Tully Lake Campground Sustainability Study by Taking Root Design

Tully Lake Campground Sustainability Study The Trustees of Reservations Royalston, Massachusetts

Tully Lake Campground - Trustees Of Reservations

Kristin Thomas

Index of Sheets

Introduction, Goals, & History....................................................1 Context....................................................................................... 2 Existing Conditions: Campground............................................. 3 Flooding......................................................................................4 Wetland & Soils, Erosion & Overuse.......................................... 5 Vegetation & Summary Analysis: Campground........................6 Existing Conditions: Common Area........................................... 7 Access, Circulation, & Drainage.................................................8 Sun & Shade...............................................................................9 Legal.......................................................................................... 10 Summary Analysis: Common Area........................................... 11 Design Alternative I...................................................................12 Design Alternatives II & III........................................................13 Final Design.............................................................................. 14 Final Design: Color Rendering..................................................15 Final Design: Axonometric....................................................... 16 Final Design: Section & Details.................................................17 Planting Plan............................................................................. 18 Plant Palettes........................................................................... 19 Phasing & Cost Estimates........................................................ 20 Sustainable Management Recommendations I: Overview & Sustainability at Tully Lake...................................21 Sustainable Management Recommendations II: Restoring Forest Health........................................................... 22 Sustainable Management Recommendations III: Shoreline Restoration.............................................................. 23 Sustainable Management Recommendations IV: Shoreline Restoration & Managing Invasive Species............. 24 Sustainable Management Recommendations V: Alternative Energy & Composting Toilets............................... 25 Sustainable Management Recommendations VI: Universal Access....................................................................... 26 Resources................................................................................. 27 Acknowledgements We wish to acknowledge and thank Walker Korby, Constanze Campbell, Vincent Antil, and Dick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien of The Trustees of Reservations as well as Jeff Mangum, of the Army Corps of Engineers, for their support in getting the project started and valuable assistance throughout its development. We also wish to extend our gratitude to the faculty, staff, and students of the Conway School of Landscape Design for offering their talent, intelligence, humor, and ready support. The Conway School of Landscape Design is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design. Each year, through its accredited, ten-month graduate program just eighteen to nineteen graduate students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of applied landscape studies, ranging in scale from residences to regions. Graduates go on to play significant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and design with an eye to sustainability.

Introduction, Goals, & History The Campground Tully Lake Campground is a special place to many people, where campers are often repeat visitors, returning year after year, for the unique camping experience offered here. The tent-only campground is a rustic, quiet refuge on 200-acre Tully Lake, yet offers amenities like hot showers and canoe rentals. Many of the most popular campsites are located directly on the water’s edge. As the campground continues to grow in popularity, as evidenced by the fact that the majority Towering white pine islands are spread across the lake. of reservations are made months ahead of time, the impacts of human use are keenly felt throughout the campground. Many of the aging facilities are no longer adequate for camper demand. Some of the shoreline campsites are experiencing significant erosion. The towering canopy of white pines is in decline and may no longer be there within a few decades.

The Client The Trustees of Reservations began managing Tully Lake Campground in 1999 and remain committed to maintaining the rustic camping experience that has attracted so many people to the lake. They seek to better accommodate rising demand through improved facilities while remediating damages caused by overuse. Their ultimate goal is that the campground demonstrate the best sustainable practices in the campground for their benefit to the environment and as an inspiration for guests in their everyday lives.

GOALS 1. Site New Structures

Existing facilities in the common area, including the ranger station, comfort station, and a dedicated gathering area, at times are overwhelmed and need to be expanded or augmented with new buildings.

2. Redesign Common Area

The Trustees report that the common area requires improved circulation paths and better defined gathering, work, and recreation areas. Currently guests are uncertain where to gather and rangers are in need of a dedicated outdoor work and storage space. There is also a need for shade throughout the common area. Specific areas of focus include the entryway, parking, center of common area, and fire pit.

3. Address Shoreline and Forest Health; Assess Siting Additional Campsites The Trustees are concerned that there is severe shoreline erosion, soil compaction, and declining forest health, particularly along the campground waterfront. The Trustees would like this project to propose solutions to mitigate these issues. This project will also research potential areas for additional campsites.

4. Develop Best Management Practices and Sustainability Study

The Trustees would like to develop best management practices for the campground as a whole, including recommendations for how to implement the most progressive sustainable principles across the campground.

History Nestled in Massachusetts’ highest elevated region of the Central Uplands, Tully Lake is the result of an Army Corps of Engineers Connecticut River basin flood-control project that began with the building of Tully Dam in 1947, which finished construction in 1949. Prior to that, the lake area had been open wetland flooplain, but with the construction of the dam and flooding of the reservoir, the 200-acre Tully Lake was created. Subsequently 1,100 acres of recreational area were leased to the state to manage, but it wasn’t until 1978 that Tully Lake Campground was constructed by the Army

Corps of Engineers. From the campground’s inception the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation operated the camp until The Trustees of Reservations assumed their lease in 1999. Tully Lake was created by these 20th century developments but the broader landscape’s character has been shaped over millennia. The earliest known human settlement began in 7500-500 BP when the Nipmuc Nation of Native Americans are understood to have temporarily built strategic camps in the area to take advantage of seasonal resources. In 1765 the Town of Royalston was incorporated and one of its first notable residents, Benjamin Marsh, was commissioned to build and operate saw and grist mills adjacent to Lawrence Brook. These mills, along with others such as Joel Nourse’s and Benjamin Bragg’s textile mills, were the primary industry and largest employers until the early 1900s. All trees, with the exception of some wolf trees and remote natural communities, were cut for the mills and to clear pasture. One can still readily see evidence of this land use in Tully Lake Campground’s paddock stone walls and relatively uniform canopy height of the forest, which indicates its young age and the widespread history of logging. Today Tully Lake is one of the most popular recreational areas for camping in Massachusetts.

This view of Tully lake projects in a southerly direction ending with Tully Lake Dam (center of image) on the horizon.

Introduction, Goals, & History

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Context Regional Context Located in north-central Massachusetts in the Worcester County town of Royalston,Tully Lake Campground is positioned where the Laurentian and Gondwanan continental terrains collided, creating rare geology and the central uplands that the town rests on. Royalston, though not heavily populated, is centrally located at the tri-state crossroads of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts and may be quickly accessed via Interstate 91 and Route 2.

For Massachusetts and the southern regions of Vermont and New Hampshire, Tully Lake Campground represents one of the best opportunities for a vacation outdoors. The demand to camp at Tully Lake Campground is very strong and growing. Most visitors come from inside the I-495 Beltway and the Pioneer Valley because of the campground’s regional centrality, scenic hills, mountains, and numerous water recreational opportunities. While similar outdoor adventures may be pursued throughout the immediate region, Tully Lake Campground is unique in that it offers easy access to these recreational activities while also providing the opportunity to camp at one of its 35 tent-only campsites.

I-91

Royalston Rt.2

CT River

Tully Lake

Tully Lake Campground in its statewide and regional contexts.

RECREATIONAL Context There are many recreational opportunities near the campground. The 20mile Tully Trail ascends Tully Mountain (pictured below); the Lake Trail hugs Tully Lake and offers numerous small beaches; the Bike Trail is a rugged but accessible route that loops around Tully River’s last native riparian corridor which feeds Tully Lake. Along each of these routes are multiple places of interest such as water falls (pictured below). Due to these recreational opportunities, more and more visitors are attracted each year to the campground, to the extent that The Trustees of Reservation’s is challenged to keep pace with demand. At the campground, visitors may enjoy such activities as hiking dozens of miles of scenic trails, fishing, and swimming off of white pine islands.

Tully Lake Dam

Route 2

Doane’s River Falls. photo courtesty of TTOR.

The annul Tully Lake Triathalon. photo courtesty of TTOR.

Tully Trail Lake Trail Bike Trail

.25

1.0 miles

1. Tully Lake 2. Campground 3. Boat Launch 4. Doanes Falls 5. The Ledges

6. Spirit Falls 7. Jackson Hill 8. Royalston Falls 9. Tully Mountain 10. Disc Golf Course

There are a variety of recreational opportunities in close proximity to Tully Lake Campground (#2 on map).

