Soils in Westborough are varied,
although concentrated in three categories.
A good description is found in the "Report on Facilities Planning
for Wastewater Collection and Treatment" (1981):
Wet soils are found in the lowlands and wetlands of central
Westborough. The hilly lands of the
south and north consist mainly of glacial till where ledge and numerous
boulders are common and drainage is well established. The sandy loam found in these areas was cultivated into numerous
apple orchards of Westborough.
According to the US Department of
Agriculture "Soil Survey of Worcester County, Massachusetts,"
Westborough is comprised chiefly of the following soil groups: Merrimac fine
sandy loam and Merrimac gravelly sandy loam, Gloucester stony fine sandy loam
and stony loam, and Hinckley gravelly sandy loam. There are also two areas, one at the extreme eastern corner and
one at the extreme western boundary line of Westborough that are comprised of
rough, stony land.
The topography of
Westborough varies from hilly, irregular land in the southern and northeastern
sections, to broad flat lowlands in the central and northwestern areas. Fay Mountain, located in the southern part
of the town, is the highest elevation at a peak of 707 feet above mean sea level. The lowland plains and swamps are at an
elevation below 300 feet.
The enclosed map entitled
"Special Landscape Features Map - Soils and Topography," highlights
the general areas with very poorly drained bog and mineral soils. It also shows the nonbuildable slopes of 25%
and greater, generally avoided by developers.
These poorly draining soils are located in the natural drainage systems
of Cedar Swamp, Crane Swamp, the headwaters of the Assabet River, and the
SuAsCo flood control project. The
typical gentle slope of the areas are conducive to active recreation, but poor
drainage typically prohibits active use.
However, there are opportunities for passive recreation on these
soils.
Topographic features are significant for
open space preservation as potential conservation areas and sites for scenic
vistas. Approximately 10% of the town
has a slope of 8% or greater.
Presently, most of the areas with steep slopes are forested or are
poorly vegetated.
Removal of vegetation and intensive
development on steep slopes will change the "runoff" characteristics
of these areas and should be avoided.
The loss of vegetation and of water infiltration into the soil will
cause water to concentrate quickly,
resulting in more water reaching the lower elevations at a faster
rate. The streams in these areas will
reach peak capacity much faster, and flood conditions will be more
frequent. The retention of vegetation
on these critical areas will retard runoff that in turn will decelerate erosion
and hold flood peaks at acceptable levels.
Peak elevations also provide the
potential recreational asset of scenic views.
These sites will be discussed in the Scenic Resources and Unique
Environments section.
Historically, Westborough's landscape
character consisted of farmlands carved out of the rolling, forested hills with
broad expanses of gently sloping wetland area.
Most farming activities have been abandoned with the landscape reverting
to old field and secondary forest.
Recently, many of these former agricultural sites have been converted
into housing subdivisions. The most
prominent upland feature in town is Fay Mountain, located off Adams
Street. It served as both a directional
landmark and observation point for early travelers. Today, it continues to be a dominant landmark in the landscape
and a spectacular town-wide vista and observation site and is being encroached
by development. These large scale
landscape features are best viewed at a distance or from the peaks of the
hills. However, it is the smaller scale
landscape features which have historically given Westborough its small-town
charm: lazy winding roads, such as
Chestnut Street and Mill Road, lined by majestic oaks that meet over the center
of the street; the gently rolling fields of raspberry canes, strawberry vines,
and pumpkins of Nourse farm or the grazing Belted Gallaways of Glenrock Farm;
the acres of apple trees of Arnold’s Orchards; the antique homes and European
Beech trees lining West Main Street from the rotary to the rolling greens of
the Westborough Country Club; the Country Store, horse pens, giant cow statue,
and old orchards that once lined Adams Street; the woods and ancient stone
walls lining parts of Ruggles Street and Gilmore Road; the brilliant flower
displays outside of Wilkinson’s garden store; the unbroken rows of trees lining
the shores of Sandra Pond, Lake Chauncy, and Mill Pond; and Uhlman’s Ice Cream
stand on an August day. These are the
everyday images which best describe the character of Westborough. They are also in danger of disappearing
entirely as housing subdivisions, office parks, and shopping malls start to
make Westborough look like any other cross section of suburbia.
Lake Chauncy,
the SuAsCo flood control pond (Mill Pond), and the Westborough Reservoir are
the three prominent water bodies contributing to Westborough's scenic
character. In fact, their natural
beauty attracts town residents regularly for hiking, boating and fishing. The town operates a swimming beach on the
shores of Lake Chauncy. The two large
wetland systems of Cedar and Crane Swamps have a more subtle visual impact on
the landscape. These ecosystems have played an important role in providing
natural open space buffers and are important groundwater recharge areas.
The natural landscape of Westborough is
being altered drastically by rapid development. Poor site selection and design on the developers' part have
the biggest impacts on the loss of landscape character. Most developers have
the philosophy of bulldozing mature trees and replacing them with formal,
uniform, non-indigenous street trees further disrupting the natural character
of the area. Just as there are a
variety of housing styles to prevent visual boredom, so too should there be a
variety of street trees. Not only does
variety provide visual interest, but would prevent decimation as a result of
insects or disease. Invasive species
such as Norway Maple and Burning Bush should be avoided as landscape plants.
