Camp Edwards Training Site Integrated Natural Resources

Camp Edwards Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 

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PREPARER-REVIEWER PAGE 

This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) was prepared and 

reviewed by the following people and organizations: 

Prepared by: 

Michael A. Ciaranca John P. Kelly 

Natural Resource Manager Natural Resource Planner 

Camp Edwards Training Site Camp Edwards Training Site 

Reviewed by: 

Camp Edwards Training Site 

Michael A. Ciaranca 

Natural Resources Manager 


LTC Randall J. Cordeiro 

Director, Plans, Operations, Training, and Military Support 


LTC Mary Mixson 

Range Control Officer 


Massachusetts Army National Guard 

Shaun C. Cody 

Director of Environmental Affairs 

MAARNG 

COL Richard V. Crivello 

Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations 

MAARNG 

Brian Nickerson 

Master Planner 

MAARNG 

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Massachusetts Army National Guard cont. 

William Sullivan 

Operations Manager 

MAARNG 

National Guard Bureau 

COL Jeffrey G. Phillips 

Division Chief 

NGB-ARE 

Beth Law 

Branch Chief 

NGB–ARE 

CPT. Steve Stadelman 

Natural Resources/Forestry 

NGB-ARE 

Dr. Lee Barber 

ITAM Program Manager 

NBG–ART 

Kristin Leahy 

Cultural Resources 

NGB-ARE 

Brett Wood 

ITAM Coordinator 

NGB–ART 

Chris Williams 

NEPA Program Manager 

NGB–ARE 

Helen Yusko 

Public Affairs Specialist 

NGB–PAI-E 

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Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 

Jason Zimmer 

MADFW SE District Manager 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Anthony Tur 

USFWS 

New England Field Office 

General Public 

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Preface 

The Massachusetts Army National Guard (MAARNG) is required by the Sikes 

Act to develop and implement an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 

(INRMP) for the Camp Edwards Training Site. The INRMP is the installation 

commander’s adaptive plan for managing natural communities and natural resources to 

support and be consistent with the military mission while protecting and enhancing 

those natural communities and resources for multiple use, sustainable yield, and 

biological integrity. “The purpose of the INRMP is to ensure that natural resource 

conservation measures and Army activities on mission lands are consistent with federal 

stewardship requirements” (US Army National Guard Bureau, 2000) and to sustain 

native natural resources on an ecosystem scale and to comply with current legal 

mandates while resulting in no net loss in capability to fulfill the military training 

mission. 

The Camp Edwards INRMP supports and guides the Massachusetts National 

Guard’s Final Environmental Impact Report (2001). The Environmental Performance 

Standards (EPS) listed in the Massachusetts National Guard’s Area Wide FEIR and as 

required by M.G.L. Chapter 47 Acts of 2002 serve as the guide by which MAARNG 

training and natural resources management is conducted on Camp Edwards. These 

EPS’s are continuosly incorporated with federal environmental and land management 

programs specified by military regulation and federal law. The INRMP, to the extent 

appropriate and applicable, integrates and aids in achieving the standards set forth 

within the EPS’s. For a complete description of the EPS’s, please refer to the 

Massachusetts National Guard’s Area Wide FEIR (2001). Also, the INRMP integrates 

current environmental management practices incorporated in the Camp Edwards 

Regulations 385-63 (Range Safety) and the MAARNG’s Natural Resources and 

Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) Programs. In addition, the 

Environmental Readiness Center was formed to help guide and implement the 

aforementioned documents, laws, regulations, standards, and programs. 

The MAARNG Natural Resource Office has and will continue to consult and 

cooperate with state and federal environmental agencies throughout the development 

and implementation of the INRMP, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

Environmental Management Commission (EMC), the Department of Conservation and 

Recreation, the Department of Environmental Protection (MASSDEP), the Division of 

Fisheries and Wildlife/Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 

(DFW/NHESP) are involved with INRMP creation and implementation. 

Since the 1950s, and more frequently in the last 20 years, the MAARNG has 

received input and adopted management practices from several federal and state 

agencies and non-profit organizations in Massachusetts. The DFW has provided 

consultation and support on white tail deer (Odocoileus virginiana) hunting on Camp 

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Edwards since 1955 and was instrumental in reintroducing wild turkey (Meleagris 

gallopavo) in the 1980s which subsequently resulted in the first turkey harvest in the 

spring of 2000 and continues today. The NHESP conducted a grassland bird survey 

(White and Melvin 1985) of the cantonment area of the MMR. Within the report for the 

survey were recommendations for managing the grassland habitats on the MMR for 

rare bird species. These recommendations were in part adopted by the MAARNG and 

have been followed since the time of the initial survey. The NHESP has also been 

instrumental in conducting a comprehensive floristic survey of Camp Edwards (Jenkins 

1994), as well as a moth survey that documented the 16 state-listed species of moths that 

inhabit the Camp Edwards Impact Area for at least part of their life cycle (Mello et al. 

1999). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted research on 

the MMR since the 1980s. Throughout the course of this research, the USDA has 

focused on the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillar and the Asian longhorn beetle 

(Anoplophora glabripennis), which has not been recorded in Massachusetts, and has 

utilized various areas of Camp Edwards as study sites. The Environmental 

Management Commission created by “Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2002” was established 

to verify, through independent oversight, monitoring, and evaluation, the compatibility 

of training with environmental protection. 

The MAARNG Natural Resource Office has also coordinated with multiple 

agencies on a single task. For instance, the Cape Cod National Seashore within the 

National Park Service (NPS), the MASSDEP, the University of Massachusetts at 

Amherst (UMASS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have assisted in planning and 

conducting the prescribed burn program on Camp Edwards. UMASS completed a 

prescribed burn management plan in 2000 (revised by MAARNG in 2006) to provide 

direction on future prescribed burning on Camp Edwards. 

An objective of the Camp Edwards INRMP is to compile and consolidate the 

management recommendations from the survey and study reports to provide a 

comprehensive management plan (i.e., INRMP) for the natural communities and 

natural resources on Camp Edwards. Input and comments from all agencies that have 

reviewed the Camp Edwards INRMP were taken into account and incorporated where 

appropriate. Ease of interpretation is the intent of this plan, so that the natural 

resources of Camp Edwards may be properly managed and protected while providing 

the most beneficial training experience for the MAARNG. 

The Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office currently maintains a web site that 

describes in detail the natural resources of Camp Edwards, including the flora, fauna, 

and rare species, the ITAM Program, and other natural resources surveys and research. 

The site can be accessed at www.eandrc.org. 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... XIV 

LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................XVI 

LIST OF ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................XVIII 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................... XXI 

SECTION I. TRAINING SITE OVERVIEW............................................................................ 1 

CHAPTER 1. LOCATION AND ACREAGE ........................................................................ 1 

1.1 LOCATION .................................................................................................................................................1 

1.2 ACREAGE AND ACQUISITION ..................................................................................................................2 

1.3 INSTALLATION HISTORY..........................................................................................................................4 

1.4 NEIGHBORS ...............................................................................................................................................5 

1.5 SATELLITE INSTALLATIONS .....................................................................................................................6 

CHAPTER 2. MILITARY MISSION ...................................................................................... 6 

2.1 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................6 

2.1.1 Military Mission........................................................................................................................................6 

2.1.2 Types of Training.......................................................................................................................................6 

2.1.3 Soldier Usage Data ....................................................................................................................................7 

2.1.4 Types of Equipment Which Might Impact Natural Resources ..................................................................8 

2.1.5 Range Use Days.........................................................................................................................................8 

2.1.6 Ammunition Storage and Production........................................................................................................9 

2.2 NATURAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY MISSION ............................................10 

2.3 EFFECTS OF THE MILITARY MISSION ON NATURAL RESOURCES .......................................................10 

2.4 IMPACTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ON THE MISSION .............................................12 

2.5 FUTURE MILITARY MISSION IMPACTS ON NATURAL RESOURCES ....................................................12 

CHAPTER 3. FACILITIES...................................................................................................... 13 