View from Tully Mountain. photo courtesty of TTOR.

Context

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Existing Conditions: Campground The 25-acre, 35-tent, tent-only campground is in a largely undeveloped, rural landscape. Water defines all but the northern boundary of the site, with Tully River to the east and Tully Lake extending 1.5 miles along the campground’s shoreline. • The campground is in undeveloped forest and all development

Tully River

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D B

• • •

of the campground, such as tent sites and the common area, are concentrated to the east. The common area in the northeast corner of the site comprises: Ranger station and check in area Parking Recreation area Trail access Comfort station Boat launch at river The campground has a large expanse of shoreline area with many campsites alongside the water. Throughout much of the campground there are views of Tully Lake, something valued by many visitors. Severe erosion and soil compaction is a factor at many shoreline campsites. A mix of native trees and shrubs, with a canopy mostly of white pines, covers the campground. A variety of wildlife can be spotted throughout the campground, including broad wing hawks, spotted turtles, and moose.

Tully Lake

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450 feet

The campground is located in a large expanse of undeveloped land.

A Waterfront campsites are the first to be reserved and experience heavy soil compaction.

B Numerous trails lead campers throughout the site, with glimpses

Tully Lake supports a wide variety of wildlife.

of Tully Lake along the way.

C Looking south towards Tully Dam:While Tully Lake adds greatly to the beauty and unique characteristics of the campground, its annual flooding poses severe challenges to maintaining a healthy ecosystem (see Flooding, sheet 8).

D Soil compaction and erosion pose threats to the shoreline vegetation, particularly shallow-rooted white pines.

White pines are the predominant forest cover throughout the campground and many are in severe decline.

A variety of wetland and upland species grow throughout the campground, including this native azalea.

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Existing Conditions: Campground

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

CSLD Spring 2010 Tabitha Kaigle | Jamie Scott Kristin Thomas

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Flooding Observations

Tully Lake Campground resides on the edge of Tully Lake, an artificial lake created as a result of the Army Corps of Engineers construction of the Tully Dam in 1949. The lake acts as a floodcontrol basin to protect heavily developed areas downstream of the Tully River from substantial flood damage. Certain campsites on the shoreline of the campground, at the lowest elevations, are flooded every year due to rising water levels caused by holding water back at the dam. The Army Corps of Engineers, which controls the dam, has stated that the normal depth of the lake at the dam intake is 16 feet, and that campground flooding begins when the intake level is 18 feet.

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Hil

The Army Corps has maintained detailed data for peak water levels in Tully Lake since the dam’s construction. FEMA flood data estimates that the 100-year-flood level at Tully Lake would cover the entire campground, not just lower-lying campsites. The highest recorded water level at Tully Lake, in April 1987, reached all the way to the comfort station in the campground.

Comfort Station

Implications • Regular flooding of the campsites at the lowest elevations will occur over time.

• Erosion along the campground shoreline will likely

continue unless measures are taken to counteract the effects of cyclical flooding.

Tully Lake

Design Directives • Plants or other erosion control methods used along the Tully Dam

• •

bank will need to be capable of tolerating wet soils and occasional submersion. New structures built in the campground should be sturdy enough to resist occasional flood damage. Construction materials should be rot resistant and easily cleaned, and should not release toxic chemicals if they become submerged.

100 Year Floodplain Campground Boundaries 100 Year Floodplain0.25 Floodplain 0 100-Year 0.125 Campground Boundaries

0.125

0.25

0.5 Miles 0

0.125

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0.375

0.5 miles

0.5 Miles

Tent Sites

0.125

0.25

Tully River

0.5 Miles

Doane Hill Rd.

Ranger Station

Campground

Tully Lake

Tully Dam

Section from Tully River and the campground to Tully Dam, approximately1.03 miles. The campground lies just above Tully Lake.

28’ 24’ 22’ 20’ 18’ begins flooding low campgrounds 16’ normal lake level

Section of campground shoreline and lake levels: If the lake rises just a few feet, from 16’ to 18’, the first low-lying campsites begin to flood.

The red area represents the approximate area of Tully Lake Campground before the construction of Tully Dam.The image reveals meandering riparian wetlands and fertile floodplains that once characterized the native landscape prior to damming circa 1940s.

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Flooding

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Wetlands & Soils, Erosion & Overuse Wetlands and Soils There are a variety of bogs, marshes, and swamps within the campground. Soils on the shoreline of the eastern portion of the campground are susceptible to erosion. Observations • A large core habitat area lies north of the campground. • Bogs, deep marshes, and shrub and wooded swamps cover a large portion of the campground.

• Wetlands along the shoreline lie adjacent to or overlap with

campsites. Wetlands setbacks and river resource setbacks extend well into the campground. • The campground parking and ranger station are within 95’ of a wetland and nine campsites lie within wetland setbacks. Two soil types cover the most heavily used, eastern half: Campground Interior: Croghan loamy fine sand • Well drained, low susceptibility to erosion Surrounding shoreline: Naumburg fine sandy loam • Poorly drained, moderately susceptible to erosion

•

Implications • The overlap between campsites and shoreline wetlands may be compromising the health of the wetlands.

• Vegetation in the campground interior should be tolerant of dry •

conditions due to well draining soil while plants along the shore should tolerate wet, poorly drained soil. Heavy foot traffic on shoreline campsites paired with erodible soils may be compounding erosion problems.

Design Directives • Limiting access to campsites located in the erodible soil zone • 0

225

may help alleviate the negative impacts that heavy foot traffic is having on these sites. The wetlands setbacks and river resource area setbacks limit where new buildings can be sited in the common area.

450 feet

Erosion and Overuse Shoreline erosion and soil compaction is a problem throughout much of the campground, particularly along the shoreline. Observations • The most frequented campsites, areas of heaviest flooding, and • • •

the heaviest erosion overlap and are concentrated along the shoreline. The severity of erosion decreases as one moves away from the shoreline. The most heavily eroded campsites have a canopy of predominately white pines while the lightly eroded campsites have a mixture of deciduous trees and white pines. Staff vehicles and maintenance trucks access many of the trails to do annual tree work and resurfacing of trails with woodchips.

Implications • The deciduous trees on the lightly eroded campsites provide • •

annual leaf litter which may be helping to prevent heavy soil compaction. The overlap of factors such as flooding and high use rates have resulted in a very degraded shoreline. Staff vehicle access along trails and to specific campsites may be further compacting the soil.

Design Directives • Restricting access to campsites that lie within the heaviest areas of erosion may allow the landscape to recover.

• The presence of leaf litter from deciduous trees, as demonstrated in the interior campsites, may provide a model for mitigating soil compaction.

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450 feet

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Wetlands & Soils, Erosion & Overuse

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Vegetation & Summary Analysis: Campground Vegetation Most of the forest canopy layer at Tully Lake Campground consists of mature white pines, while the understory is made up of native deciduous shrubs, including mountain laurel and azalea. Observations • Many of the white pines are in a notable state of decline,

•

k j #

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k j

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k j

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Invasives Species

Tent Sites

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# Hardwood Floodplain

Comfort Station & Ranger Station

Mixed Softwoods

Common Area

Mixed Hardwoods & White Pine Tully Lake

White Pine

Hemlock-White Pine

0 0 0 000 0Feet 0 Feet 0

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410

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development restrictions.

• The local ecosystem may be changing due to constant flooding caused by Tully Dam and may no longer be able to support a white pine population along the shore.

k j #

# Wetlands #

shade for campers.

• Wetlands along the Tully River and western peninsula have

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Implications • The white pine canopy creates a cathedral-like layer and provides

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k j

k j #

# #

•

especially along the most heavily used shoreline campsites, where their root zone has been exposed due to repeated lake flooding and heavy foot traffic. The understory layer is varied; low-bush blueberry, winterberry, and other species were observed. Several wetland areas along the shoreline and interior of the campground consist of low, shrubby, wetland vegetation. A few areas have scattered pockets of invasive plant species, like Japanese barberry, glossy buckthorn, honeysuckle, and false spiraea. The concentration of invasive plant species is fairly low.