Landscape Character Impact on
Recreational Opportunities and Development. Fay Mountain would be a perfect
spot to develop physical fitness trails and picnic areas, with its panoramic
view of the whole town and much of eastern Massachusetts. In fact, this mountain has such a unique
vantage point that it might be attractive on the regional level as a fitness
and observation site.
Westborough
is laced with numerous streams and water bodies. Surface waters cover approximately 3 percent of the total land
area of Westborough. The town is
divided into two principal watersheds, the Assabet River Drainage Basin and the
Sudbury River Drainage Basin (part of the larger Concord River Basin), plus a
small portion of the Blackstone River Drainage Basin. The headwaters for the
Assabet and Sudbury Rivers are located within Westborough. The Assabet River begins from the SuAsCo
flood control reservoir near the Shrewsbury border. The Sudbury River begins in Cedar Swamp near the Hopkinton
border.
Major natural water bodies include Lake Chauncy,
Hocomonco Pond (Federal Superfund Site), and Cedar Swamp Pond. The Westborough Reservoir (Sandra Pond) is
an important surface water supply source for the town. The SuAsCo (Mill Pond)
at the George H. Nichols Dam is a man-made floodwater retention impoundment for
water flow augmentation at the headwaters of the Assabet River. Each site is
described below, with the exception of Cedar Swamp Pond, which is addressed in 4.3.2.5.
Lake Chauncy The lake is a natural “Great Pond” covering 185
acres. It is a popular fishing spot,
especially for largemouth bass, panfish, northern pike (stocked) and tiger
muskies (stocked). The state maintains a public access boat launch on the west
side of the lake. A town-owned swimming
beach is open to the residents of Westborough and Northborough in the
summer. This is a historically
significant area because of past use by Native Americans and settlement by the
Town's founding families. In addition to the swimming beach, Lake Chauncy has
picnic tables, and a parking lot. A state boat ramp is present on the west
shore. A trail network runs along the west and north shores of the lake on
property belonging to the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Management Area (see below) and the Westborough State
Hospital. The trails provide
connections to other parts of the Charm Bracelet trail system and to Little
Chauncy Pond and Little Crane Swamp in Northborough.
SuAsCo Flood Control Project (Mill Pond/Nichols Dam) and adjacent
Andrews-Nourse Property This 325 acre pond is presently used for boating,
fishing, ice fishing, ice skating and as a wildlife habitat. The standing dead
trees in the pond provide nest sites for Great Blue Heron, Osprey (one of the
few Massachusetts inland nesting sites), and Great Horned Owl. The shallow pond (15 ft. max. depth)
supports eight different fish species and is listed by Mass Wildlife as “one of
the most productive largemouth bass waters in the state.” The land immediately surrounding the pond is
managed as an annex to Quinsigamond State Park. The 83 acre town-owned Andrews-Nourse property (see below) borders the southwestern
shores of the pond. Three municipal drinking water wells are located at this
site within a few yards of the shoreline.
Westborough Reservoir (Sandra Pond)
The reservoir is a major
drinking water supply for the town of Westborough. The man-made reservoir,
surrounding Sandra Pond Conservation Area and Minuteman Park provide important
fish and wildlife habitat. Three
certified vernal pools are located here.
It has the potential to become part of an open space corridor system in
the southern part of town. Trails
around the pond are popular for hiking and nature observation while the pond
itself is used for fishing. Summer
nature classes are offered to children by the Westborough Recreation
Department. A watershed management plan currently being developed will include
a forest cutting plan and a response plan in the event of a toxic spill on the
abutting Massachusetts Turnpike.
Hocomonco Pond In 2000, environmental regulators released this
federal Superfund site from active cleanup of hazardous waste giving permission
for passive recreation. A study committee,
appointed by the Board of Selectmen, has recommended permanent conservation of
the land allowing canoeing, fishing (catch and release) and development of
hiking trails, possibly linking to the Charm Bracelet system. These plans have yet to be implemented.
The major rivers and streams flowing through
Westborough include the Assabet River, Denny Brook, Jackstraw Brook, Piccadilly
Brook, Rutters Brook, headwaters of the Sudbury River, Whitehall Brook and a
network of unnamed intermittent streams. Most drain into Cedar Swamp and all
are relatively shallow and narrow.
Several historic mills once lined the banks of these water bodies. The regulations of the Massachusetts Surface
Water Quality Standards (314 CMR 4.00) classify the source of the Sudbury
River, Denney Brook, Jackstraw Brook, Picadilly Brook, Rutters Brook, and
Whitehall Brook as “Outstanding Resource Waters”. These streams along with the Assabet River are “designated as a
habitat for fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife, and for primary and
secondary contact recreation” (Class B water quality). The Assabet River from its source to the
Westborough Sewage Treatment Plant is classified as “High Quality Water.” Rivers and streams are ideal locations along
which to site Charm Bracelet hiking trails because of the intrinsic beauty they
provide. Unfortunately, most rivers and
wetlands are surrounded by recent and proposed private development, making it
difficult to legally traverse via a public trail system.
Jackstraw
Brook originates at Gilmore Pond
near Fay Mountain and forms a wildlife corridor leading to Cedar Swamp. Although the town and the Westborough
Community Land Trust own some of the stream-front land, four recent developments
have destroyed much of the upland surrounding Jackstraw Brook. Anecdotal accounts suggest that only in
recent years has Jackstraw Brook been drying up. Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife has declared Jackstraw
to be an important trout stream. Hiking
trails have recently been constructed along the brook. There is still an
opportunity to develop a trail next to Jack Straw Brook, located in the
southern part of town. Although much of
the wetlands have been surrounded by development, there are opportunities to
develop a trail system around some of these boggy areas.