3.1 OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................................................................13 

3.2 LAND USE ................................................................................................................................................16 

3.3 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ...................................................................................................................16 

3.3.1 Cantonment Area Roads...........................................................................................................................19 

3.3.2 Northern Training Area Roads..................................................................................................................19 

3.3.3 Railroad Access Point................................................................................................................................19 

3.3.4 ARNG Aviation Facility ...........................................................................................................................19 

3.4 WATER SUPPLY .......................................................................................................................................19 

3.5 PROJECTED CHANGES IN FACILITIES ....................................................................................................20 

SECTION II. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................... 22 

CHAPTER 4. GOALS AND POLICIES ................................................................................ 22 

4.1 GOALS......................................................................................................................................................22 

4.2 REQUIRED AND RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ...........................................................23 

4.3 POLICIES ..................................................................................................................................................24 

4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (NEPA COMPLIANCE) ..............................................................................24 

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4.5 MONITORING INRMP IMPLEMENTATION...........................................................................................25 

CHAPTER 5. RESPONSIBLE AND INTERESTED PARTIES........................................ 27 

5.1 INSTALLATION ORGANIZATIONS..........................................................................................................27 

5.2 FEDERAL DEFENSE ORGANIZATIONS....................................................................................................27 

5.3 OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES...................................................................................................................28 

5.4 STATE AGENCIES ....................................................................................................................................28 

5.5 UNIVERSITIES..........................................................................................................................................30 

5.6 CONTRACTORS........................................................................................................................................30 

5.7 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES ...................................................................................................................30 

5.8 OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ................................................................................................................30 

5.9 SIGNATORY AGENCIES...........................................................................................................................31 

SECTION III. NATURAL RESOURCES OF CAMP EDWARDS...................................... 32 

CHAPTER 6. NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE ............................................... 32 

6.1 SETTING...................................................................................................................................................32 

6.2 TOPOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................................33 

6.3 GEOLOGY.................................................................................................................................................35 

6.4 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................................................35 

6.5 PETROLEUM AND MINERALS .................................................................................................................36 

6.6 SOILS........................................................................................................................................................36 

6.6.1 Soils of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay Terminal Moraines .................................................................36 

6.6.2 Soils of the Outwash Plains .....................................................................................................................36 

6.7 WATER RESOURCES................................................................................................................................40 

6.7.1 Surface Water Resources..........................................................................................................................40 

6.7.2 Groundwater Resources...........................................................................................................................43 

6.8 NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF CAMP EDWARDS....................................................................................45 

6.8.1 Plantations ...............................................................................................................................................45 

6.8.2 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland ............................................................................................................48 

6.8.3 Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Community ...........................................................................................................51 

6.8.4 Black Oak-Scarlet Oak Forest/Woodland.................................................................................................54 

6.8.5 Scrub Oak Shrub land ..............................................................................................................................57 

6.8.6 Cultural Grasslands.................................................................................................................................60 

6.8.7 Wetlands...................................................................................................................................................64 

6.8.8 Disturbed Natural Communities ..............................................................................................................70 

6.9 FAUNA......................................................................................................................................................71 

6.9.1 Invertebrates ............................................................................................................................................72 

6.9.2 Birds.........................................................................................................................................................73 

6.9.3 Mammals .................................................................................................................................................76 

6.9.4 Reptiles.....................................................................................................................................................78 

6.9.5 Amphibians..............................................................................................................................................79 

6.9.6 Fish............................................................................................................................................................79 

6.10 ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND SPECIAL CONCERN SPECIES .......................................................79 

6.10.1 Threatened and Endangered Flora .........................................................................................................81 

6.10.2 Threatened and Endangered Fauna .......................................................................................................81 

SECTION IV. NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT CAMP EDWARDS ....... 84 

CHAPTER 7. INTEGRATED TRAINING AREA MANAGEMENT (ITAM) 

PROGRAM................................................................................................................................. 84 

7.1 OVERVIEW OF ITAM AND RELATIONSHIP TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .....................84 

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7.1.1 ITAM Coordination.................................................................................................................................86 

7.1.2 ITAM Program on Camp Edwards..........................................................................................................86 

7.2 RANGE AND TRAINING LAND ASSESSMENTS (RTLA) .......................................................................86 

7.2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................86 

7.2.2 History of RTLA at Camp Edwards.........................................................................................................88 

7.2.3 RTLA Goals and Objectives.....................................................................................................................90 

7.2.4 Plot Inventory and Monitoring ...............................................................................................................90 

7.2.5 Data Management and Analysis .............................................................................................................91 

7.2.6 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)...................................................................................................92 

7.3 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS INTEGRATION (TRI).................................................................................93 

7.3.1 TRI Introduction......................................................................................................................................93 

7.3.2 TRI Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................94 

7.3.3 Training Siting ........................................................................................................................................94 

7.3.4 Guidelines for Protection of Natural Resources During Training ..........................................................95 

7.3.5 Rotational Use of Training Areas ............................................................................................................99 

7.3.6 Restricted Areas...................................................................................................................................99 

7.4 LAND REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE (LRAM).......................................................................100 

7.4.1 LRAM Introduction...............................................................................................................................100 

7.4.2 LRAM Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................100 

7.4.3 LRAM Project Planning........................................................................................................................101 

7.4.4 LRAM Projects ......................................................................................................................................102 

7.4.5 LRAM Project Monitoring....................................................................................................................102 

7.5 SUSTAINABLE RANGE AWARENESS (SRA ..........................................................................................103 

7.5.1 SRA Introduction .................................................................................................................................103 

7.5.2 SRA Goals and Objectives .....................................................................................................................103 

7.5.3 Environmental Stewardship ..................................................................................................................104 

7.5.4 Soldier Awareness..................................................................................................................................104 

7.5.5 Educational Training Tools ...................................................................................................................105 

7.5.6 Community Environmental Awareness ................................................................................................106 

7.5.7 Professional Education...........................................................................................................................108 

7.5.8 Research Opportunities..........................................................................................................................108 

CHAPTER 8. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT............................................... 109 

8.1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................109 

8.1.1 Philosophy of Natural Community Management at Camp Edwards....................................................109 

8.1.2 Natural Community Management Goals and Objectives......................................................................109 

8.1.3 Natural Resource Management Units...................................................................................................111 

8.2 PITCH PINE-SCRUB OAK COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT ....................................................................111 

8.2.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................111 

8.2.2 Goals and Objectives..............................................................................................................................112 

8.2.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................112 

8.3 PITCH PINE-OAK FOREST WOODLAND MANAGEMENT...................................................................113 

8.3.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................113 


8.3.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................114 

8.4 BLACK OAK SCARLET OAK FOREST MANAGEMENT .........................................................................114 

8.4.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................114 


8.4.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................115 

8.5 SCRUB OAK SHRUBLAND MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................116 

8.5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................116 


8.5.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................116 

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8.6 GRASSLANDS MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................118 

8.6.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................118 


8.6.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................120 

8.7 WETLAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................124 

8.7.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................124 


8.7.3 Management ..........................................................................................................................................125 

8.7.4 Groundwater Management....................................................................................................................126 

8.8 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ............................................................................................................127 


8.8.3 Projects, Research, and Surveys.............................................................................................................128 

8.9 FIRE MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................136 

8.9.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................136 


8.9.3 Management .........................................................................................................................................139 

8.9.4 Fire Management Blocks........................................................................................................................142 

8.9.5 Smoke Management Zones ....................................................................................................................149 

8.10 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................151 

8.10.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................151 

8.10.2 Goals and Objectives............................................................................................................................151 

8.10.3 Invasive Plant Species...........................................................................................................................152 

8.10.4 Common Pests of Camp Edwards ........................................................................................................155 

8.10.5 Integrated Pest Management Principles..............................................................................................156 

8.11 CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................157 


8.11.2 Policies .................................................................................................................................................157 

8.11.3 Contributions to Natural Community Management...........................................................................160 

