICLE  ??               

AMEND GENERAL BYLAWS-TREE BYLAW FEES AND MITIGATION PAYMENTS

To see if the town will vote to amend Chapter 120 of the Code of the Town of Lexington, Trees, to increase the fees and  mitigation  payments  for  removal  of  trees  protected  under  the  Bylaw,  and  to  adjust  these  items  to  reflect inflation; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.

(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Tree Committee)

DESCRIPTION: This article will increase the fees and mitigation payments under the Tree Bylaw to better reflect the cost associated with administering the Bylaw and the cost of planting trees with mitigation funds, and will make it  more  attractive  for  applicants  to  replant  versus  making  payments  to  the  Lexington  Tree  Fund,  and  will  better protect large trees.

DRAFT MOTION:

(a) Amend Section §  120-8-B-1. of the Lexington Tree Bylaw as follows:

Such fee shall be at least $20 per DBH inch of protected tree to be removed. The fee shall be  evaluated annually and adjusted as needed to reflect inflation.

(b) Amend Section §  120-8-C-2. of the Lexington Tree Bylaw as follows:

Contribution into the Lexington Tree Fund, provided such fund is reauthorized to the extent required by law, or otherwise to the surplus revenue of the Town: such contribution shall be $200 per replacement inch of protected tree or Town tree removed not already mitigated as per Subsection C(1).  This amount shall be  evaluated annually and adjusted as needed to reflect inflation.

(c) Amend Section §  120-16. Replacement Inch Calculation Table of the Lexington Tree Bylaw as follows:

For Level 2 Trees (24" DBH and larger),  "replace 2 times inches removed" with  "replace 4 times inches removed"

ARTICLE   ??                  

AMEND GENERAL BYLAWS- TREE BYLAW: DATA COLLECTION AND EDUCATION

To see if the town will vote to amend Chapter 120 of the Code of the Town of Lexington, Trees, to:

a. require the owner of a property at which major construction or demolition is planned to submit itemized detailed information

• initially  with  submission  of  the  building  permit,  for  all  trees  6  inches  DBH  or  larger  on  the property; and

• at the completion of work at the property, for all remaining trees 6 inches DBH or larger on the property and for trees planted as mitigation

b.  require  prior  notification  to  the  Town  before  removal  of  any  tree  6  inches  DBH  or  larger  on  private property at which neither major construction nor demolition is planned

; or act in any other manner in relation thereto.

(Inserted by the Select Board at the request of the Tree Committee)

DESCRIPTION:  This  article  provides  for  the  collection  of  additional  information  on  sites  where  the  tree  bylaw applies and also for sites on which it does not. This additional information will be used to better understand the effectiveness of the bylaw and inform decisions about future changes to the bylaw. Additionally, the requirement for notification on sites where the bylaw does not currently apply provides an opportunity for education of the applicant on the benefits of trees and on options other than removal.  For these sites where the bylaw does not currently apply, the Tree Committee is recommending that there be no fee associated with this notification, no requirement for an onsite inspection, and no penalty for failing to provide notice.

DRAFT MOTION:

(a) Amend Section § 120-8-B. of the Lexington Tree Bylaw as follows:

Procedures. When major construction or demolition is planned, the owner of the property shall submit to the Building Commissioner as part of the application for a building or demolition permit a site plan drawn and stamped by a registered land surveyor showing all existing trees on the property of six-inch DBH or greater.  For each tree shown in the plan,  the owner of the property shall enter into the on-line permit system information  including, but not limited to : DBH, reason for removal, alternatives considered, whether the tree is in the setback, whether the tree is a proposed hazard, and if known, tree species.  Additional items specified by the Tree Warden and the Tree Committee may be specified in rules and regulations promulgated by the Select Board.