The Assabet
River begins in Westborough, meanders to the Northborough border, and
ultimately merges with the Concord River. Starting from the SuAsCo the Assabet
River offers great possibilities for hiking trails and a canoe launch because
much of the land is town-owned or has been designated as open space by the
Planning Board or is owned by the Westborough Community Land Trust. Treated effluent from the Westborough
Wastewater Treatment Plant empties into the Assabet River.
The Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Report (2001) states that: “The existing water supplies
consist of seven active wells, two inactive wells and Sandra Pond, which is a
surface water supply. The active wells
are Chauncy Lake No. 2, Andrews No. 1 and 2, Wilkinson, Otis, Hopkinton and
Morse. The inactive wells are Indian
Meadows which is under construction and Chauncy Lake No. 1 which is out of
service until the pump is upgraded to a larger pump…All wells are gravel
packed, range from 1 to 2 feet in diameter and tap unconfined aquifers. The permitted yields range from 0.35 MGD
(millions gallons per day) to 1.13 MGD per well. The depth to bedrock is greater than 40 feet from the surface for
all wells.” Since this report was
published, the Indian Meadows well has been completed and Chauncy Lake No. 1
has been repaired, so all nine wells are currently functioning. A single water purification facility treats
water from three of the wells and the surface water supply. Locations of municipal drinking water wells
and aquifer protection zones I, II, and III are shown on the “Aquifer And
Watershed Protection Districts Map”.
Westborough is currently engaged in an aggressive
program of exploratory drilling of test wells in an effort to locate new water
supplies. Recent test wells located
adjacent to Cedar Swamp have yielded acceptable levels of water flow, but
permitting obstacles associated with the ACEC designation may prevent
development of municipal wells at the site.
Future tests will involve both gravel type wells and, for the first
time, deeper bedrock wells. The
required 400 foot radius of protected recharge areas surrounding a well head
(Zone I) translates into a need for approximately 13 acres of undisturbed land
around a well site. As the town becomes
more developed such sites are increasingly more difficult to find, independent
of whether or not they yield sufficient flows.
Water
use restrictions are imposed most summers, limiting outdoor watering of lawns
and gardens. These restrictions apply
only to public water supplies. Greater
controls may need to be placed on water use from private wells, which tap into
the same aquifer resources as public water supplies. Development within
recharge areas and unregulated pumping of private wells has undoubtedly lowered
the water table altering aquifers and drying up streams, vernal pools, and
vegetated wetlands.
Flood plains in Westborough generally conform to the
pattern of wetlands and streams. They
comprise slightly more than 2,300 acres, or about 17 percent of the town. The
100- and 500-year flood zones are depicted on the “Water Resources Map -
Surface Water, Flood Hazard Areas and Wetlands.”
The three major vegetated wetlands Assabet Swamp,
Cedar Swamp and Crane Swamp in Westborough are depicted on the “Water Resources
Map - Surface Water, Flood Hazard Areas and Wetlands”. Vernal pool wetlands are described in
section 4.5.2.
Assabet
Swamp. This wetland area starts near the SuAsCo reservoir and proceeds
southwest from Arch Street and forms the headwaters of the Assabet River.
Cedar Swamp – The 1650 acre white cedar swamp was the first site
in Massachusetts to be declared an Area of Critical Environmental Concern in
1975. Cedar Swamp is bounded by East Main Street (route 30, but also extends to
the power lines) to the west, Flanders Road to the north, slightly beyond route
495 to the east, the Massachusetts Turnpike to the southwest, and route 135 to
the south (Hopkinton Road) and southeast (South Street). A railroad line bisects Cedar Swamp from
east to west. Cedar Swamp forms the
headwaters for the Sudbury River. It is
an important recharge area for two municipal drinking water wells. This unique
wetland area includes many vernal pools and habitat for rare Spotted Turtles
and Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly. Although largely inaccessible and
underutilized, it provides opportunities for nature observation and canoeing.
The Metropolitan District Commission and Sudbury Valley Trustees own and manage
portions of the swamp. Charm Bracelet trails are proposed through portions of
the swamp with side trails providing access to many of the upland areas. The
potential exists to construct a boardwalk trail, which would provide public
access to and increase public awareness of this ecologically and historically
important habitat. Cedar Swamp is also
listed on the State Register of Historic Places.
Crane Swamp
and adjacent Orchard Swamp are
located northeast of Lake Chauncy and extend into Northborough. This swamp drains via the Wachusett Aqueduct
into the Sudbury River. This vast property provides an extensive wildlife
habitat. Large old hemlock and beech
trees dominate sections of the forest and numerous depressions support vernal
pools. Much of the land is presently
managed by the Metropolitan District Commission. Trail links from the town’s Storey Fields on Haskell Street lead
through the swamp and link to trails in Northborough. A popular trail linking
the Sudbury Valley Trustees Sawink Farm and Cedar Hill reservations has been
severed by construction of a MWRA water treatment plant, the trail will be
rebuilt next in 2004 as part of the completion of the plant.
A systematic inventory of plant species
has not been conducted in Westborough.