8.11.4 Sacred Site Protection ..........................................................................................................................160 

8.11.5 Management at Camp Edwards...........................................................................................................161 

8.12 OUTDOOR RECREATION MANAGEMENT............................................................................................162 

8.12.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................162 


8.12.3 Outdoor Recreation Opportunities on Camp Edwards........................................................................163 

8.13 NATURAL RESOURCES LAW ENFORCEMENT ......................................................................................164 

8.13.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................164 


CHAPTER 9. CONSERVATION OF LISTED RARE SPECIES.................................... 166 

9.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................166 

9.2 PLANTS...................................................................................................................................................166 

9.3 ODONATES .............................................................................................................................................167 

9.4 MOTHS ...................................................................................................................................................168 

9.5 BIRDS ......................................................................................................................................................168 

9.6 TURTLES .................................................................................................................................................169 

9.7 MAMMALS..............................................................................................................................................170 

CHAPTER 10. ADDITIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES.............................. 171 

SECTION V. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAMP EDWARDS INRMP..................... 172 

CHAPTER 11. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................... 172 

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11.1 ORGANIZATION, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES..............................................................................172 

11.2 STAFFING................................................................................................................................................172 

11.2.1 MAARNG Personnel...........................................................................................................................172 

11.2.2 Soldier Man-Days................................................................................................................................172 

11.2.3 Contractors ..........................................................................................................................................172 

11.2.4 State Environmental Agencies.............................................................................................................173 

11.3 FUNDING SOURCES ................................................................................................................................173 

11.4 COMMAND SUPPORT .............................................................................................................................175 

11.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF INRMP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 2001-2006 ...............................................176 

11.6 TRACKING AND IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX OF INRMP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ......................177 

GLOSSARY.............................................................................................................................. 192 

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 196 

APPENDIX A – SOILS OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA ....................................................... 200 

APPENDIX B – PLANT SPECIES OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA .................................... 201 

APPENDIX C – MACROLEPIDOPTERA (MOTH AND BUTTERFLY) SPECIES OF 

CAMP EDWARDS, MA ........................................................................................................ 207 

APPENDIX D – ODONATE (DRAGONFLY) SPECIES OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA. 

..................................................................................................................................................... 214 

APPENDIX E – BIRD SPECIES OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA........................................ 215 

APPENDIX F – MAMMAL SPECIES OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA.............................. 217 

APPENDIX G –MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENT AND MEMORANDUMS OF 

UNDERSTANDING . ............................................................................................................ 218 

APPENDIX H –COMMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE .......................................... 243 

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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 2-1. Range use days for Camp Edwards, 2002-2005. 

Table 3-1. Road system of Camp Edwards. 

Table 6-1. Wetlands and Ponds of Camp Edwards, MA. 

Table 6-2. Species of Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland. 

Table 6-3. Species of Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Community 

Table 6-4. Species of Black Oak-Scarlet Oak Forest Woodland 

Table 6-5. Species of Scrub Oak Shrubland Community. 

Table 6-6. Species of Cultural Grasslands. 

Table 6-7. Species of the Wetlands of Camp Edwards 

Table 6-8 State-Listed rare moths, their associated habitat, and host plant on Camp 

Edwards, MA 

Table 6-9. Numbers of state-listed rare bird species observed in Camp Edwards 

grasslands. 

Table 6-10. Deer harvest data for Camp Edwards, MA, 1992-2000. 

Table 6-11. Reptile species observed on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Table 6-12. State-listed and watch-listed species, Camp Edwards, MA. 

Table 6-13. State-listed and watch-listed plant species, Camp Edwards. 

Table 6-14. State-listed fauna observed on Camp Edwards. 

Table 8-1. Seasonal and permanent road closures on Camp Edwards. 

Table 8-2. Historical Prescribed Fire Activity for Camp Edwards, MA 1983-2005. 

Table 8-3. Common pests and their potential locations on Camp Edwards, MA. 

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LIST OF TABLES cont. 

Table 11-1 Implementation of INRMP Goals and Objectives 

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LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1-1. Location of the MMR in Massachusetts. 

Figure 1-2. Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) and Camp Edwards 

installation boundaries. 

Figure 3-1. Tenants of the Massachusetts Military Reservation. 

Figure 3-2. Training area delineation on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 3-3. Transportation System on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-1. Geology and Topography of Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-2. Soil classification of Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-3. Erosion potential of soils on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-4. Sagamore Lens of the Cape Cod Aquifer with Groundwater Contours and 

Central Monitoring Well. 

Figure 6-5. Upper Cape Water Supply Wells on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-6. Portion of 1932 Shawme State Forest Map indicating historic burning, 

access roads, and exotic pine and spruce plantations 

Figure 6-7. Natural Communities of Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-8. Grassland Management Area, Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 6-9. Wetlands of Camp Edwards and the MMR. 

Figure 7-1. RTLA (EM) plot locations within natural communities on Camp Edwards. 

Figure 7-2. The Soldier’s/Trainer’s Field Card from Camp Edwards. 

Figure 7-3. LRAM on Camp Edwards 

Figure 8-1. Prescribed Fire Management Blocks on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Figure 8-2. Burn Units on Camp Edwards, MA 

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LIST OF FIGURES cont. 

Figure 8-3. Smoke Management Zones for Camp Edwards, MA. 

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LIST OF ACRONYMS 

AIRFA-American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 

ANG-Air National Guard 

AO-Administrative Order 

APC-Armored Personnel Carrier 

AR-Army Regulations 

ARE-Army Environmental Division 

ARI-Army Installations Division 

ARNG-Army National Guard 

ARO-Army Operations 

ARPA-Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979 

ART-Army Training Division 

ASP-Ammunition Supply Point 

ATV-All Terrain Vehicle 

BMP-Best Management Plan 

BOQ-Bachelor Officer’s Quarters 

CATS-Combined Arms Training Strategy 

CCC-Cape Cod Commission 

CFM-Custom Fuel Model 

CFMO-Construction and Facilities Management Officer 

COMSTA-United States Coast Guard Communication Station 

CWA-Clean Water Act 

CX-categorical exclusion 

DA-Department of the Army 

DCR-Department of Conservationa dn Recreation 

DFP-Division of Forest and Parks 

DFW-Division of Fisheries and Wildlife/ 

NHESP-Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 

DoD-Department of Defense 

DPW-Real Property Operation and Maintenance funds 

DWM-Division of Watershed Management 

EA-Environmental Awareness 

E-Endangered 

EIR-Environmental Impact Report 

EIS-Environmental Impact Statement 

EM-Environmental Monitoring 

EMC-Environmental Management Commission 

EO-Executive Order 

EPA-Environmental Protection Agency 

EPS-Environmental Performance Standards 

FE-Facilities Engineer 

FEIR-Final Environmental Impact Report 

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LIST OF ACRONYMS cont. 

FMB-Fire Management Blocks 

FMZ-Fire Management Zone 

FT-Foot 

FY-Fiscal Year 

GIS-Geographical Information System 

IAGWS-Impact Area Groundwater Study 

ICRMP-Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan 

IDT-Inactive Duty Training 

INRMP-Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan 

IPM-Integrated Pest Management 

IPMP-Integrated Pest Management Plan 

ITAM-Integrated Training Area Management 

JPO-Joint Programs Office 

KM-Kilometer 

RTLA-Range and Training Land Assessments 

LRAM-Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance 

LZ-Landing Zone 

MAANG-Massachusetts Air National Guard 

MAARNG-Massachusetts Army National Guard 

MACOM-Major Army Command 

MASSDEP -Department of Environmental Protection 

MANG-Massachusetts National Guard 

MCA-Master Cooperative Agreement 

MEPA-Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act 

MESA-Massachusetts Endangered Species Act 

METL-Mission Essential Task List 

MMR-Massachusetts Military Reservation 

MOA-Memorandum of Agreement 

MOU-Memorandum of Understanding 

MS-Microsoft 

MWPA-Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act 

NAGPRA-Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 

NEPA-National Environmental Policy Act 

NGB-National Guard Bureau 

NHPA-National Historic Preservation Act 

NPS-National Park Service 

OP-Observation Point 

Otis ANGB-Otis Air National Guard Base 

PAB4-Palustrine Aquatic Bed 

PACERS-Patriots Advocating Camp Edwards Restoration and Survival 

PAVE-PAWS-Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry – Phased Array Warning System 

PEM-Palustrine Emergent 

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LIST OF ACRONYMS cont. 