§ 120-8-B- F  (New Section)

Upon completion of work at the property, the owner, through the online permit system, shall indicate which trees 6 inches DBH or greater have been removed and whether the tree has been removed because it was deemed a hazard by the Tree Warden.  The owner shall also enter the following information for any trees planted as mitigation per § 120-8-C-1:  species and DBH.   The owner shall provide an updated site plan indicating trees 6 inches DBH or greater  that have been removed and indicating trees planted as mitigation.

(b) Add the following new section to the Lexington Tree Bylaw:

§ 120-? New Section (Logically after 120-8)  Non-protected Trees

On private property at which neither major construction nor demolition is planned, before removing a tree greater than 6 inches DBH, the owner of the property shall apply for a permit for each tree greater than 6 inches DBH to be removed.  The owner of the property shall enter into the Town permit system information including but not limited to: tree species, location, DBH, reason for removal, and alternatives to removal considered.

Bee City USA is an initiative of the Xerces Society that encourages communities to support and conserve native pollinators by committing to a Bee City Resolution. This Resolution calls for the annual celebration and awareness of bees and the involvement of the community to sustain a pollinator-friendly habitat, such as maintaining native biodiversity and incorporating pollinator-conscious practices into pest control policies. Lexington’s designation as a Bee City represents our community’s passion towards conserving a fundamental species of the environment, led by local  Master Beekeeper Alexandra Bartsch and Lexington High School’s Bee Club. As of October 19, 2020, Lexington bears the pride of becoming the first Bee City of Massachusetts, and third in New England!

Staghorn Sumac, by Russ Cohen

reprinted with permission

(apologies for the awkward layout, photos did not translate)

Wright Farm, by David Kaufman

ACROSS Lexington

 Are you looking for a new route to walk, run or bike?

ACROSS Lexington is waiting for you - try it!

You can find route information here on the Town website.

ACROSS Lexington stands for Accessing Conservation land, Recreation areas, Open space, Schools and Streets in Lexington.

Instead of creating formal newsletter this fall, we will be posting articles of interest individually on our website. We hope you enjoy reading them! And if you have a piece you are interested in contributing, let us know! citizens4lexingtonconservation@gmail.com

Birding in Dunback Meadow by Bobbie Hodson 

While there are many beautiful and varied conservation areas in Lexington, Dunback Meadow has been and remains my favorite for birding in all seasons. It has varied habitats of woods, fields, and water, lending itself to a rich possibility of birds. Nearly 200 species of birds have been located here, including many breeders. 

There are several trails, which intersect mid-way in what birders call “the four way intersection”. One trail starts at the Allen Street entrance and crosses Clematis Brook on its way to Bacon Street. The other main trail runs from Clarke Middle School through several meadows and woods until it reaches Bowman School. Preferred entrances are via Allen Street and Clarke School where parking is ample. From Clarke School one can also take a shorter trail, one of the ACROSS Lexington routes through pine woods, which joins the Allen Street trail. 

In late summer and early fall, Dunback Meadow has many ruby-throated hummingbirds gathering for a final intake of food before their long migration south. Also, coming through in a more leisurely travel than in the spring are the warblers, vireos, and thrushes which are migrating south as the supply of insects decreases in their summer territories. Once October arrives, sparrows of many varieties start to appear in small flocks. They are eating the many different seeds from the grasses and weeds. Several of these sparrows, including Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow stay with us for the winter . 

Throughout the fall Dunback Meadow has many residential birds, such as Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Downy, Red-bellied, and Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as Mourning Doves and Blue Jays. Flocks of Bobolinks are often seen in the meadows in the early fall. Cardinals grace the trees with their vivid red feathers throughout the year. Often the pine woods has several varieties of owls, such as Barred, Screech, and Great Horned. In unusual times, Long-eared Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls are a joy to observe. 

And there are coyotes, turtles, foxes, and deer within this area as well. These are best observed in the early mornings. 