Approximately two-thirds of the remaining forested areas are hardwood
and one-third coniferous with some mixed forest (figures are taken from the
previous Open Space Plan). A large
portion of town was once covered by secondary forest formed after the
abandonment of fruit orchards. Much of
these areas have been destroyed by housing developments. Oak-Hickory forest communities dominate the
hardwood areas, especially the Andrews-Nourse and Libby Properties. Most of
these appear to have been logged within the past 50 years. Coniferous vegetation is dominated by
Eastern White Pine. Dense stands of
planted Red Pine surround Sandra Pond.
Unusual mixed stands of Eastern Hemlock and American Beech may be found
in the uplands of Crane and Orchard Swamps.
Atlantic White Cedar and Red Maple dominate the forested portions of
Cedar Swamp. All three major swamps
contain large amounts of Red Maple and various wetland shrubs.
Most of the remaining woodland areas are
not conducive to active recreation because of the steepness of slopes. It does
however, provide opportunities for trails.
The wetland areas are not conducive to active recreation, however,
opportunities for trails are present.
The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection
Act keeps the remaining vegetated wetlands safe from development. Trees are
viewed by most developers as obstacles that cost money to remove. Although the
zoning and subdivision by-laws have wording to minimize the removal of healthy
trees within the public right-of-way, it is mostly by chance that trees are
saved within subdivision development.
The philosophy to view mature native trees as a marketable amenity
should be stressed in new developments.
This would help maintain the natural character that residents are so
fearful of losing. As habitat fragmentation increases, so does the ratio of
edge to interior habitat leading to increases in invasive plant species such as
Common Reed Grass (Phragmites), Purple Loosestrife, Asian honeysuckles,
Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Knotweed, and Multiflora Rose.
While Westborough was once a thriving
agricultural town, very little farming activity remains. Nourse Farm and Glenrock Farm on Nourse
Street (Route 30) are the only active farms raising fruits, vegetables, and a
small number of cattle. Both of these
farms have Agricultural Protection Restrictions. A small orchard remains active on Spring Road. Two of the most active agricultural
enterprises, Red Berberian’s and Arnold’s Orchard have recently been allowed to
go fallow. These areas have an
uncertain future and have enormous potential as town open space, community
gardens, athletic fields, housing subdivisions, or, in the case of Reds, as
commercial space. Three commercial
nurseries/garden marts operate in town, Wilkinson’s Hi-Hill Farm on West Main
Street, Harvey’s on route 135, and Green Thumb on Route 9.
Wetland vegetation in Westborough is
typically shrub-scrub swamp dominated by Red Maple trees and a wide variety of
shrubs such as Arrowwood, Spicebush, and Highbush Blueberry. The most unusual wetland plant community is
the extensive Atlantic White Cedar swamp.
The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species Program (NHESP) lists records of four rare plant species in
Westborough. The rare plant records are
based on observations between 1931 and 1948. No recent effort has been made to
verify their continued existence and they are probably extinct. NHESP ranks
rare species based on their likelihood of extinction within the state with
“Endangered” as the most threatened, followed by “Threatened”, and “Special
Concern” as the least threatened.
Lyre-leaved
Rock Cress (Arabis lyrata) is
a cruciferous plant listed as Threatened and last seen in Westborough in
1931. It prefers to grow on calcareous
cliffs. Since 1978 the plant has been
documented in only two locations in Massachusetts.
Adders
Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum
pusillum) is listed as Threatened and was last documented in Westborough in
1948. It is currently known from only
eight locations.
Pale
Green Orchis (Platanthera flava
var. herbiola) is listed as Threatened and last documented in Westborough
in 1934. It is currently found in only
eight Massachusetts towns.
Lion’
Foot (Prenanthes serpentaria),
a member of the aster family, is listed as Endangered and was last seen in
Westborough in 1935.
These sites,
which are described elsewhere in Section 4, include Cedar Swamp (Atlantic White
Cedar, vernal pools, Spotted Turtle habitat, Hessel’s Hairstreak host plants,
designated ACEC), Crane Swamp (old Eastern Hemlock forest), Sandra Pond
Conservation Area (vernal pools), and Andrews-Nourse Property (vernal pools,
fruiting American Chestnut).
The Sudbury Valley Trustees has prepared
the “SuAsCo (Sudbury, Assabet, and
Concord River Watershed) Biodiversity Protection and Stewardship Plan”
(available at http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/Biodiversity_Plan/Contents.html),
which includes Lake Chauncy and Crane Swamp in its analysis.
With
three major ponds, numerous streams, large swamps, open fields, and forests,
Westborough is fortunate to embrace a diversity of habitats that support a wide
variety of wildlife. Fauna identified
in the 1974 "Natural Resources Inventory" include deer, rabbit, gray
and red squirrel, raccoon, opossum, quail, trout, bass, pickerel, walleye,
woodcock, skunk, many species of songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, reptiles,
and small mammals like moles and shrews.
Since this time there have been sightings of beaver, black bear, coyote,
fisher, moose, and turkey, all of which are on the increase in
Massachusetts. Raccoon numbers have
probably decreased due to the rabies outbreak in the 1990s. These animals are only as secure as their
habitats. The warning set forth in the
1974 Inventory is still apt: "Westborough is fortunate in having the
opportunity to enjoy diverse and populous numbers of wildlife. It can continue to reap enjoyment from them
only if it takes steps to protect them.