PFO1-Palustrine Forested 

PLS-Planning Level Survey 

POTO-Plans, Operations, and Training Officer 

POW-Palustrine Open Water 

PSS-Palustrine Scrub Shrub 

REC-Record of Environmental Consideration 

RFMSS-Range Facility Management Support System 

RTI-Regional Training Institute 

RTLP-Range and Training Land Program 

RUSLE-Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 

SC-Special Concern 

SDWA-Safe Drinking Water Act 

SDZ-Surface Danger Zones 

SFM-Standard Fuel Model 

SHPO-State Historic Preservation Officer 

SMZ-Smoke Management Zone 

SOP-Standard Operating Procedures 

STEP-Staus Tool for Environmental Programs 

STRONG-Save The Reserve and Our National Guard 

THPO-Tribal Historic Preservation Officer 

TNC-The Nature Conservancy 

TRI-Training Requirements Integration 

T-Threatened 

UMASS-University of Massachusetts 

USCG-United States Coast Guard 

USDA-United States Department of Agriculture 

USFWS-United States Fish and Wildlife Service 

UTES-Unit Training Equipment Site 

UXO-Unexploded Ordinance 

VA-Veteran’s Affairs 

WL-Unofficial Watch List 

WUI-Wildland Urban Interface 

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Camp Edwards is a 14,433-acre Massachusetts Army National Guard 

(MAARNG) training site located in southeastern Massachusetts approximately 50 miles 

southeast of Boston, at the base of Cape Cod (i.e., Barnstable County). The land use of 

Camp Edwards consists of military training activities, including assembly, tactical 

maneuvering, tactical bivouacking, small arms range firing, engineering, ammunition 

storage, support, maintenance, and aviation facilities, environmental management, as 

well as being designated the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve, a drinking water 

recharge area. Consistent with the use of military installations to ensure the 

preparedness of the Armed Forces, the land and resources of Camp Edwards must be 

properly managed to minimize negative impacts from use, to preserve sensitive 

habitats and rare species, and to promote the sustainment of native natural 

communities. 

Development and implementation of an Integrated Natural Resources 

Management Plan (INRMP) for Camp Edwards are required by the Sikes Act (16 USC § 

670a et seq.) and the Sikes Act Improvement Amendments of 1997. The purpose of this 

plan is to guide natural resources management at Camp Edwards from Fiscal Year (FY) 

2008 through 2013, and also review the previous five years for proper implementation. 

Chapter 11, Plan Implementation, includes a table listing goals and objectives with 

space for comments as to current level of implementation. The INRMP is renewed 

every five years, but may be amended as needed. This document represents a revision 

of the 2001 INRMP. Issues from the revised INRMP that drive NEPA documentation 

are as follows: 

1. Environmental Oversight by the Environmental Management 

Commission as established by the Massachusetts General Law Chapter 47 

the Acts of 2002. 

2. Reclassification of the Natural Communities of Camp Edwards to be 

consistent with sister state agencies. 

3. Adjusted goals, objectives, and management actions based upon 

reclassification of natural communities. 

4. Expanded fire management goals, objectives, and proposed actions as 

exerted from the Camp Edwards Integrated Fire Management Plan. 

5. The need to recognize a Federal Candidate Species, New England 

Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and put forth proactive management 

actions to address this species. 

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In addition, The INRMP serves, in part, as a document by which the 

Environmental Performance Standards, as codified in Massachusetts General Law. 

Chapter 47, Acts of 2002, are achieved and implemented on Camp Edwards. 

The goal of the Camp Edwards Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 

(INRMP) is to support the training mission of the MAARNG through conservation and 

maintenance of the natural resources of Camp Edwards. Guidance from the INRMP 

aids in improving the training lands while benefiting the natural resources through 

reduced soil erosion, improvement to the flora, fauna, and their habitats, protection of 

wetlands, and conservation of rare species. Further objectives of the Camp Edwards 

INRMP are: 

1. To outline the military mission and its effects on the natural resources of Camp 

Edwards. 

2. To establish specific goals, objectives, and time frames for the management 

and protection of natural and cultural resources on Camp Edwards to 

maintain biological diversity and sustainability of the training site for mission 

use. 

3. To suggest methods for increasing awareness of the Massachusetts Army 

National Guard and the general public on matters of natural resources 

protection and conservation and its integration with military training. 

4. To provide specific management instructions so that the Environmental 

Performance Standards from the Massachusetts National Guard’s Master 

Plan/Area-Wide Environmental Impact Report may be achieved on Camp 

Edwards with no net loss to the training mission. 

5. To describe the physical characteristics of the Camp Edwards Training Site. 

6. To describe the results and findings of the Range and Training Land 

Assessment Program and other natural resources inventories and studies on 

Camp Edwards. These results will serve as a baseline of information upon 

which management recommendations will be based. 

7. To describe in detail the organization, personnel, funding, and support 

required for the implementation of the INRMP on the Camp Edwards 

Training Site. 

8. To provide an avenue for public involvement in the implementation process of 

the INRMP as well as in the recommendations for use of the training site for 

recreational purposes. 

xxii


9. Use experiences as lessons learned, positive and negative, for other military 

installations. 

Benefits of the INRMP to the military mission include improved lands allowing 

for more realistic training, better distribution of military activities, and reduced conflicts 

between training requirements and environmental management resulting in minimized 

disruption to training exercises on Camp Edwards. The Camp Edwards INRMP 

supports the mission of the MAARNG by ensuring that the environmental conditions of 

the training lands continue to provide a variety of terrain that is necessary for realistic 

military training (missionscape) as well as providing natural resources data and 

information to benefit mission planning. 

The Camp Edwards INRMP benefits the Massachusetts National Guard’s Final 

Environmental Impact Report (2001). The INRMP integrates current environmental 

management practices incorporated in the Camp Edwards Regulations 385-63 (Range 

Safety) and the MAARNG’s Natural Resources and Integrated Training Area 

Management (ITAM) Programs. 

Benefits of the Camp Edwards INRMP to the environment include reduced soil 

erosion and vegetation loss, improvement to sensitive species habitats and subsequent 

enhancement of their populations, improvement of water-quality, and an increase in 

overall knowledge of the operation of the ecosystem of Camp Edwards through 

surveys, research, and monitoring. In addition, the natural resources management 

program described in this plan will protect natural communities and their components 

from unnecessary damage or degradation, and provide for restoration if needed, 

thereby protecting the Camp Edwards training mission. 

xxiii


1.1 Location 

SECTION I. TRAINING SITE OVERVIEW 

CHAPTER 1. LOCATION AND ACREAGE 

The Camp Edwards Training Site (41° 42’ 30” N, 70° 32’ 30”W) is located in 

southeastern Massachusetts approximately 50 miles southeast of Boston, at the base of 

Cape Cod (i.e., Barnstable County) (Figure 1-1). Camp Edwards lies within the towns of 

Sandwich and Bourne. U.S. Route 6 and State Routes 28 and 130 border Camp Edwards 

to the north, west, and east, respectively. Camp Edwards comprises approximately 70% 

of the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) of which the southern portion is 

occupied by the Veteran’s Administration Cemetery, and land leased to the United 

States Coast Guard and to the United States Air Force. 

Figure 1-1. Location of the MMR in Massachusetts 

March 2006, MAARNG GIS, MassGIS, Michael Ciaranca, Natural Resource Manager 

1


1.2 Acreage and Acquisition 

The Camp Edwards Training Site is 14,433 acres in size (Mass. Army National 

Guard 1999). This excludes areas within the northern portion of the Massachusetts 

Military Reservation (MMR) that are leased to either the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Coast 

Guard, including but not limited to the Cape Cod Air Force Station early warning radar 

site (PAVE PAWS) and the U.S. Coast Guard Communication Station (COMSTA) 

Boston (Figure 1-2). 