450 feet

Design Directives • Limit compaction and erosion due to foot traffic on the exposed root zone of the pines closest to the most popular campsites.

• A long-term management plan should include flood-tolerant replacement species for the white pine.

• An invasive species management plan should be implemented to monitor and prevent further spreading of invasive plant species.

• Further campsite development within wetlands or the buffer zone should be avoided.

820 Feet

Summary Analysis: Campground Wetland buffers, an unstable lakeside ecosystem, and heavy human use create a number of site challenges and constraints. Observations • All coincide: popular campsites with heavy foot traffic, erodible • •

• •

soils, heaviest areas of erosion, areas that experience significant flooding. White pines are in decline, mostly along the shoreline. The western portion of the campground is undeveloped and largely covered with wetlands. Areas of invasive species are concentrated to the east. Wetlands/river setbacks in the east extend well into the common area.

Implications • The compounding factors of flooding, erodible soils, and heavy

foot traffic may be primary factors in the decline of white pines.

• Opportunities for development of new campsites on the western portion of the campground is severely limited due to the wetlands and associated setbacks.

Design Directives • There is a conflict between human uses and the health of the

•

Erodible, poorly-drained soil 0

225

450 feet

white pines. Restoring healthy white pines would require severely limiting human access on the site and a reduction in flooding, things not necessarily feasible. In order to integrate human uses of the site as well as support tree health, a more tolerant tree species may be a more sustainable choice as an alternative in replacing the pines. To address the overuse and soil compaction occurring along the shoreline, access may need to be limited, potentially through the resting of campsites for a period of time to allow revegatation to take place. In order to compensate for the reduced number of rentable sites due to resting campsites, new sites could be developed within the existing eastern portion of the campground or very limited areas to the west outside of the wetland setbacks.

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Vegetation & Summary Analysis: Campground

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Existing Conditions: Common Area The 4-acre, relatively flat and open common area welcomes guests into the campground and is surrounded by a 70-foot-tall forest edge. The primary services it offers are increasingly difficult to provide because the facilities are 30 years old and were designed for lighter use. The common area is the design focus of this project.

Doane Hill Road

Sign

• The common area is visually an amorphous •

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•

Day-Use Parking

• •

Tully Lake Trail ger Ran ion Stat

Trail to Boat Launch

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Firewood & Cart Storage

•

landscape with undefined spaces and no designated paths in the central area. All campground facilities except the boat launch and the campsites are located in the common area. The concentration of open gathering and group recreational spaces makes the common area an excellent place to congregate. Restriction of vehicles from campsites is attractive to many visitors and is not offered by other regional campgrounds. Approximately 45 undefined parking spaces are located within the common area, in the day-use and secondary parking areas. The capacity to host a diversity of programming and numbers of people is an asset The Trustees want to retain in new designs.

Boats ’

Volleyball Court

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Horseshoes

652 ’

A. A lone sign welcomes guests into the northern entrance of Tully Lake Campground. 5’

Trail to Campsites Overnight Parking

Picnic and Pavilion Area

Asphalt Gravel

B.The ranger station is conveniently sited near the entrance and it is too small to meet the current demand.

Trash

Woodchips Sand

0’

Hemlock Red Maple Spruce White Pine

C.This view of the overnight parking and picnic/fire pit area is representative of the amorphous, open feel of the common area.

Comfort Station

River Birch

Main trail to campsites

Boulder Yew

60 feet

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

D.The comfort station has met campground needs for three decades but now requires upgrades to meet present demand.

Site Plan & Sustainability Study

Existing Conditions: Common Area

Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Access, Circulation, & Drainage Pedestrians circulate throughout the common area with few paths or edges to direct them. Vehicles park at both ends of the common area in the northern day-use lot and southern overnight lot. Surface water is predominantly shed away from the site and buildings towards the surrounding forest edge or across the parking area onto Doane Hill Road.

Doane Hill Road

654

8’

’

8’

Day-Use Parking

Observations • Stormwater tends to move away from the common area, trails, and parking.

• Water collects at the trailhead to the southern campsites, a trail heavily used by visitors.

• There are few distinct paths to direct people. • Flat, open parking lots take up a large portion of the

Tully Trail

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Rec Area

northwest and southeast part of the site. Lots are accessed via a driveway on the eastern boundary. Day-use parking, mostly used by visitors accessing the boat launch, is concentrated in the northwest lot, while overnight parking, used by campers, is concentrated in the southeast lot. Maintenance vehicles must access the comfort station and the trail to southern campsites. The ranger station is especially crowded during check in. The comfort station has a small number of rest rooms and showers, is used by all visitors, and is often crowded.

652

Implications • The landscape provides few cues to direct visitors to

’

campsites and facilities.

• Crowding at key areas, such as the ranger station 5’

• rn te es tes W si To amp C

Picnic/ Fire Pit Area

Overnight Parking

and the comfort station, could detract from visitors’ experience. Water pooling at the trailhead to the southern campsites could lead to erosion issues and force visitors to walk through large puddles.

Design Directives • Creating legibility in the common area could help better direct visitors throughout the space.

• Concentrating the parking in one area may help create a more serene visitor experience.

• Redesigning the drainage patterns to funnel water away from the southern trailhead to the southern campsites would alleviate puddling problems.

0’

To Southern Campsites

Comfort Station

To Western & Southern Campsites

Areas of Crowding, High Use

Visitor Vehicles

High Use Areas

Foot Traffic

Puddling Water

Direction of Water Flow

Ranger Vehicle Access

60 feet

Looking north towards the ranger station, day-use parking area and entrance. Aside from a narrow paved path leading up to the ranger station, the common area has few distinct paths. Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Access, Circulation, & Drainage

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Sun & Shade

Doan

e Hill

While the outside edges of the common area are shaded at least 4 hours a day due to tall white pines, the center area receives full sun, creating a hot, uncomfortable microclimate during the prime camping season.

Road

Observations • A substantial area of the common area is in

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8’

’

full sunlight all day.

Day-Use Parking

• The ranger station is in full sun, while the comfort station is in part shade all day.

• The 60-to-70-foot-tall white pine canopy to

the east and west of the common area casts long shadows in the morning and afternoon.

Implications • The roof of the ranger station and much of

ger Ran ion t Sta

• 655 ’

• Rec Area

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657

the common area receives enough solar gain for a small photovoltaic or solar hot water array. The comfort station roof is in shade all day and not suitable for a solar hot water array. The overnight parking area is located in hot afternoon sun. Day-use parking is shaded in the afternoon.

Design Directives • New structures should be sited in partial

shade to take advantage of natural cooling.

• The overnight parking area could be relocated

652

to a shadier place.

’

• Any PV or solar hot water panels would need Picnic/ Fire Pit Area

to be mounted on the roof of the ranger station, on a pole, on the ground or a new building within the full sun area.

5’

650’

Overnight Parking

Looking northeast towards ranger station:The overnight parking and fire pit area experience some mid-day shade but are mostly hot and exposed.

Comfort Station Full Sun Afternoon Shade Mid-Day Shade Morning Shade 0

60 feet

Looking north towards the ranger station:The downhill slope north of the comfort station receives dappled sun most of the day due to towering white pines overhead.

Looking towards the comfort station and temporary ranger trailer: The horseshoe pits and volleyball court receive all-day sun, which can be uncomfortable for visitors.

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Sun & Shade

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

CSLD Spring 2010 Tabitha Kaigle | Jamie Scott Kristin Thomas

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Legal Several legal constraints limit locations of future buildings and site alterations.

Doane Hill Road

Observations • A wellhead protection zone extends out in a 100-foot radius around the existing well.

• Wetland and river resource buffer zones 65

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•

Day-Use Parking

extend 2oo feet from Tully River into the eastern side of the common area. Part of the overnight parking area extends into the wetlands/river resources setback. The septic leach field takes up a large space on the western side of the common area.