For many neighboring towns, it is too late." Regrettably, there has
been great decrease in wildlife habitat in Westborough due to rampant
development. As wildlife habitat is
converted to suburban developments, some species will disappear while others
well adapted to a suburban landscape may flourish. White-tailed deer, for example, are known to thrive in suburbia
where hunting is not allowed and ornamental plantings provide cover and
food. Potential results of continued
deer population growth include damage to ornamental plantings, increase
encounters between deer and automobiles, an increased host population for Lyme
Disease, and in severe cases the deer population may exceed the carrying
capacity of the environment leading to starvation.
The
protection of the extensive wetlands in Westborough by federal and state
legislation, has been the saving grace of much of the wetland habitats in
Town. The same can not be said for
upland habitat. For
the most part, these wildlife habitats have lost out to residential and
commercial development. Green belt corridors should be created that serve the
community and wildlife, linking wetlands to uplands and linking islands of
upland habitat. There is no current
plan to achieve this objective.
The “Aerial Photo Survey of Potential
Vernal Pools” published by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered
Species Program (NHESP) identifies just over 100 potential vernal pools in
Westborough, only a handful of which have been certified. Potential pools were identified by
interpreting color infrared aerial photographs. The Wheaton College Vernal Pool Research Team under the direction
of Dr. Scott Shumway has identified approximately 80 potential pools using the
same methodology. Certification of
vernal pools with NHESP is the only way to effectively protect vernal pools in
Massachusetts. The Wheaton College
Vernal Pool Research Team has studied and certified approximately twenty pools
in Westborough and will continue to study pools for the foreseeable future. However, the major obstacle to future
certification efforts is obtaining permission from private landowners to access
their property to study and certify potential pools. Future protection of Westborough’s vernal pools could be enhanced
by increasing public awareness of vernal pool habitat, encouraging private
land-owners to allow pools on their property to be studied and certified, and
by enacting town bylaws, to protect all vernal pools and at least 100 feet of
the surrounding upland from filling or disturbance.
As woodlands and fields are developed
into subdivisions and office parks the once large habitat is fragmented. The result is a series of smaller habitat
islands with an increased proportion of edge habitat. Species requiring large home ranges are unable to survive in
these fragments. Similarly, as edge
habitat increases, nesting birds and other interior forest species
decline. Edge habitat is subject to
intense predation by raccoons, skunks, and domestic cats, nest parasitism by
cowbirds, and colonization by invasive plant species. Many species, particularly mammals and amphibians, require the
ability to travel among habitat islands.
Regrettably roads and developments, frequently cross these travel
routes, or wildlife corridors. No
effort has been made to identify or preserve wildlife corridors within
Westborough and recent development has undoubtedly destroyed many important
wildlife corridors and habitat islands.
The remaining large habitat islands are mostly wetlands. Rivers and streams provide the best
remaining linkages among these habitat islands (Cedar Swamp, Andrews-Nourse,
Westborough Wildlife Management Area, Libbey Property, Sandra Pond Conservation
Area, Crane Swamp in Westborough). The
lack of protection afforded upland adjacent to intermittent streams severely
jeopardizes these potential corridors.
The Charm Bracelet Trail network, while intended for humans, is an
excellent example of greenways linking larger parcels of open space and may
serve as a good model for conserving wildlife corridors. Old rights-of-way, such as the Shell oil
pipeline, former trolley line, and power lines may also serve as important
wildlife corridors and should be considered as areas worthy of future
protection. The Andrews-Nourse Property
and Wildlife Management Area are productive areas for observing migratory
songbirds while Lake Chauncy, Sandra Pond, and the SuAsCo (Mill Pond) are good
places to observe migratory waterfowl.
The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species Program (NHESP) lists two records of rare vertebrates and
two rare invertebrates in Westborough. The animal records are from the 1980’s
and should be used to guide preservation of the habitat for these species. A systematic effort to monitor their
populations should be established.
NHESP ranks rare species based on their likelihood of extinction within
the state with “Endangered” as the most threatened, followed by “Threatened”,
and “Special Concern” as the least threatened.
Blue-spotted
Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
is listed as a species of Special Concern and was last documented in 1986. This species inhabits hardwood/hemlock
forests and breeds in vernal pools. The
species is threatened by loss of critical vernal pool habitat. There are currently 29 known populations in
Massachusetts.
Spotted
Turtle (Clemmys guttata) is
listed as a species of Special Concern and was last documented in 1996. The species is dependent upon vernal pool
breeding grounds as well as the surrounding habitat. Spotted Turtles are
threatened by development and fragmentation of wetland habitat, particularly
habitats containing clusters of vernal pools. The turtles spend much of their
time residing in vernal pools, but will also travel great distances overland.
They have been documented in 139 towns with 40% of the records coming from
Bristol and Plymouth counties.
Westborough’s Cedar Swamp serves as important habitat for this species.
Mystic
Valley Amphipod (Crangonyx
aberrans) is a small laterally flattened shrimp-like crustacean listed as a
species of Special Concern and was last documented in 1986. Mystic Valley Amphipod inhabits lowland
aquatic habitats characterized by slow moving water. Red Maple swamps may support populations of this species. It has been documented in 40 sites in
Massachusetts. The species is threatened
by loss of suitable wetland habitat.
Swampland to the south of Lake Chauncy is listed as probable habitat for
the Mystic Valley Amphipod.
Hessel’s
Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli)
is an inch-long green and brown colored butterfly listed as a species of
special concern and last documented in 1988.
The larvae are dependent upon Atlantic White Cedar for a food
source. As a result, Cedar Swamp
provides excellent habitat for Hessel’s Hairstreak.