While training and live firing by the Massachusetts Army National Guard 

occurred on Camp Sandwich, a site thought to have been somewhere in the northern 

portion of the MMR, as early as 1908, Camp Edwards was not established until 1933. 

The MMR was created in 1935 primarily from 12,600 acres of land acquired from the 

purchase of the Coonamesset Sheep Ranch. At the onset of World War II in 1941, 6,457 

acres of Shawme-Crowell State Forest was added to the MMR. Eight years later, an 

additional 1,090 acres was added for military use. After World War II, the entirety of 

the MMR, then known as Otis Air Force Base, was transferred to the Massachusetts Air 

National Guard (MAANG) in the early 1970’s. In 1976, The U.S. Air Force granted a 

permit to the U.S. Army for training Army Reserves on the northern portion of Otis 

AFB, which was the area presently known as Camp Edwards (Massachusetts National 

Guard 2001). 

The land that currently comprises Camp Edwards is owned by the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is custody of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries 

and Wildlife, which has leased the property to the Department of the Army. In turn, 

the U.S. Army licensed the land to the Massachusetts Army National Guard for 

training. The current lease held by the U.S. Army expires in the year 2051. 

2


Figure 1-2. Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) and Camp Edwards. 


3


1.3 Installation History 

The historic use of Camp Sandwich in 1908 and in 1913 arose from the need for 

an area at which the MAARNG could conduct live fire artillery training. Prior to this 

time period, the MAARNG was concentrated primarily in New Bedford and Fall River. 

Between 1920 and 1923, Fort Devens was used for much of the infantry training for the 

MAARNG. In 1933 the MAARNG sought another area of the state in which to conduct 

its training. The present site of Camp Edwards was chosen as the most suitable location 

for the new training site (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

After its establishment in 1935, Camp Edwards was used intensively for training 

throughout World War II. Initial construction on Camp Edwards occurred between the 

years of 1935 and 1940 and consisted of 63 buildings and two runways. However, by 

1941, the threat of war stimulated the construction of facilities to house 30,000 troops as 

well as a 1,722-bed hospital. Throughout the course of World War II, numerous Army 

Infantry Divisions and other major units trained on Camp Edwards prior to fighting in 

Europe and the Pacific (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

After World War II, the U.S. Army deactivated Camp Edwards, which was then 

used for training the Army National Guard. However, at the start of the Korean War in 

1950, Camp Edwards was reactivated to train U.S. Army troops. Otis Air Force Base, 

comprising Otis Field (the existing runways) and Camp Edwards, was established in 

1958 through a transfer of land from the U.S. Army to the U.S. Air Force. In 1976 the 

U.S. Air Force granted a permit to the U.S. Army to use 14,433 acres, which was then 

licensed to the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1979 for year-round training. 

Throughout the course of training on Camp Edwards by the U.S. Army and the 

Massachusetts Army National Guard, ranges have been used for firing various 

weapons including pistols, rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, long-range artillery, 

mortars, and anti-aircraft weapons. However, in May of 1997, the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA), citing potential groundwater contamination from actual or 

potential releases emanating from the Training Ranges and Impact Area, delivered 

Administrative Order 1 to the MAARNG. As a result, range firing on Camp Edwards 

has been limited to small arms firing of tungsten nylon “green” ammunition and plastic 

ammunition. However, tungsten nylon too has been abandoned due to leaching 

concerns. As a result, only plastic bullets are fired at the ranges. The cessation of actual 

artillery firing out of concerns for soil and groundwater contamination on Camp 

Edwards resulted in a loss of training. Soldiers currently travel to Fort Drum, New 

York, or Fort Dix, New Jersey, to conduct live artillery fire. 

Historically, few people populated the area around the perimeter of Camp 

Edwards. However, between 1920 and 1990 the population of Cape Cod (i.e., 

Barnstable County) had the fastest growth rate of any county in Massachusetts, 

4


resulting in a high demand for an adequate water supply (Massachusetts National 

Guard 2001). As a result of depletion and pollution of groundwater within residential 

areas, the surrounding Upper Cape towns of Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne, and 

Mashpee required water supplies from Camp Edwards to meet their current and future 

demands. 

In October of 1999, the Governor of Massachusetts, Argeo Paul Cellucci, drafted 

an executive order to establish an Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve and Commission 

to oversee the management of Camp Edwards Training Area as a water supply and for 

wildlife habitat. On October 2001, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed 

establishing a management and oversight structure for the Reserve. In March of 2002, 

Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2002 codified into law the MOA and a set of Environmental 

Performance Standards ensuring the permanent protection of the drinking water 

supply and wildlife habitats in the Reserve, while allowing compatible military 

training. This legislation also created the Environmental Management Commission 

(EMC) to independently verify the compatibility of training with environmental 

protection. 

1.4 Neighbors 

Although the upper portion of Cape Cod was sparsely populated in the 1930’s 

when Camp Edwards was first established, the residential population has exhibited one 

of the fastest rates of growth in the United States. Approximately 70% of the perimeter 

of Camp Edwards is surrounded by residential development. In these areas, residential 

development is within one half mile of the boundary of Camp Edwards and often 

directly adjacent to the fences. 

The cantonment area in the southern portion of Camp Edwards adjoins the 

remainder of the MMR, which includes Otis Air National Guard Base, the Veteran’s 

Administration Cemetery, Coast Guard Housing, and the Coast Guard Golf Course. 

The Coast Guard transmitter station is adjacent to Camp Edwards at its eastern border. 

The U.S. Air Force PAVE PAWS Radar station is located within the northern portion of 

Camp Edwards. 

The only parts of Camp Edwards that are not directly bordered by development 

are at the northern and southern ends of the perimeter. The far northern end of Camp 

Edwards is adjacent to the Cape Cod Canal. Although no development currently exists 

in this area, the land is highly sought after for residential homes. The northeastern 

corner of Camp Edwards abuts Shawmee-Crowell State Forest. Although the state 

forest is only 742 acres in size, it is the most highly used state forest in southeastern 

Massachusetts (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). Furthermore, Shawmee-Crowell 

State Forest is so fragmented that within the forest, residential development is always 

less than one half mile from and often in contact with the boundary of Camp Edwards. 

5


Crane Wildlife Management Area, which is managed by the Massachusetts DFW, is the 

only other relatively large public land in close proximity to Camp Edwards. It is 

located south of Otis Air National Guard Base and the Coast Guard Golf Course. 

Partnerships have been developed between Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office 

and the DFW on Crane WMA and the DCR on Shawme-Crowell State Forest. 

1.5 Satellite Installations 

The Camp Edwards Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan will 

directly affect no other installations occupied by the Massachusetts Army National 

Guard. 

2.1 Overview 

2.1.1 Military Mission 

CHAPTER 2. MILITARY MISSION 

The MAARNG on Camp Edwards serves the public interest in two primary 

areas. The federal mission of the MAARNG is to support the national military strategy 

of U.S. Army. As a result, the MAARNG must maintain a capable force of soldiers that 

have received high-quality realistic training. Achieving training objectives and overall 

force readiness depends, in part, upon the availability of adequate training lands. 

The state mission of the MAARNG is to provide assistance to the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the direction of the Governor, during natural 

disasters or other emergencies under the ARNG’s Innovative Readiness Training 

program. Furthermore, the MAARNG assists local communities with improvements to 

public properties such as athletic fields, landscaping, and playgrounds (Massachusetts 

National Guard 2001). 

Headquarters at Camp Edwards “is committed to excellence in all aspects of 

environmental protection and management of the training site.” The vision of 

Headquarters is “to constantly improve upon training practices that protect the future 

of our ecosystem” (Massachusetts Army National Guard 1999). 