Implications • Massachusetts DEP states that no activity

Tully Trail

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Volleyball & Leach Field

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that could potentially affect water supplies can take place within the 100-foot wellhead protection zone. Passive recreation is allowed; activities that concentrate human activity are not. Waste pipes may not be buried in the 100-foot wellhead protection zone. Other buried pipes would need permission from Massachusetts DEP. No structures or trees can be sited over the leach field. Permitting is needed for changes within the 200-foot wetlands/river resources setback.

Design Directives • Any new buildings must be built outside of all these setbacks.

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• The location of the leach field limits what vegetation can be planted in this area.

• Any recreational activities or structures,

5’

including picnic tables, will have to be located outside of the wellhead protection zone.

stern To We

sites

Camp

Picnic/ Fire Pit Area

Overnight Parking

100’ Wellhead Protection Zone Wellhead

0’

To Southern Campsites

Comfort Station

Wellhead Protection Zone

Trails to Campsites

60 feet

Wetland/River Resource Area Setback

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Legal

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

CSLD Spring 2010 Tabitha Kaigle | Jamie Scott Kristin Thomas

10/27

Summary Analysis: Common Area Many site constraints limit where elements, like new buildings, parking, or solar panels, can be placed.

Doane Hill Road

Observations • The 100-foot wellhead protection zone in the

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Day-Use Parking

•

Tully Trail

southwest and the 200-foot river and wetland setbacks to the east are the most restrictive limiting factors on the site. Full sun on the site is limited to a central north-south zone. The leach field takes up a large area on the western-central part of the common area. Drainage tends to flow away from the common area but will occasionally pool on the southeast trail to campsites.

Implications • New structures must be located outside of ger Ran ion Stat

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Boa To

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the wellhead protection zone and outside of the wetland/river resource area setback. Solar panels must be located in the central, sunny part of the site for maximum efficiency. No structures or trees can be sited over the leach field.

Design Directives • The existing firepit and picnic area should be

Volleyball & Leach Field

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relocated outside of the wellhead protection zone. Overnight parking should be relocated outside of the wetland/river resources setback.

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652

5’

stern To We

sites

Camp

Picnic/ Fire Pit Area Overnight Parking

100’ Wellhead Protection Zone Wellhead

0’

To Southern Campsites

Comfort Station

All-Day Sun

Crowding

Trails to Campsites

Drainage

Wetland/River Resource Area Setback

Puddling Water

Wellhead Protection Zone 0

60 feet

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Summary Analysis: Common Area

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

CSLD Spring 2010 Tabitha Kaigle | Jamie Scott Kristin Thomas

11/27

Design Alternative I Three design alternatives were explored to address the project goals and create solutions for challenges and take advantage of the opportunities identified on site. While each alternative addresses the goals in different ways, there are common program elements in each alternative, listed in the table below. Within each alternative, the following needs are addressed:

• • • • • •

Parking is better integrated into the site The comfort station has additional toilets and showers The ranger station is expanded New ranger housing is provided An outdoor gathering area is created Additional ranger storage and outdoor work space has been developed

A Regenerative Model Focusing on The Trustees’ goal of improving and promoting sustainable management practices, this alternative looks at what processes happen on site and what materials are used on site, specifically those that deal with food, fuel, and waste. It explores how those materials can be obtained and reused within the campground. Notable Features • A vegetated buffer of coppice firewood plants surrounds the parking area.

• Edible forest gardens, polycultures of edible perennial •

trees, shrubs, and ground covers, have been added on the western and southern boundaries. North of the comfort station, filtered greywater is moved downslope through a terraced hill to water new vegetation which has been planted here.

Pros • Compost toilets minimize the need to expand the comfort station.

• Ranger staff has private housing. • Resources are recycled or sourced on site, including

coppiced firewood, compost used in edible forest gardens/shrubs, greywater system to water gardens, ranger food waste composted on site in worm bins.

Cons • Fire pit is in wellhead protection zone. • New ranger housing requires construction. • Regenerative measures, such as composting toilets, require a level of cooperation from visitors.

A‘

Section A - A1 North to South. A large increase in vegetation helps define new gathering areas.

80 feet

Doane Hill Rd.

Coppice Border

Parking

Expanded Rec Area Ranger Station

Fire Pit/ Pavilion

Terraces

Comfort Station & Compost Toilets

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Design Alternative I

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Design Alternatives II & III B

Prospect Tully This alternative focuses on enhancing legibility in the landscape with clearly defined pathways and aims to further The Trustees’ programming goals for environmental education and active/passive recreational opportunities. Notable Features • Parking is consolidated at the northern end of the site. • A small organic garden demonstrates sustainable agriculture practices.

• A photovoltaic solar array sits atop pergolas which

create a programming area while also meeting some on-site electricity needs. A second fire pit is located at a new river overlook.

• Pros • Reuses original building footprint. • Preserves open space but creates legible pathways. • Expands on educational opportunities. • Expanded purpose: campground acts as a community resource.

Cons • The second fire pit is located within the wetland/river resource area setback and would require permitting.

• Amphitheater would require significant earthmoving • The work shed is located with in the wellhead protection zone.

B’

Section B - B1 North to South. Newly designed gathering and programming areas welcome a variety of users.

80 feet

Doane Hill Rd.

Parking

Edible Buffer

Expanded Ranger Station & Housing

Community Garden

Comfort Station & Compost Toilets

Design for Solar Access This alternative focuses on generating electricity and hot water on site, to meet the needs of the campground, while providing more shady spots throughout the common area. Notable Features • A universally accessible raised viewing platform looks to the east, providing views of the Tully River.

• Existing comfort station and new shower house use solar hot water.

• Greywater is filtered in a treatment swale downslope from the comfort station.

Pros • Electricity and hot water are generated on site. • Trees shade buildings from hot afternoon sun. • Greywater is reclaimed to water trees and shrubs. • Parking is consolidated at the front entrance. Cons • Less than half the current on-site parking. • Existing ranger station is torn down and not reused. • Viewing platform falls within wetland/river resource area setback, shower house falls within wellhead protection area. Section C- C1 North to South. New buildings are oriented south to maximize solar gain.

Doane Hill Rd.

Parking

New, Relocated Ranger Station

Rec Area

Fire Pit

Pavilion w/ PV & Solar Hot Water

Greywater Treatment

Design Alternatives II & III

80 feet

Comfort Station & Compost Toilets Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Final Design The preferred design enhances the legibility of the common area while maintaining an open space for large numbers of people to gather. Native vegetation adds shade and definition to the space; guests can pick blueberries. Much of the hot water and electricity needs of the campground are provided by solar arrays located on the ranger station roof

Doane H

ill Road

Parking

Gates

Access Road A narrowed access road into the common area has been maintained to allow for guests to access the universally accessible parking spaces and for ranger vehicle and utility access.

Gates

Overflow Parking

Boats & Firewood The boats have remained in the same place because of its proximity to the boat launch and the ranger station. The firewood has also been moved here to allow for adequate storage space and easy camper access.

Acc ess d

Roa

Parking Parking has been clustered at the northern end of the site, with 43 spaces in total. Two spaces are universally accessible. Locking gates allow overnight guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cars to be secured if necessary. Locking gates also allows part of the lot to be closed when the campground is closed for the season, while still maintaining some day-use parking for people using the trails. The lot has been graded to direct stormwater into the center planting bed to filter pollutants from cars and water the trees planted here. An overflow lot to the west, with approximately 14 spaces, can be utilized when necessary.

and in the sunniest part of the common area. Access and circulation throughout the space have been improved with clear pathways to destination points and camper utility areas, such as for cart storage and firewood. Gathering spaces have been enhanced and defined with new a pergola and two new firepits.

ger Ran ion t Sta

Cart Storage

Ranger Station The existing ranger station has been expanded to a 20 x 40 foot building with a second story and a three-sided wraparound porch. All materials from the existing structure have been integrated into the expansion. The extra space facilitates a more orderly check-in process and provides space for additional programming and views into the common area. The second story is utilized for ranger housing. Two universally accessible ramps give people in wheelchairs access to the porch. Carts for hauling gear are stored near the ranger station and parking lot for easy camper access.

