Fowl Meadow: Cutting and Planning

You may notice some cutting and mowing at Fowl Meadow this week. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has been cutting trees and mowing the edges of Burma Road in Fowl Meadow to maintain its sewer easement. This activity, part of their regular annual maintenance, has been coordinated with the DCR and is in accordance with the Mass Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (Natural Heritage).

In addition to overseeing MWRA’s activities in Fowl Meadow, the DCR is also making sure all of the invasive species and trail maintenance activities undertaken by various organizations in this ecologically sensitive area are in accordance with Natural Heritage requirements. DCR recently submitted a habitat management plan to Natural Heritage to receive authority to improve the side trails and remove invasive species in Fowl Meadow. The plan, which includes invasive species monitoring, the purple loosestrife biocontrol project and easement maintenance will be available to the public by the end of the summer. Organizations that will be involved in the activities affected by the permit include the Friends of the Blue Hills, the Neponset River Watershed Association, the New England Wild Flower Society and the MWRA.