2.1.2 Types of Training 

Army National Guard troops are trained on Camp Edwards in three basic 

categories: weapons systems, maneuvering, and support. As a result of Administrative 

Order 2 (AO 2) issued in May of 1997, weapons systems training is currently limited to 

small arms training and to simulators. The small arms training consists of firing pistols, 

rifles, and machine guns on 15 designated ranges throughout Camp Edwards. 

6


Furthermore, the EPA mandated that any lead-based ammunition may not be fired on 

Camp Edwards. More recently, the firing of tungsten-nylon “green” ammunition was 

instituted on Camp Edwards at the early stages of its use by the Department of Defense. 

This ammunition too has been abandoned due to leaching concerns. As a result, only 

plastic bullets are fired at the ranges. Training simulators on Camp Edwards consist of 

the Fire Support Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, the Engagement Skills Trainer, and 

the Fire Arms Training System (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

Maneuvering consists primarily of troop movement on foot through training 

areas. Vehicle maneuvering is limited to all existing roads, road shoulders, and power 

line right of ways on Camp Edwards. Training typically consists of either light or 

mechanized infantry training. Light Infantry Maneuver involves troops practicing 

patrolling, reacting to ambush, defense, movement to contact, and actions at the 

objective on foot throughout the training areas (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

Mechanized Infantry Maneuver may include troops mounted on armored personnel 

carriers (APCs) traveling along roads, road shoulders, and power line right of ways, or 

dismounted from the APCs to conduct light infantry maneuvers. Other maneuver and 

support unit training activities on Camp Edwards may include bivouac operations 

training, infantry battle course, land navigation training, individual chemical 

confidence training, engineering training, military police training, helicopter landing 

zones, and water storage and distribution training. For a more comprehensive list of 

training exercises and explanations, see Massachusetts Army National Guard (1999). 

A notice of project change, in regards to Final Environmental Impact Report 

(FEIR) (2001), has been filed with Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental 

Affairs MEPA office to resume the firing of lead ammunition on Camp Edwards. With 

this, the EMC will have to concur with changes to the Environmental Performance 

Standards and the EPA will be petionted to “lift” AO 2. 

2.1.3 Soldier Usage Data 

The Massachusetts Army National Guard is currently authorized by the National 

Guard Bureau (NGB) and the Department of the Army to maintain an end strength of 

9,000 soldiers. The actual number of soldiers fluctuates, but is at present approximately 

5,552 troops. 

Soldier training on Camp Edwards takes place during two-week increments 

concentrated between May and August and weekend inactive duty training (IDT) 

occurring throughout the year. Throughout summer months, approximately 2,500 to 

3,000 soldiers train on Camp Edwards. At most 3,000 troops will train on Camp 

Edwards at one time (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). In the summer of 1999, 

3,011 National Guard soldiers trained on Camp Edwards, of which 2,111 were from 

Massachusetts. A total of 3,153 soldiers trained on Camp Edwards between May and 

7


August of 2000. The total number of personnel that used Camp Edwards throughout 

the year averaged 44,588 from 1994-1999, 29,946 of whom were MAARNG troops. 

Other military and law enforcement personnel and general civilians that used Camp 

Edwards during the same time period averaged 5,258, 1,620, and 7,763, respectively. 

After 11 September 2001, general civilian use including Boy Scouts, BMX racing, 

athletics, motorcycle training, and commercial drivers license training, are limited. 

2.1.4 Types of Equipment Which Might Impact Natural Resources 

Heavy mechanized equipment, such as tracked or wheeled vehicles, that is used 

and stored by the MAARNG on Camp Edwards has the potential to impact the natural 

resources in a negative manner. Wheeled vehicles, such as pickup trucks, Humvees, 

dump trucks, tractors, and dozers, are usually used on Camp Edwards on a daily basis. 

Tracked vehicles, which include armored personnel carriers, recovery vehicles, and selfpropelled 

Howitzers, are utilized during weekend training and two-week annual 

training in the summer. However, all vehicle traffic is currently restricted to the 

established roads, road shoulders, and power line right of ways and does not present an 

evident threat to the natural resources on Camp Edwards. The only instance in which 

vehicles are used in areas other than established roads might include land rehabilitation 

projects. 

Equipment used on Camp Edwards that has a noticeable negative impact on the 

natural resources are associated with well drilling, required by EPA under 

Administrative Order 1, and power line maintenance. The well-drilling rigs used in the 

Impact Area Ground Water Study typically require an area of area of 4000 ft 2 (.09 ac) 

clear of vegetation for drilling each well. Although preparation of monitoring well 

pads and access roads once involved removal of all vegetation and topsoil, and a 

concomitant decrease in soil stability and increase in soil erosion, negotiations between 

the IAGSWP and Natural/Cultural Resource Program Managers in 2002 led to the 

adoption of new policies. Current methods for preparation of well pads and access 

roads include flush-cutting of vegetation within the well pad and access road areas and 

limbing of overhanging branches. A layer of native woodchips is placed over the 

ground surface to provide a level surface for vehicle traffic; this layer protects the 

ground surface from disturbance during well construction activity and, unlike 

geotextile fabric, allows for gradual re-establishment of vegetation. In instances where 

wet conditions and/or steep slopes require the emplacement of fill or dense grade, 

geotextile fabric is placed over the layer of woodchips, and the fill or dense grade is 

placed on the fabric. Once the well has been constructed, the fabric and fill are removed. 

The woodchips remain in place to provide a surface for well monitoring. 

2.1.5 Range Use Days 

8


Table 2-1 provides a summary of the range use days for Camp Edwards 2002 

2005. Ranges in which remediation is taking place (e.g., J-3, L, M Ranges) were not used 

for range firing. The ranges are divided into groups that exist on the north, south, east, 

and west of the Impact Area. 

Range Training 

Days 

Table 2-1. Range use days for Camp Edwards, 2002-2005. 

Personnel Ammunition Type 

Military Civilian 5.56 TN 5.56 

Plastic 

9 

.50 cal 

Plastic 

.45 cal 

F 

.40 cal 

F 

9mm 

F 

12 

Gauge 

B 18 375 0 42,496 0 0 0 0 2,290 0 0 

C 11 438 14 28,599 0 0 0 0 1,310 0 0 

D 1 12 0 11,80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

E 3 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 720 0 0 

J 4 143 142 11,672 0 0 0 0 1,232 0 0 

K 6 220 200 22,204 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

KD 4 296 0 8,280 0 0 0 0 0 0 475 

SW 3 49 0 9,280 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OFG 2 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 750 0 

TY 

2005 

52 1,545 372 124,331 0 0 0 0 5,552 750 475 

TY 

2004 

TY 

2003 

TY 

2002 

98 3,068 840 204,293 11,242 8,400 2,700 6,900 22,320 6,875 240 

93 3,575 640 286,920 100 1,200 3,900 2,900 10,750 1,250 0 

80 3,111 1,232 223,241 30,662 11,097 3,880 3,000 6,000 5,275 0 

KD: Known Distance, OFG: Otis Fish and Game Club, SE: Sierra East, SW: Sierra West, TN: Tungsten Nylon, TP: 

Target Practice, F: Frangible 

2.1.6 Ammunition Storage and Production 

All ammunition that is fired on Camp Edwards by National Guard soldiers is 

stored and issued at the Ammunition Supply Point in the southwestern area of Camp 

Edwards. All ammunition that is not fired during training as well as the spent cartridge 

shells are returned to the Ammunition Supply Point at the end of the training period. 

Ammunition is not currently produced on Camp Edwards. 