The most recognizable scenic and unique
resources in Westborough are shown on the map entitled "Special Features
Map - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments." The natural and
recreational resources of many of these areas have been described elsewhere in
Section 4.
Lake
Chauncy – Described in section 4.3.2.1
Crane Swamp
and Orchard Swamp - Described in
section 4.3.2.5
Newton Hill
- Westborough quartzite was mined here by Native Americans. Although presently an extensive office park,
a beautiful vista overlooking Cedar Swamp and most of Westborough can be
experienced from a parking lot.
Cedar Swamp
– An Area of Critical Environmental Concern described in section 4.3.2.5
SuAsCo (Mill Pond) and adjacent Andrews-Nourse
Property – The SuAsCo is described in section Described in section 4.3.2.1. In 1988 the
town of Westborough purchased 83 forested acres, known as the Andrews-Nourse Property, for open space
adjacent to the SuAsCo (Mill Pond).
Approximately 20 acres of this property has been used subsequently for
the construction of a new elementary school. Recently blazed Charm Bracelet
trails cross the Andrews-Nourse property and follow over half the shoreline of
the pond. The Andrews-Nourse trails are
popular for hiking, nature observation, and cross-country skiing. Six vernal pools have been certified on the
Andrews-Nourse property. Three municipal drinking water wells are located at
this site. A botanical inventory of the
Andrews-Nourse Property was recently commissioned by the Westborough Community
Land Trust and should soon be available to the public.
Jackstraw Brook - Described in section 4.3.2.2.
Depres Farm
– The site of Eli Whitney’s birthplace, this privately owned parcel has the
potential to become part of an historic town-wide open space corridor system
and a nature preserve. The “Aerial Photo Survey of Potential Vernal Pools”
published by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
(NHESP) shows several potential vernal pools on this site.
Fay Mountain
– The highest elevation in Westborough, this site is the critical link if the
Town is to have an open space corridor in this southern, developing part of
Westborough. With it, one can traverse
through a greenbelt corridor from Grafton all the way to the Westborough
Reservoir. It also provides for an open
space link into the Depres farm and has the potential for a fitness trail. Access is currently restricted as it is
privately owned.
Westborough Reservoir (Sandra Pond) – Described in section 4.3.2.1.
Westborough Wildlife Management Area – The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife manages the 428 acre Westborough Wildlife Management Area for
pheasant, deer, grouse, woodcock, cottontail rabbit, raccoon, gray squirrel,
aquatic fur-bearers, and waterfowl. The
property includes woodland, small ponds, vernal pool habitat, a portion of the
Assabet River, and the western shores of Lake
Chauncy (section 4.3.2.1) where a boat ramp is maintained. The land is managed to be an early
successional habitat free of exotic species.
In addition to hunting and fishing the areas is used for nature
observation, hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and flying model
airplanes.
Scenic Roads
– Westborough has a number of scenic roads with vistas, which capture the
agricultural, rural woodland, or historic village essence that several decades
ago characterized the town. Because
these scenic roads often pass through large tracts of developable land, their
scenic quality is under imminent threat from development. Chestnut Street, Bowman Street, Mill Road,
Ruggles Street, and Gilmore Road have scenic vistas while West Main Street
passes through the downtown historic district.
The Westborough Charm Bracelet – In 2000 under the guidance of the Westborough Open Space Preservation
Committee and the Westborough Community Land Trust construction began on a
town-wide trail network. Known as the Westborough Charm Bracelet will encompass
a 28.5 mile loop around town, side trails reaching most neighborhoods, and
links to the neighboring towns. The
network is envisioned in the end to encompass 60 to 70 miles of trails.
The Westborough Historical
Commission (WHC) has initiated an
extensive undertaking to examine and document the Town’s historic resources. As
of 2002, 361 historic properties as well as the Lyman School property,
Wessonville, and the Westborough State Hospital have been examined. All
properties were evaluated through deed search, maps recorded and surveyed since
1795, and assessor's records. Each Survey Form describes the location, age and
pertinent historical information and a black and white photograph as a visual
affidavit. The surveys are on file at MHC and WHC as legal evidence.
West Main Street Historic District
Originally listed in 1987, the
boundary of this National Register district was extended further along Main
Street in 1990. Roughly bounded by Milk, Main, Blake, and Fay Streets, the
district originally comprised of 233 properties on 45 acres; in 1990, another
38 properties were added. The District consists of a well-preserved residential
area that developed during the 19th century. Most house lots are regular ¼ acre
lots and are uniformly set back from the sidewalk and street. Residences
consist of a variety of single-family dwellings constructed between 1795 and
1900 and are of a variety of architectural styles including Federal, Greek
Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival. Public
and commercial buildings in the District date from the mid-19th century through
the early 20th century and are representative of professionally designed Greek
Revival, Italianate, Victorian Gothic, and Classical Revival style
architecture. The District represents the Town’s evolution from an early
agricultural settlement to a diversified manufacturing town.