Boats

Volleyball

Firewood

Seating Wall Common Lawn

Horseshoes

Solar Pergola and Fire Circle

Trail to Western Campsites *

Recreation Area The recreation area has been located to the west of the ranger station and includes both volleyball and the horseshoe pits. Small stone seating walls allow players and spectators to watch the game while relaxing. This location is ideal as a recreation area because the leach field is here and it must be kept free of structures or other ground disturbance. Common Lawn A low-maintenance, low-mow lawn provides a sunny space for tossing a ball, sunbathing, or hosting group gatherings.

Accessible Parking

Solar Pergola & Fire Circle A pergola provides a shady vine-covered space for picnicking, while the top of the structure holds photovoltaic and solar hot water arrays that provide for some of the electricity and hot water needs of the campground. A large fire circle provides a centralized gathering space for socializing or evening programming.

Accessible Parking Two additional accessible parking spaces have been located east of the common lawn. These spaces allow easy access to the accessible campsites located directly south of the new ranger work area. Two extra-large spaces adjacent to these parking spaces can accommodate larger vehicles or other special needs.

Secondary Fire Pit Shady Grove

Shady Grove A shady grove at the southern end of the site provides a picnic and gathering space which offers privacy and shade. Views into the common area are partially maintained to allow users to see activities taking place.

Ranger Work Area

Comfort Station The comfort station has received a 20 X 30 ft. addition which allows for installation of composting toilets, a few additional showers, and expanded storage area.

Comfort Station 0

60 feet

Recycling/ Trash

Secondary Fire Pit A large, universally accessible firepit and gathering area is located within the eastern woods to provide a sheltered place for evening programming. Views of the Tully River are possible with the selective limbing-up of existing trees. The fire pit does fall within the wetland/river resource area setback and will require permitting.

Ranger Work Area & Recycling Center The trash and recycling center has been relocated to the southern end of the common area to provide easier access from the campsites. An open, outdoor ranger work area has been located just behind the recycling center, and provides an out-of-the-way place to store wood chips, heavy equipment, or other tools needed by campground employees. The area has been regraded to eliminate puddling during storm events.

*Location of trail to western campsites to be verified in the field. Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Final Design

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Final Design: Color Rendering

Doane H

ill Road

Parking

Gates

Overflow Parking

Access Road

Cart Storage

Ranger Station Boats

Volleyball Firewood Seating Wall Horseshoes

Solar Pergola and Fire Circle

Common Lawn

Accessible Parking Meadow Shady Grove Secondary Fire Pit

Recycling/ Trash

Ranger Work Area

Comfort Station

60 feet

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Final Design: Color Rendering

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Final Design: Axonometric Looking south into the newly designed entrance and common area. Tall and medium size shade trees dot the landscape, helping to define spaces and give afternoon shade. An enlarged ranger station greets visitors with a broad front porch and accessible ramp while the heart of the common area draws visitors in with a common lawn and fire pit surrounded by a pergola. A newly designed comfort station is accessed via paths lined with meadow grasses and native shrubs and perennials.

Recycling/ Trash Comfort Station

Shady Grove

Accessible Parking

Ranger Work Area Firewood

Boats Solar Pergola and Fire Circle Ranger Station

Common Lawn

Access Road

Seating Wall Horseshoes

Volleyball D

ill

Overflow Parking

Parking

60 feet

Final Design: Axonometric

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Final Design: Section & Details

Parking

Expanded Ranger Station and Porch

Volleyball and Horseshoes

Fire pit and Pergola with Solar Panels

Meadow

Expanded Comfort Station

Section of final design from north (left) to south (right).Visitors to the campground are greeted with an expanded ranger station and wrap-around porch.Volleyball and horseshoe pits offer recreational opportunities, while a pergola with solar panels is visible in the heart of the common area. A meadow borders pathways that lead up the expanded comfort station, which now has additional showers and composting toilets.

Pergolas that can serve as inspiration for Tully Lake Campground

photo courtesy of Paconi Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Stone Seating Wall Detail (2’)

Dry Laid Stone Wall

(6”) (6-12”)

Finished Grade Aggregate Prepared Subsoil not to scale. photo courtesy of JLogan Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Site Plan & Sustainability Study

Final Design: Section & Details

(1’-6”)

Stone seating walls surround both firepits, the volleyball area and horseshoe pits.

Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Planting Plan

Planting Key

VD CA

AM VD VC

VC AR RA

AA VD

Existing White Pine

AC AS

AS AA

*Meadow Mix

VC AA

CA AC PO

*Low-mow Lawn

AC VD

*Meadow Mix *Woodland Shrub Border

on each post PO

CAP

AM AA

Existing White Pine

*Meadow Mix

*Woodland Perennial Mix

MP MP

*Woodland Shrub Border*

AM AA

VD AA

Planting and Landscape Maintenance Recommendations • If utility lines are buried in the future, plant trees at least five feet away from them.

Existing Maple

• No trees should be planted over the leach field. • New plants, even drought-tolerant ones, will require

• 0

60 feet

• • •

watering during the summer dry season (approximately June-October) for the first two years while they become established. Mulch new plants to help retain soil moisture, but do not place mulch directly against the trunks of trees or shrubs. Prune back trees or shrubs that grow into pathways when necessary. Unstaked trees form stronger root systems. If staking is unavoidable, be sure to remove stakes and ties after one year. Monitor trees and shrubs for disease and insect infestations.

*See Plant Palettes on sheet19 for plant lists. Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Planting Plan

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Plant Palettes For the common area, a number of different plant species are recommended to create a transition from mature forest down to a maintained lawn area. The woodland shrub and perennial border uses native species, some of which are endangered, to provide habitat for wildlife and help maintain ecosystem diversity. The recommended plants help define spaces in the common area while still maintaining a naturalized aesthetic throughout the common area.

Existing Forest

Woodland Shrub Border

Woodland Perennial Border

Woodland Shrubs Border

Woodland Perennial Mix

Amelanchier stolonifera

running serviceberry

Eupatorium novae-angliae

Fothergilla gardenii

fothergilla

Hamamelis virginiana

common witchhazel

Ilex verticillata

winterberry

Itea virginica

Virginia sweetspire

Lindera benzoin

spicebush

Physocarpus opulifolius

Eastern ninebark

Rhododendron maximum great laurel * Sambucus canadensis

American elderberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

highbush blueberry

Viburnum acerfolium

mapleleaf viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum alnifolium

hobblebush

* indicates plant species on the MA endangered species list

Meadow

Low-Mow Lawn

New England boneset * A low-mow lawn significantly reduces Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England aster maintenance and use of fossil fuels, Eurybia divaricata white wood aster contributing to the overall sustainable Symphyotrichum cordifolium blue wood aster management of the campground. There Dennstaedtia punctilobula hay-scented fern are a number of options including: Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern A seed mix that Geranium maculatum wild geranium includes 10 to 30 percent Trifolium Anemone canadensis meadow anemone repens L., white clover, fixes nitrogen in the soil and only needs mowing every 2 weeks to prevent flowering which attracts bees.

Clover offers a lower-maintenance option for lawns. photos courtesy of

Alvesgaspar/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Bouteloua dactyloides, Buffalo Grass. A warm season, perennial low-growing grass, coldhardy cultivars have been developed that would tolerate New England winters. Delicate flowers stand above the deep green foliage of wild geranium. photo courtesy of Nancy Heise.

Festuca arundinacea, Dwarf Fescue. A slow growing, dwarf grass that is drought tolerant and needs significantly less mowing than a traditional lawn mix.

Native Meadow Mix Must be tolerant of dry soil conditions. Vermont Wildflower Farm offers a New England native mix and a dry soil mix. Fothergilla offers delicate white flowers mid-summer and stunning fall foliage. photo courtesy of Jean-Pol Grandmont/ GNU Free Documentation License.

Plant Palettes

Meadows reduce the need for maintenance, offer seasonal color and can help define pathways. photos courtesy of Kokai/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license and Ron Wolf.

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Phasing & Cost Estimates Phasing Enhancements to the campground common area can be done gradually. The major structural elements should be constructed first to better accommodate important guest and staff needs sooner. Major landscaping elements can then be placed around the new or renovated structures.