40 

mm 

TP


2.2 Natural Resources Needed to Support the Military Mission 

Natural resources required to fulfill the training needs of the MAARNG and to 

support the military mission is referred to as the missionscape and includes all existing 

habitats on Camp Edwards. The diversity of habitats on Camp Edwards offer the 

vegetation types, density, and structure required for light infantry maneuvers and 

common task training, including map reading, terrain orientation, camouflage training, 

and ambush and defense training. Bivouac operations training requires bivouac sites 

with closed canopy and a relatively sparse under story for aerial and horizontal 

concealment. These areas are used for establishing command and control areas during 

training maneuvers as well as for tactical assembly areas. Open areas with little 

vegetation are used for engineering training, administrative assembly areas (3500 and 

3600 areas in B10), and for establishing and maintaining helicopter landing zones. See 

the Camp Edwards Trainer’s Guide for more information regarding training specific 

natural resource conditions. 

2.3 Effects of the Military Mission on Natural Resources 

All activities that are part of the military mission have the potential for impacting 

the natural resources of the Camp Edwards Training Site. However, all training 

practices are restricted to areas and schedules established in the Environmental 

Performance Standards and approved by the Natural Resource Office at Camp 

Edwards. Any training activities that are potentially destructive to natural resources 

are currently prohibited on Camp Edwards. These activities include firing lead 

ammunition, anti-tank missile fire, artillery or mortar fire, deforestation, burning gun 

powder, demolition, creation and use of open latrines, vehicle refueling in the field, as 

well as any training activity, with the exception of foot travel, within the following 

areas (Massachusetts National Guard 2001): 

• 400 feet from a water supply well 

• 100 foot wetland buffer 

• grassland habitat 

• cultural resource locations with high sensitivity 

• the Impact Area 

• any IRP remediation site 

• any area not approved by Range Control and the Natural Resource Office 

These restrictions effectively exclude approximately 2704 acres of land from most 

training activities. Most of this land, 2161 acres, consists of the Impact Area, which is 

currently restricted to all training activities due to the presence of unexploded 

ordinance. The impact area does have the potential to be used as training land (convoy 

training, vehicle maneuvers, etc.) if it is deemed appropriate by training and 

environmental staff. With no live fire training within the impact area there is the 

10


absecnece of wildland fire form this fire adapted natural community (Scrub Oak 

Shrubland Community). Efforts are being made to introduce prescribed fire into the 

impact area to avoid the loss of this fire adapted natural community type. To achieve 

this end coordination among environmental agencies and the MAARNG in reference to 

range investigations and cleanup will have to be held to provide for safety and not to 

interfere with these efforts. Funding and other appropriate resources will have to be 

secured to provide for resources needed to under take prescribed fire activities within 

the Camp Edwards impact area. The remaining 543 acres consists of wetland buffers 

(395 acres), cantonment area grasslands (113 acres), and water supply well buffers (135 

acres), in which only foot travel is allowed for at least part of the year. 

Bivouacking by soldiers during their annual training also has potential to 

negatively affect the natural resources of Camp Edwards. Bivouacking and heavy 

activity in disturbed areas often impact the natural resources in a negative manner, 

resulting in soil compaction, lower plant and mammal diversity. Results from 

analyzing the long-term environmental monitoring (i.e. Range and Training Lands 

Assessment- RTLA) data collected from 1994 through 1999 indicates that, in general, 

bivouacs and disturbed areas have the lowest plant diversity and animal diversity and 

abundance when compared to other habitats on Camp Edwards. However, a rotational 

schedule for bivouac site use to minimize the impacts of training and to restore bivouac 

sites to suitable environmental conditions is being developed. The objective of this is to 

prevent any net loss of capability to fulfill the training mission, namely bivouac areas, 

as a result of overuse. 

Vehicle traffic within the bivouac areas and throughout the training area has the 

potential to cause mortality of flora and fauna. Animals such as deer, raccoons, 

squirrels, and toads have been documented as cases of vehicle mortality. Only two 

eastern box turtle road kills were documented between 1994 and 2006. The relatively 

frequent sightings and few road kills of eastern box turtles on the roads of Camp 

Edwards suggests that soldiers and other personnel are aware of eastern box turtles, 

and their status as a state-listed rare species, and avoid them. 

Within the Camp Edwards Training Site, roads, road shoulders, and power line 

right of ways (areas between the wood lines of utility easements) are considered 

maneuver corridors by military training staff. Use of manuever corridors is not 

permitted without an approved nonstandard training request, filed through Range 

Control, the Natural Resource Office, and notification to the Environmental and 

Readiness Center on Camp Edwards. All manuever corridors used will be monitored 

for restoration (i.e. erosion, invasive plant species) if so needed. 

See the Camp Edwards Trainer’s Guide for additional information regarding the 

effects of the military mission on the natural resources. 

11


2.4 Impacts of Natural Resources Management on the Mission 

As a result of four Administrative Orders (AO) set in place by the United States 

Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act, all actual 

artillery and mortar fire have been banned on Camp Edwards. This was done to protect 

groundwater resources. However, it is not foreseen that the natural resources of Camp 

Edwards or their management should have any future impact on the military mission. 

An important part of the military’s vision on Camp Edwards is to be committed to 

excellence in all aspects of environmental protection and management of the Camp 

Edwards Training Site. Furthermore, the MAARNG seeks to constantly improve upon 

training practices that protect the future of the ecosystem and training lands of Camp 


However, certain areas of the training site, such as bivouacs, may be closed for 

rehabilitation and maintenance. Such closures would temporarily restrict training from 

these areas, but would ultimately serve to improve the training lands as a whole. 

2.5 Future Military Mission Impacts on Natural Resources 

In the past, artillery fire often caused brush fires in the Impact Area of Camp 

Edwards. This disturbance maintained the rare scrub oak shrubland community of the 

Impact Area. Since artillery fire no longer occurs, the prescribed burn program on 

Camp Edwards will manage this sensitive natural community. Each section of the 

Impact Area is burned on a rotational basis to maintain the Impact Area as scrub oak 

shrubland and pitch pine scrub oak community. Burn prescriptions have also been 

developed for training areas outside of the Impact Area on Camp Edwards. These areas 

will be burned in the future pending permitting and funding approval. 

12


3.1 Overview 

CHAPTER 3. FACILITIES 

The MMR is usually divided along Connery Avenue into two distinct areas: the 

training area to the north and the cantonment area to the south. Camp Edwards 

occupies approximately 90% of the northern training area, which translates to 14,433 of 

the 14,575 acres. Approximately one-half (55%) of the northern training area of Camp 

Edwards consists of 22 maneuver training areas, with another 40% of the area occupied 

by small arms ranges, the impact area and its buffers (Figure 3-2). The remainder of the 

northern training area includes two former demolition areas, the Otis Fish and Game 

Club, the Upper Cape Regional Water Cooperative, and an infiltration bed for 

wastewater each of which comprise 1% or less of Camp Edwards, as well as two utilty 

easements: an electrical powerline (NStar), and a natural gas pipeline (Keyspan and 

Algonquin). The remaining 10% of the land in the northern training area of the MMR is 

occupied by US Coast Guard Transmitter Site and surrounding areas, US Air Force 

PAVE-PAWS Radar Site, US Air Force Right-of-Way (Connery Avenue) and the former 

landfill, which has been closed and capped, as well as other Off-limit Areas (Figure 3-1) 

(Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

In contrast to the northern training area, Camp Edwards occupies only 12%, or 

697 of the 5,905 acres, of the cantonment area within the MMR. The Camp Edwards 

facilities within the cantonment area include the ARNG Maintenance Facility/UTES, 

ARNG Training Support Facilities, ARNG Aviation (helicopter) Facilities, Regional 

Training Institute (RTI), Bachelor Officer’s Quarters (BOQ), Billeting (i.e., housing 

assignment office), and grassland management areas. The other 88% of the cantonment 

area is occupied by the ANG Airfield and its clear zones and associated facilities, ANG 

Combat Communications Squadron and Support Facilities, ANG Infrastructure Area, 

US Coast Guard Housing and Recreation Areas, Veteran’s Affairs National Cemetery, 

Bourne School System, a portion of the Crane Wildlife Management Area, and the 

remainder of the grassland management area (Massachusetts National Guard 2001). 

13


Figure 3-1. Tenants of the Massachusetts Military Reservation. 