Massachusetts State Hospitals
and State Schools
This National Register Multiple
Property Submission (NRMPS), added to the National Register in 1994, includes
14 districts within 19 towns, encompassing 111 properties. Westborough
properties in the NRMPS include a portion of the Lyman School for Boys and
properties associated with the Westborough State Hospital. The Westborough
State Hospital site includes a total of 63 properties, some of which are
located in Northborough. The total land area of the campus is 650 acres. The
Westborough State Hospital of 1884 was designed to incorporate the original
1848-1876 building of the State Reform School for Boys, and not only
represented an early case of adaptive reuse within the institutional system,
but also preserved the hospital’s oldest component (the western end of the Main
Hospital Building designed in 1848 by Elias Caster and James Savage). During
rehabilitation of the old building, the state’s first congregate dining room
was constructed to allow patients to interact within an environment similar to
that of a “large hotel.” This model, which was designed to heighten the
patients’ sense of normalcy, was adopted at most later hospitals. The Westborough
Hospital was also unique in that it was the second state hospital in the nation
to offer a treatment based on the principles of homeopathy, emphasizing rest,
massage, hydrotherapy, and special diet, eschewing hypnotic medications. The
hospital was also actively engaged in education, holding clinics for Boston
University Medical School students as early as 1887, and establishing a nurses’
training school in 1890.
Lyman School for Boys
Several portions of the Lyman
School for Boys, located at Oak and Park Streets and Route 9, have been listed
as a National Register District since 1994, as part of a Multiple Property
Submission. In 1997, a Preservation Restriction was extended to these six
listed properties. The campus, centered on the top of scenic Powder Hill, was
the first campus in the state system to adopt the cottage plan, so buildings
are dispersed on the south and west hill slopes. This plan avoided a large
centralized structure in favor of dispersed “Family Houses” to encourage a more
personal atmosphere. Four of the pre-existing dwellings remain on the Lyman
School campus, including the individually listed Nathan A. Fisher House and
Maples Cottage. In 1846, the General Court appointed a committee to study the
need for a state institution for reformation of juvenile offenders after being
petitioned by a group of concerned magistrates and citizens. Prior to this,
juvenile offenders were generally confined in jails and prisons with hardened
criminals. The former Lyman School was established as the Massachusetts State
Reform School in 1847, the first state-operated reform school in the country.
National and State Register
Historic Archaeological Districts
The Town has many
archaeological resources, historical Native American trails, and areas where
settlement dates back to the 1600s. Two such areas have been added to the
National Register:
·
Cedar Swamp Archaeological
District: This district straddles the
Town’s border with Hopkinton and was added to the National Register in 1988. It
is the second largest such site in the state.
·
Charlestown Meadows Site: A Preservation Restriction was extended to this site in 1995.
Nathan A. Fisher House
This two-story Federal style
house of timber-frame construction is located on Turnpike Road. The site was
added as an individual listing to the National Register in 1980, protected by a
Preservation Restriction in 1990, and included as part of a multiple property
submission in 1994. Nathan A. Fisher was an early Westborough merchant. Fisher
and his brother in law, Joseph Lothrop, opened the Town’s first store in a
section of Fisher’s house by 1826. Fisher and Lothrop later constructed a
thread factory on the property, which was the Town’s first steam powered
industry. In 1884, the state acquired the house and several adjacent properties
to be used as part of the Lyman School, and the house was used for a time as a
residence for school staff. This structure is presently being restored and will
eventually house the Westborough Heritage Museum.
Maples Cottage
Maples Cottage, located on Oak
Street in the original 18th century town center, is a two-story Federal/Greek
Revival design. The building has been an individual listing on the National
Register since 1980, was part of a Multiple Property Submission adopted in
1994, and was the subject of a 1997 Preservation Restriction. William White, a
prosperous farmer, built the structure that presently exists on-site circa
1830, reportedly from materials salvaged from the site’s previous structure, a
home built in 1725 by Westborough’s first minister, Ebenezer Parkman. In 1884,
the Commonwealth acquired Maples Cottage and surrounding farmlands for the
Lyman School. This building was used as a staff residence until farming was
phased out of the curriculum of the Lyman School.
Jonah Warren House
This structure, located at 64
Warren Street, was constructed circa 1720-27 and has been listed on the
National Register since 1998. The Jonah Warren House is one of the “finest and
best-preserved examples of 18th century domestic architecture in Westborough” (MHC inventory form). The house has a long
association with a number of prominent citizens in Westborough’s history,
including Jonah Warren, Aaron Warren, and Hercules Warren Fay. Jonah played an
important role in the Town’s early settlement. Aaron was a cordwainer who
shipped his wares to the South, paving the way for Westborough’s second major
industry (after straw hat manufacturing). Aaron’s great grandson, Hercules
Warren Fay, went on to become Westborough’s most distinguished man of letters,
moving in the same literary circle as Henry James and William Dean Howells.
Joseph Lothrop House
This house, at 208 Turnpike
Road (Route 9), is a square-plan, Federal style house whose fine detailing
represents the area’s major period of significance. The house was added as an
individual listing to the National Register in 1980. Located in the original
18th century town center, the building has a significant historical association
with the early development of the Town. John Lothrop built the house circa
1825. Lothrop and Nathan Fisher opened Westborough’s first retail store.
The following historic
resources were previously deemed eligible for National Register listing, but at
present are still not listed or require additional research to evaluate whether
or not they are eligible for National Register listing:
·
Rocklawn
Historic District (Old Flanders Road)
·
Eliezer
Rice House (37 Maynard Street)
·
Conrail
over Mill Pond (Boston and Albany Railroad Bridge No. 33.12.)
·
Whipple
House (59 Fisher Street)
Westborough currently has
several provisions in place to preserve historic buildings and structures.
These include the Demolition Delay Bylaw, Design Review Board, Sign Bylaw, Open
Space Communities Bylaw, and Site Plan Review.