Doane Hill Road

Overflow Parking

Parking

Phase I • Constructing the new parking lot to the north immediately frees up the

Gates

• Access Road

•

Ranger Station Cart Storage Seating Wall Horseshoes

Boats Volleyball

Firewood

•

Phase II • New water pipes and electric lines can be put in place for future solar panels

Common Lawn

• Meadow

• Accessible Parking Solar Pergola and Fire Circle

Shady Grove

common area for further enhancements because campers will no longer be parking here. Rebuilding the ranger station will provide ranger housing and better circulation as guests register and check-out. The comfort station can be expanded and retrofitted with composting toilets and additional showers. Timed showers and composting toilets will reduce the amount of water used in the campground and begin creating a valuable nutrient resource for future plantings. Low-mow lawn and meadow areas can be marked out and seeded, so they can become established over the coming years.

•

on the pergola. Existing utilities can also be buried when new utilities are being put in place. The solar pergola and fire circle get built. Plumbing and electric lines will be in place and can be connected to solar panels mounted on the top of the pergola. The volleyball court can be realigned with the new ranger station and the horseshoe pits can be moved to this area as well. Most of the major planted landscape buffers between the parking lot and common area can be put in place. Larger trees can also be planted.

Phase III

Ranger Work Area

Secondary Fire Pit Recycling/ Trash

• Any additional planting that was not done in phase II can be completed. • The ranger work area is constructed. • The overflow parking is built. Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Comfort Station 0

60 feet

Not for construction.This drawing is part of a student project and is not based on a legal survey.

Phasing & Cost Estimates

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Sustainable Management Recommendations I Overview A variety of challenges are affecting the broader landscape of Tully Lake Campground. Severe shoreline erosion, soil compaction, declining forest health, invasive plant species, and campsite overuse are slowly degrading the valued natural ecosystems of the campground. A number of factors may be contributing to these conditions, many of them outlined in the analyses shown earlier. These factors include:

• • • • •

Annual flooding of Tully Lake Erodible soil along the shoreline Heavy foot traffic along the shoreline due to trail locations and frequently rented waterside campsites Little organic matter added back to the ground due to a lack of leaf litter throughout much of the campground Maintenance vehicles accessing the campsites, further compacting soil and disrupting vegetation

Other issues that are also important to The Trustees within the campground are: improving universal access, particularly to existing buildings, trails and the water; incorporating sustainable land management practices into overall campground operations; and providing educational programming and materials about sustainable practices that could inspire visitors to make similar changes after they have returned home.

Sustainability at Tully Lake What does “sustainable” mean? Conventionally it means conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources for future generations. At a deeper level, it also recognizes that ecological systems and human systems are interconnected. One cannot exist without having an impact on the other. At Tully Lake Campground, there is the potential for visitors to have a positive experience in the natural world, as well as be made aware of the impacts that current human actions are having on the landscape. There is also the potential for the landscape to be developed and maintained sustainably, another aspect of the campground that could contribute to visitor education. There are a number of ways that education and sustainable landscape management could be integrated into the site.

1. Education An explicit organizational goal of The Trustees is to educate their visitors about sustainable management practices at the campground and inspire them to make changes at home. Some ways this could be achieved include:

• Interpretive Signs: Create more signs that discuss the natural

processes taking place on site in the campground; teach about the natural history of the region; and communicate how management choices can reduce the impact on natural resources.

• Active Programming: Use the new low-mow field and

2. Sustainable Landscapes New standards are emerging to assess a site’s sustainability. The American Society of Landscape Architects, in association with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, have created the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI), which offers objective benchmarks for sustainability. For certification under this standard, there are three principal categories that Tully Lake would be evaluated on: Design: How well does the plan “protect and restore processes and systems associated with a site’s hydrology, soils and vegetation?” • Reduce potable water use • Protect ecotones, particularly riparian, wetland, and shoreline areas • Manage stormwater • Control and manage known invasive plants • Use native plants Construction Practices: Does the plan “reuse/recycle existing materials?” • Mitigate current development’s impact • Divert construction and demolition materials from disposal • Reuse or recycle vegetation, rocks, and soil generated during construction Maintenance Practices: Can the site be maintained as designed for the long term? • Collect, store, and use maximum amount of recyclables • Reduce outdoor energy consumption • Use renewable sources of energy • Minimize greenhouse gas emissions • Reduce emissions and promote the use of fuelefficient vehicles

two large fire pits for activities such as storytelling, team building games, and discussion. The Trustees could also consider offering outdoor recreation and park management training to visitors and local youth.

Sustainable Management Recommendations

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Sustainable Management Recommendations II Restoring Forest Health Declining forest health, primarily the decline of the majority of white pines along the shoreline and also throughout the campground, is a large concern of those managing Tully Lake Campground. White pines are the primary canopy cover throughout much of the campground. Over the last ten years, ranger staff have noticed a serious decline in the health of the pines. A number of factors may be contributing to their decline: • Flooding: With lake levels rising several feet multiple times a year, vegetation may be in standing water for weeks at a time. While the flooding is concentrated mostly along the shoreline, it does occasionally reach the interior of the campground. White pines do not respond favorably to immersion in water and over time this has taken its toll on their health. • Soil Compaction: White pines have shallow root systems, making them very sensitive to soil compaction. Soil compaction is at its worst along the shore due to heavy foot traffic. • Soil Erosion: The flooding along the shoreline also contributes to soil erosion, and occurs in a zone of particularly erodible soil. With erosion, the roots of the white pines are exposed and susceptible to injury.

A plan that integrates the human uses of the site while protecting environmental resources should be developed. Some initial steps that could be taken include restricting access to certain areas while new trees get established and planting understory species to help protect the soil and tree roots.

2. Replacement Tree Species and Criteria Introducing replacement species that are tolerant of the existing site conditions and human activities may prove to be the most sustainable option for the campground. Criteria for acceptable tree species include: • Tolerance to seasonal flooding and some soil compaction • Tolerance of shade for areas of existing dense canopy • Tolerance of relatively poor soil • A tree of substantial height that would allow trails and campsites to be developed below.

photo courtesy of Brynn/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Tree species that meet a number of these criteria include: • Acer rubrum red maple * • Thuja occidentalis Atlantic white cedar • Nyssa sylvatica black tupelo • Platanus occidentalis American sycamore • Quercus bicolor swamp white oak • Celtis occidentalis common hackberry* • Acer negundo boxelder* • Liquidambar styracifulua sweetgum

1. A Plan for the Future While a traditional restoration approach may suggest revegetating with white pines, that approach is not sustainable within the context of the factors at work in and around Tully Lake Campground. The shoreline soil is erodible and the lake will continue to flood into the foreseeable future. Human interaction with the land is a large part of the camping experience. Human activity has affected the health of the white pines and human access to the land would have to be dramatically altered or restricted to lessen these effects. Because The Trustees of Reservations’ mission is to preserve landscapes for public enjoyment, integrating human and ecological needs in the solution would be the most sustainable approach in light of the all factors at work.

Atlantic White Cedar is a New England native and is very tolerant of challenging site conditions, including flooding.

Black gums are flood tolerant and produce brilliant fall color. photo

courtesy of Jean-Pol Grandmont/ Creative Commons AttributionShare Alike 3.0 Unported license.

*can handle some soil compaction

3. Additional Best Practices for Managing Forest Health • Limit vehicle and machinery access in forested areas or areas of erodible soil to minimize soil and root compaction.

• For healthy patches of white pine, consider restricting access entirely to allow the white pines to remain part of the landscape.

• Consider rotating the use of campsites to minimize negative effects of heavy foot traffic.

• Introduce native herbaceous plants, particularly woodland American sycamores are tolerant of wet soils and offer interesting seeds and leaves. photo courtesy of Gregory Kohs and Ninjatacoshell/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license/Jeff Turner/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Sustainable Management Recommendations

•

groundcovers, to act as a soil cover and to help create edges along paths to encourage visitors to only walk on established paths. Inform visitors of forest restoration plans underway and how guests can minimize their impacts.

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Sustainable Management Recommendations III Shoreline Restoration The most eroded shoreline areas in the campground experience cyclical flooding and heavy human use. Successful shoreline restoration efforts should encourage behavioral changes in campground guests and structural changes to the most damaged areas.