The better areas for birding are within the few hundred yards surrounding the 4-way intersection. Here there is water, meadow, and woods, and birds thrive in edge habitats where both food and safety are more readily available. Going up the hill to Allen Street offers a rich birding habitat with catbirds, jays, warblers, and the other usual residents. Going toward Bacon Street or toward Bowman School one can find land birds such as hawks, goldfinches, sparrows, and in fall the Connecticut Warbler, a rarity here, but seen most autumns. 

Dunback’s birding opportunities change from day to day. By walking in this relaxing conservation area, even if the birds are not plentiful on one day, enjoy the walk and come back the next day, when you are sure to see something new. 

Let us know if there is an upcoming event that should be listed here.

Citizens4LexingtonConservation@gmail.com

Annual Meeting update

Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Citizens for Lexington Conservation 2020 annual meeting has been indefinitely postponed. Further information will be posted as it is available.

Thank you for your patience!

Suggested Fall Open Space Explorations

In keeping with the continuing need for social distancing due to the Covid-19 epidemic

while continuing its mission of encouraging enjoyment of Lexington’s open space places, CLC

will offer a series of suggestions for self-guided exploration throughout the fall season.

Autumn will soon be upon us with its annual changes to both flora and fauna, so get out and do your own

exploring either with the aid of these posted suggestions or to destinations of your own choosing amongst Lexington’s ample collection of 26 Conservation areas.

A complete listing with maps of all 26 areas can be found by visiting the Lexington Conservation Department website (lexingtonma.gov/trails).

And be sure to check back over the coming weeks as we post additional suggestions for

crafting your own outdoor adventures.

In addition, please see the April Newsletter for walk guidance (and other cool info!). You can also check out the ACROSS Lexington links above.

 The Bedford Trails Committee has written Trail Walk descriptions in for many trails in Bedford.  Trail walks vary, from strolls on flat ground to hikes with hills. Please follow social distancing guidelines during this time.

Contact:        To join the Bedford Trail Walks email list - if you already have a Google account, go to: 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/bedfordma-trails  and click “Join Group to Post”

To join if you don’t have a Google account, please send an email to: BedfordMA.trailwalks@gmail.com  and you’ll be added to the Group.

Wright Farm Barn

Check out this delightful video made by some folks with a real appreciation for the natural world.

Joe-Pye-Weed in Dunback Meadow, August 2016 (photo courtesy John Andrews)

Please let us know if you would be interested in working with CLC in any capacity. Could you write a piece for the Newsletter? Lead a walk? Work on the website? Take a leadership role on the Board? Help manage marketing/outreach? Drop us a line if you think you can help - we always welcome new faces!

Walks Publicity Coordinator: Each spring and fall CLC sponsors a series of walks in conservation and open space. We are looking for someone to focus initially on walks publicity, and eventually to organize and broaden the types of walks we conduct. 

Events Coordinator: Each year, CLC features a speaker on conservation, resource, or environmental issues. To deepen and enlarge our educational focus, we are seeking a new film/speaker coordinator to take on the tasks of identifying, scheduling, and publicizing videos and speakers. Our plans are to offer 3-4 events per year as an exciting new way for CLC to continue to raise public awareness regarding local, regional and national environmental issues.

Conservation Restriction Monitors: CLC is in the process of acquiring conservation restrictions (CRs) on five Town-owned properties that were acquired in whole or in part with Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. We are seeking individuals who are interested in helping to complete the remaining CR applications for three of the five parcels and/or participating in the annual monitoring of the properties. 

Recording Secretary. This position involves taking minutes at Board meetings and filing any forms required to maintain our status as a nonprofit organization. 

If you would like to know more about any of these positions, please contact Eileen Entin (eileenhome@gmail.com, 781-862-6418).

CLC is sponsoring a new program for children - the Junior Ranger Program - aimed at getting kids out into Lexington's Conservation properties with games and activities. In conjunction with Cary Memorial Library we have a booklet to guide children and their parents. The kids will visit several different Conservation areas, fill out some activity sheets that will guide nature observation, and can, upon completion, receive a Junior Ranger Certificate from the Library.

You can find the Junior Ranger booklet here.