·
Demolition Delay Bylaw: Article 28 of the Town’s Charter and Bylaws establishes a demolition
delay process that requires that any building built prior to 1900, listed on
the National Register, included in the Historic District, or researched by the
WHC and found to be historically significant, is subject to demolition delay of
90 days. During this time, the WHC will try to work with the applicant to find
a feasible alternative to demolition, such as preservation or restoration.
·
Design Review Board: A five-person Design Review Board appointed annually by the Planning
Board administers design review. Subjects of design review include landscaping,
relation to the built environment, materials, textures, color, roof slopes and
materials, scale, signage, external lighting, windows, open space, historic
resources/heritage, and costs.
·
Signs Bylaw: Article 3337 regulates signage in and near the Town’s Historic District
and authorizes the WHC to issue a binding decision on whether or not a sign is
appropriate for inclusion in the Historic District. This bylaw requires that
all signs erected, altered or relocated within the Historic District or any
zoning district within 2500 feet of the downtown rotary must be consistent (in
design, materials, lettering and color) with the historic character of that
district. The WHC is charged with preparing the sign guidelines while the
Planning Board is authorized to approve them. The Building Inspector is
responsible for enforcing the Bylaw.
·
Open Space Communities Bylaw: The Open Space Communities Bylaw seeks to preserve, among other
features, the Town’s historic sites and vistas.
The WHC has recently completed
a Historic Preservation Plan for the Town. This document includes historic and
archaeological profiles of the Town; a timeline summary of previous historic
preservation activities undertaken by the WHC and the Town; a compendium of
local, state, and federal regulatory measures and programs available to the
Town for historic preservation; and identification of future preservation
activities. Some future preservation activities include the adoption of new
bylaws, the expansion of existing historic districts, and the creation of new
historic districts. Potential bylaws identified in the plan include a Scenic
Road Bylaw and a Historic Landmark Bylaw that would protect distinctive
structures and landscapes in the Town.
The WHC has initiated a second
expansion of the West Main Street Historic District. This expansion includes a
section of South Street to School Street as well as Charles, Central, and Cross
Streets, Harrison Avenue, and parts of Ruggles Street. The Commission’s future
plans include seeking a historic designation for “Vintonville,” an area
accessible via South Street and known as the “Tree Streets,” i.e. Pine, Elm,
Cedar, Beach, and Green Streets. The houses here were built by Otis Vinton from
1850-1870 for the migrant Irish and Italian workers who came to lay the tracks
for the railroad and later the trolley lines. Another area identified for
historic district designation is the area surrounding East Main Street,
including High, State, Water, Lincoln, and Spring Streets. Nineteenth century merchants
and manufacturers built the homes in this part of Town that include a variety
of architectural styles.
The Cedar Swamp ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) is
described in 4.3.2.5.
The
Department of Environmental Protection has classified the majority of gas
stations in Westborough as potentially hazardous to the groundwater due to
leaking petroleum storage tanks. Efforts are currently under way to replace all
leaking petroleum storage tanks.
Appendix E is a list of the current hazardous waste sites in
Westborough whose file has not been closed by the Department of Environmental
Protection.
Hocomonco
Pond is a Federal Super Fund priority site.
Creosote was released at a former industrial site nearby resulting in a
release into the soil, groundwater, and surface water. The site is owned by the
Town and is currently finishing a cleanup operation. Currently it cannot be used for recreational purposes but
discussions are currently underway to allow a walking trail on an old road in
the property.
There
are no active landfills in town.
There
are three landfills in Westborough that are no longer used. They are at E. L. Harvey and Sons on
Hopkinton Road, at the DPW off Oak Street and near the Tyrolit / Bay State
Abrasives Industrial site near Cedar Swamp. Contamination to the groundwater or
surface water has not been detected.
Most
of these problems in the Town are sedimentation from development (see below).
Although
new subdivision development must provide storm water detention basins to
capture and filter run-off, the older subdivisions and Town roads do not have
this ability. Creative, natural Town-wide detention basins with man-made
wetlands to filter storm water run-off should be considered for implementation
prior to release into the surface water.
The
Board of Health keeps the flood insurance maps for the town. There are no chronic flooding areas to
report.
Most
of these problems in the Town are the direct result of developers stripping the
land of its vegetative cover. Proper
re-seeding, hay baling, and silt fencing seem to curtail the problem during
light rainstorms, but not during the average, and certainly not above average,
rainstorms.
Perhaps
the greatest environmental challenge that affects open space and recreation
planning is the effect of industrial and residential development. These challenges are well documented
elsewhere in this plan.
Leaking
petroleum tanks are the major known direct potential contaminators of
water. Road water run-off is known to
contain salts, oil, gas, rubber, lead, petroleum by-products, dead animals,
feces, home fertilizer, etc. These are
significant contributors to pollution and can contribute to the contamination
of surface and ground water.
Hocomonco
Pond will remain a limited use site because of creosote contamination.
The
extensive rolling hills, wetlands, and surface waters give Westborough its
overall unique appeal. Westborough has many natural features that safeguard the
existence of wildlife and enhance the quality of life of its residents. To
ensure this appeal continues for future residents, the current erosion,
sedimentation, and re-vegetative practices must be strictly enforced whenever
development is taking place. Not only
will this mitigate the negative impacts on wildlife, but it will help to
maintain the rural character the residents are so fearful of losing.