Implementing these changes will help insure that Tully Lake Campground will be able to withstand increasing user demand, while maintaining the health of fragile shoreline ecosystems.

1. Steps Towards Shoreline Restoration

Proper site location is an important factor affecting long-term campsite health. Sites should be located in the most durable locations and outside environmentally sensitive or legally restricted zones.

1. Change the location or usage patterns of campsites to mitigate some of the effects of heavy use.

• Retiring some of the most heavily degraded campsites may be the

• •

least expensive way to restore heavily damaged areas. Campsites that exist along steeper sloped banks may also be candidates for retirement. Pull back some sites from the water’s edge where there is room to do so and establish clear pathways to water. Rotate heavily impacted campsites out of use for a few years, giving existing vegetation and soil layers a chance to regenerate. Temporary loss of these sites could be compensated for by creating new sites on the western side of the campground if appropriate.

2. Prevent the enlargement of existing sites. Campers spreading out to the perimeter of a site exacerbates soil compaction, root exposure, and loss of vegetation.

• Tent platforms can help remedy unintentional site enlargement by designating a location for tents and providing a flat, comfortable surface for campers.

3. Discourage informal trail use. Provide direct and legible routes throughout the campground.

This map highlights areas to demonstrate best management practices in siting new campsites and trails.

2. Provide universal access to water. It is imperative that The Trustees offer equal recreational opportunities to their guests, particularly to guarantee swimming areas and docks for other campers in the interior of Tully Lake Campgrounds without water access. This area is currently undeveloped, outside of any wetland setbacks and is easily accessible via existing trails, making it a possible area for such water access. Additional site analysis is necessary to determine feasibility of such development. 3. Recess trails from sensitive shoreline areas. This trail section is located close to the shoreline and is the most severely affected by erosion. It should be pulled back to allow for restoration or be permanently retired. 4. Look for additional campsite locations within the existing developed area.This campsite would become available if the trail presently running beside it was recessed northward as drawn; an additional site or more may also facilitate campsite rotation, allowing degraded sites to restore.

3. Shoreline Erosion Control with Soil Bioengineering Techniques Soil bioengineering techniques are suitable choices for stabilizing the eroded shoreline areas in the campground because they are relatively low impact, and preserve the look of the natural landscape while utilizing native plants. Techniques and methods are often complimentary and may be combined as necessary. For further information on selecting appropriate soil bioengineering techniques please reference the soil bioengineering guide on the resources sheet of this document. The following text from the soil bioengineering guide describes two primary shoreline restoration techniques and the sketches illustrate their construction.

• Provide clear signals about where people should walk. This can

include signs and vegetation. Channeling or concentrating use in certain areas while discouraging use in others will help keep damage from spreading over an expanded area.

4. Limit access to the lakeshore until erosion is better controlled.

• Install barriers, like the split rail fences already used in some places, to • •

keep people clear of eroded areas. Barriers can be used temporarily until other methods of restricting access become established. Provide a few key places where lake access is allowed. Reinforce the message that restricting access can lead to the longterm ecological viability Tully Lake Campground.

2. Areas to Relocate Campsites and Trails

The map in the top right highlights four areas that have the potential to demonstrate the following best management practices. 1. Offer a diversity of campsite-types. More primitive, one-tent sites for guests looking for a different experience could be located between wetland setbacks.

Sustainable Management Recommendations

Based on an illustration by Jill S. Creamer, A Soil Bioengineering Guide

Live Siltation “Live siltation is used to armor and revegetate the toe of a bank. It can be used on streams and lakeshores to combat wind and wave erosion. Dead and live branch cuttings are used to provide immediate and long-term stability, cover, and fish habitat. Cuttings are laid against the streamside edge of the trench. A layer of soil is packed around the cuttings. A layer of gravel, small rock, and soil fill the trench to hold the cuttings in place.” (Eubanks & Meadows)

Site Plan & Sustainability Study Tully Lake Campground - The Trustees Of Reservations 25 Doane Hill Rd. Royalston, Massachusetts

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Sustainable Management Recommendations IV

Shoreline Restoration Continued Live Stake

4. Native Plants Suitable for Shoreline Restoration Plants that tolerate submersion in water:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Andromeda polifolia - bog rosemary Aronia melanocarpa - chokeberry Carex pensylvanica - Pennsylvania sedge Carex stricta - tussock sedge Cornus amomum - silky dogwood Cornus canadensis - bunchberry Corylus americana - American hazelnut Chamaedaphne calyculata - leatherleaf Kalmia angustifolia - sheep laurel Salix purpurea - purple willow Vaccinium vitis-idaea - lingonberry Viburnum lentago - nannyberry viburnum

Based on an illustration by Jill S. Creamer, A Soil Bioengineering Guide

“Live stakes create a living root mat that stabilizes the soil by reinforcing and binding soil particles together and by extracting excess soil moisture. Most willow species root rapidly and begin to dry out an excessively wet bank soon after installation. Live, rootable vegetative cuttings are inserted or tamped into the ground. If correctly prepared, handled, and placed the live stake will root and grow.” (Eubanks & Meadows)

Plants for lake edge conditions (may tolerate some moisture, but not suitable for submersion in water):

• • • • • • • •

Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush Clethra alnifolia - summersweet clethra Hamamelis virginiana - witchhazel Ilex verticillata - winterberry Lindera benzoin - spicebush Sambucus nigra - elderberry Vaccinium angustifolium - lowbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum - highbush blueberry

Managing Invasive Species A small number of invasive species have been spotted at Tully Lake Campground, including false spiraea, glossy buckthorn, and honeysuckle. Currently, the areas of invasive species are being periodically removed but are generally only monitored to prevent the species expansion. While the population of invasive species is not currently a large concern, there are certain strategies that can help prevent further spreading of these species.

• Remove invasive species at the first sighting. Catching

invasive species in early growth and expansion stages is key to preventing them from spreading further. There are a number of different methods of removal including hand pulling, burning, and baking with black plastic. Though chemical herbicides are available, all efforts should be made to avoid using them, for both the safety of the ranger staff and the negative impacts the chemicals would have through runoff into the lake.

Although invasives species, such as this false spiraea, are limited at Tully Lake, management strategies must be developed to prevent the species from spreading further.

• Beware of imported soils. When soil is trucked in during the grading of the site or planting of trees and shrubs, be sure the material in the truck bed is free of weed seeds through solarization. A reputable soil company with a formula for the common area’s existing soils should be selected.

• Revegetate open patches with native species. As patches of invasives are cleared and as patches of existing vegetation die (e.g., white pines), native plants should be introduced simultaneously. This will both help restore a native ecosystem and reduce invasives’ chance to grow in the open space.

Glossy buckthorn has been spotted in several areas of the campground. photo

courtesy of Cody Hough/ Creative Commons AttributionShare Alike 3.0 Unported license..

Sustainable Management Recommendations

Although its flowers are attractive, bush honeysuckle can be incredibly invasive. photo courtesy of Cillas/GNU Free Documentation License.

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Sustainable Management Recommendations V Alternative Energy & Composting Toilets Tully Lake campground is in a good position, as a place which attracts large numbers of people, to demonstrate and promote sustainable energy generation and waste-handling practices through the use of on-site solar electrical and hot water generation, and composting toilet facilities.

• The roof of the comfort station is not suitable for solar panels

due to its shady location. Any hot water generating array will be located a few hundred feet away within the sunniest part of the common area. Heat will be lost in the transfer over the long distance to where the water is stored in the comfort station. Underground pipes would need to be heavily insulated.

• The current 100-gallon-plus electric water heaters can be

converted to work with a solar system and provide a back-up during periods of inclement weather when a solar array would not produce enough hot water to meet demand.

• The installation of photovoltaic and solar hot water may result in significant site disruption. Pipes and wires will need to be run or buried to reach to the comfort station in particular. Buried pipes may run through the interim wellhead set-back zone of 100’ and may require additional permitting to do so.

A qualified professional should be contacted to size and recommend the best systems for the particular situation.

2. Composting Toilets

Solar panels would greatly contribute to the sustainable practices of the campground. Photo courtesy of Obra Proia/WikiMedia

1. Solar Electricity & Hot Water In New England, for either solar electricity or hot water generation to function efficiently, panels must be oriented towards the south and receive sunlight for at least six hours, preferably more, per day. A large central portion of the campground common area receives full sunlight all day, making this area suitable for meeting some or most of the electrical and hot water needs of the campground on site. A thorough assessment of current electricity and hot water use will be needed to appropriately size solar systems. Mounting options for solar systems vary, but the most common installation generally involves mounting panels on a south-facing roof. Pole-and-ground-mounted systems are also common. An elevated system may be less susceptible to vandalism, which would be a consideration when the campground is closed during the winter months. Both the roof of the ranger station and the proposed pergola (see final design, sheet 12) could function as places to mount solar panels. Some considerations for site-specific issues regarding the installation of solar electricity or hot water are:

Composting toilets decrease the amount of human waste diverted to traditional septic or sewer systems while producing odorless, pathogen-free compost which can be utilized to cycle nutrients back into other living systems. Composting toilets also greatly reduce or eliminate the amount of water utilized for human waste removal. A properly designed and installed system provides odorfree, low maintenance operation. The existing comfort station could be reconfigured to accommodate a high volume commercial style system.

• Because there is no basement in the existing comfort station,

the large tanks that lie directly under high volume composting systems would most likely be located under the possible addition on the east side of the comfort station. Site disturbance is a factor to consider when deciding to install this type of system.

• While most commercial composting systems are low

maintenance, they do require occasional maintenance. This may be a factor during the off season when there is no staff on site.

• Most composting systems utilize a fan which keeps optimal

airflow moving through the compost chamber. The fan requires minimal electricity, but this may be a consideration during the offseason if waste is not fully composted before the campground is closes.

A qualified professional should be contacted to size and recommend the best system for the particular situation.

• Photovoltaic systems are expensive and the period of time which

manufacturers specifiy as the payback period is based on yearround use. Photovoltaics may not be the most economical choice because the campground is only open for part of the year.

• A grid-tied system could feed electricity to the grid year-round

and potentially generate income during the winter months, but panels need to be cleared of snow and cleaned occasionally to remain effective.

• Structures on which solar panels are mounted need to be sound

enough to bear the extra weight of the panels. If the ranger station is expanded, this would be a good time to shore up structural framing to accommodate increased weight loads. If a new pergola for the common area (see final design, sheet 14) is going to accommodate these loads, it should be designed for this purpose, as pergolas are not generally intended to hold heavy loads.

Sustainable Management Recommendations

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Sustainable Management Recommendations VI

Universal Access Increasing the number of areas in the campground that are universally accessible is a goal of The Trustees of Reservations. Universal access means all people can comfortably use built structures as well traverse and interact with the landscapes of the campground. Any new buildings at the campground should be designed to current ADA standards. Since many of the amenities at Tully Lake are accessible only by trails, such as the lake and boat launch, universally accessible trail design is an important consideration when making future improvements at the campground.

Trails are visually rich but vary widely in their degree of erosion, legibility, surfaces and grade. Improving universal accessibility through meeting ADA guidelines and improved wayfinding will make the campground more appealing to a variety of users.

1. Design For Universal Access Many changes have been implemented in the final design that increase universal accessibility in the common area. These changes include: accessible ramps leading up to the ranger station, accessible parking located near the ranger station and accessible campsites, accessible pathways throughout the common area, and adequate space around recreation and gathering areas. When doing further design of the broader campground, these design principles should be integrated.

Ideally The Trustees should strive to make accessible recreation widely available.

1. Make paths negotiable by of people various mobilities. 2. Provide access to recreational amenities and gathering areas. 3. Develop access to the shoreline and into the lake. 4. Ensure ample space in group gathering areas to accommodate all types of users.

2. Increase Number of Universally Accessible Trails

Type of Accessibility

Trail Width

6’ 2-way wheelchair path

4-5’ 1-way wheelchair and 1-way pedestrian path

3-4’ 1-way wheelchair

2-3’ 1-way pedestrian path

Increasing the number of trails that are universally accessible at Tully Lake Campground is one way to improve the accessibility of the overall campground. Specific consideration should be given to the types of users who will need access to different areas of the campground. In the final design of the common area, new pathways were designed to accommodate at least two wheelchairs side by side. The diagram to the left illustrates how accessibility can be accommodated by Undefined corresponding trail widths.

Type of Accessibility & Recommended Minimum Trail Widths.

3. Improve Water Accessibility Tully Lake is one of the primary attractions of Tully Lake Campground. Currently visitors with special needs have difficulty getting to the water. Providing universal access to the water could attract a greater variety of visitors. A platform extended out over the water is one design idea that provides water access. People with special needs could reach the water, fish, or enjoy views just as everyone else. Additionally, it could provide water access to those guests who occupy interior campsites. A potential location of a water platform is suggested in the discussion of universal access to campsites and trails on sheet 23.

Sustainable Management Recommendations

Examples of water platforms to provide universal lake access.

Accessible viewing area makes vistas of Tully Lake available to all.

Fishing may be enjoyed on an accessible water platform.

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Resources Below are resources used to inform the designs and management recommendations made in this report. Staff at Tully Lake Campground may find these resources useful in the further development of sustainable management practices of the campground. Sustainable Management Practices

Websites

Sustainability

National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Garden Certification http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/

Sustainable Sites Initiative http://www.sustainablesites.org/ “The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.” Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development Written by John Tillman Lyle. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1994. Focusing on issues of sustainable design, this book discusses the integration of human needs and ecological needs into solutions for environmental problems

Invasive Species

Forest Stewardship Plan for Lake Wapello State Park Aaron Lumley, Iowa Dep’t of Natural Resources Forester http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/files/forest_stewardship_plan_lake_ wapello.pdf, A forest management plan with a section on eradicating invasive species. Cynthia Boettner Invasive Species Coordinator, Conte Wildlife Reguge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Reserve

Restoring Forest Health Site walks with: Bill Lattrell of Valley Environmental Services Jono Neiger of Regenerative Design Group Elizabeth Farnsworth, ecologist Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs Written By Michael A. Dirr. Timber Press. 1997.

Massachusetts Audubon Society http://www.massaudubon.org/ Ernst Conservation Seeds http://www.ernstseed.com/seed_mixes.aspx PBS Special on Major American Watershed Health http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/ National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration http://www.noaa.gov Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation http://www.mass.gov/dcr/ UMASS Agricultural Extention http://www.umassextension.org/

Books Edible Forest Gardens Volumes 1-2, David Jacke, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2005 The Encyclopedia of Grasses For a Livable Landscape, Richard Darke, Timber Press, 2007 Natural Landscaping Sally Roth, Rodale Press, Inc, 1997 Last Child in the Woods Richard Louv, Algonquin Books, 2008 Reading the Forested Landscape Tom Wessels, Countrymen, 2005

Shoreline Restoration

A Soil Bioengineering Guide for Streambank and Lakeshore Stabilization U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Written by C. Ellen Eubanks & Dexter Meadows Illustrated by Jill S. Cremer http://www.fs.fed.us/publications/soil-bio-guide/

Sustainable Communities and the Challenges of Environmental Justice Julian Ageymen, NYU Press, 2005

Managing Wilderness Recreation Use: Common Problems & Potential Solutions Written by David N. Cole, Margaret E. Petersen, Robert C. Lucas http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_int/int_gtr230.pdf.

Alternative Energy and Composting Toilets

Real Goods Solar Living Source Book--Special 30th Anniversary Edition: Your Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living Written by John Schaeffer. 2007. Gaiam Real Goods. Available at many libraries, most recent versions available on line, is an excellent resource for photovoltaic, solar hot water and composting toilet information.

Universal Access

Landscape Architect’s Portable Handbook Nicholas Dines and Kyle Brown, McGraw Hill, 2001 The U.S. Federal Access Board (pending) new ADA standards htttp://www.access-board.gov Tom McCarthy, Director: Accessibility Program, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access/index.htm

Resources

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