14


Figure 3-2. Training area delineation on Camp Edwards, MA. 


15


3.2 Land Use 

The land use of Camp Edwards consists of certain training activities, including 

assembly, tactical maneuvering, tactical bivouacking, small arms range firing, 

engineering, ammunition storage, support, maintenance, and aviation facilities, and 

environmental management (Figure 3-2). Troop assembly occurs primarily in the 3600 

Area or at the UTES Facility, but may occur in other areas. Tactical maneuvering, either 

on foot throughout the training area or in vehicles along roads, occurs as soldiers travel 

from the assembly area to their area of operation, which is one or more training areas. 

From the area of operation, soldiers engage in training missions specific to their mission 

requirements (e.g., engineering, infantry, medevac) throughout the training area. Small 

arms range firing and ammunition storage at the Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) also 

occur on the northern training area. The support, maintenance, and aviation facilities 

exist in a centralized region within the cantonment area. 

Environmental management is not limited to a specific area, but rather occurs 

throughout Camp Edwards. For instance, maintenance of the scrub oak shrubland 

occurs in the northern training area, whereas grassland management takes place 

primarily within the cantonment area. See Chapter 8 for details on environmental 

management on Camp Edwards. 

Natural Resource management activities should be reviewed to determine if they 

comply with Cultural Resources requirements. The compliance requirements of NEPA, 

NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act), ARPA (Archaeological Resource Protection 

Act of 1979), NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), 

AIRFA (American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978), EO (Executive Order) 13007 

and 13175, and DoDI 4710.02 should be considered when undertaking any 

environmental management activity. For example, the following may trigger Section 

106 consultation under the NHPA: (i) all ground disturbing activities associated with 

forest management (harvesting, plowing and planting for regeneration); (ii) habitat 

management (physical soil preparation for food plots, over plantings, pond and 

wetland construction, cantonment area management (historically appropriate 

landscaping may be an issue if the cantonment area is a historic district), soil surveys 

and land rehabilitation); (iii) maintenance (terrain modification for erosion control and 

restoration); and (iv) agricultural out leasing (plowing). See Chapter 8.11 for details on 

Cultural Resources Management. 

3.3 Transportation System 

Camp Edwards has an extensive transportation system including 120 miles of 

roads (Table 3-1), a railroad access point, and an ARNG Aviation facility with 

associated access points throughout the training area (Figure 3-3). Figure 3-3 also 

displays the conditions of the roads on Camp Edwards and accompanying Table 3-1 

16


lists the total mileage and percent of the total roads for each road type. Paved roads are 

asphalt roads. Improved roads are those with an enhanced surface such as blue-stone, 

crushed concrete, gravel etc. All unimproved roads are single vehicle-width primitive 

dirt roads. 

Table 3-1. Road system of Camp Edwards. 

Road Condition Miles % Total 

Paved 26.3 21.7 

Improved 23.1 2.5 

Unimproved 70.4 54.6 

Total 119.8 

17


Figure 3-3. Transportation System on Camp Edwards, MA. 


18


3.3.1 Cantonment Area Roads 

Nearly all of the roads in the cantonment area of Camp Edwards are paved, with 

the exception of some older segments that have deteriorated. The paved roads are twolane 

roads, with the exception of Connery Avenue, which is a four-lane road, 

constructed of bituminous concrete and lacking curbs. A storm water drainage system 

is lacking on most of the roads in the cantonment area, resulting in runoff draining into 

the shoulders of the roads. 

3.3.2 Northern Training Area Roads 

In contrast to the roads in the cantonment area, a relatively small percentage of 

roads in the northern training area of Camp Edwards are paved. The majority of the 

roads in the northern training area are unimproved single-vehicle trails that are utilized 

by wheeled vehicles for training and remediation purposes. A track vehicle trail exists 

on the western and northern portions of the training area and is used primarily by 

APCs, which may also utilize other unimproved (i.e., dirt) roads in the northern 

training area. 

3.3.3 Railroad Access Point 

A rail spur diverges from the Bourne-Falmouth railroad line and ends in the 

cantonment area of Camp Edwards. This rail line has historically served to transport 

large tracked vehicles (e.g., tanks and APCs) and other equipment that is typically too 

large for transporting on existing public roads. 

3.3.4 ARNG Aviation Facility 

The ARNG Aviation Facility exists adjacent to and utilizes the airfield on Otis 

ANGB that is also used by the USCG Air Station Cape Cod. The ARNG Aviation 

Facility primarily supports UH60 (Blackhawk) helicopters and a C26 fixed-wing 

airplane. Approximately 29 helicopter landing zones (LZs) are located throughout 

Camp Edwards to serve as locations to which soldiers may be transported by 

helicopter. These LZs are typically a 120’x111’ area of cleared and smoothed land, with 

the actual landing pad measuring 23’x40’. However, many of the LZs are not used on a 

regular basis and are in need of maintenance. The restoration of LZs on Camp Edwards 

will be implemented as a Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance (LRAM) project (see 

Chapter 7.4). 

3.4 Water Supply 

There are two public water systems on the MMR located on land within the 

property licenses of the Massachusetts National Guard. The Upper Cape Regional 

19


Water Supply Cooperative provides drinking water to the four surrounding 

communities, the Barnstable County Correctional Facility, and the MMR. The 102 nd 

Fighter Wing water supply system provides water to base residents and to employees 

working in the general Cantonment Area. 

The Cooperative has three wells in the northern area of the Camp Edwards Training 

Area. The locations of these wells are provided in Figure 6-5. The Cooperative serves as 

a water wholesaler, providing water to existing public water supply systems. It does 

not provide water directly to individual (service connection) customers. The Water 

Management Act Permit for the system was issued on December 26, 2002 and runs 

through November 30, 2010. The Cooperative’s system is authorized to withdraw a 

daily average of 3.0 million gallons per day, for a total annual withdrawal of 1,095 

million gallons per year. 

The 102 nd Fighter Wing draws water from J-Well, which is located in the 

Cantonment Area along Herbert Road on the north side of the Otis airfield. The Water 

Management Act Registration for this system was reissued by MassDEP in May 1999 

and runs through May 2009. The system is authorized to withdraw an average volume 

of 540,000 gallons per day and a total annual volume of 197,100,000 gallons. 

There are two additional water wells under Massachusetts National Guard controll. 

These are located at Range Control in Training Area B-7 and at the ASP in Training 

Area A-4. The location of these facilities is provided in Figure 6-5. These wells, which 

are not metered and serve less than five full-time personnel each, do not serve enough 

people to be classified as public water supply system wells under the provisions of 

Massachusetts state regulation 310 CMR 22.00. 

The Otis Fish and Game Club, located just north of Connery Avenue near the Otis 

Rotary, receive its water from the Bourne Water District. 

3.5 Projected Changes in Facilities 

Proposed changes in facilities on Camp Edwards within the cantonment area 

include a new Unit Training Equipment Site (UTES) and an upgraded Regional 

Training Institute by 2011. Within the training area of Camp Edwards a live fire 

convoy course, a forward operating base, and an upgrade to the Infantry Battle Course, 

upgrades to A, E, SE, SW, and T Ranges are proposed. As a result of the upgrade to the 

RTI, a 40 acre engineering dig site is planned. 

A new Barnstable County Jail was constructed in 2004 in training area A-1. The 

construction and operation of the facility is not the responsibility of the MAARNG. The 

construction of the jail results in increased traffic on Connery Avenue which will not 

likely affect training, since convoys are required to Camp Edwards via the convoy gate 

20


on the northeastern corner of the installation. Other environmental impacts include 

habitat destruction, increased noise, light pollution, runoff, and facilities construction 

(e.g., power lines, sewers, water supply). 

21


4.1 Goals 

SECTION II. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

CHAPTER 4. GOALS AND POLICIES 

The goals of the Camp Edwards Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 

(INRMP) are to maintain the natural resources of Camp Edwards consistent with the 

use of Camp Edwards to ensure the preparedness of the MAARNG. Guidance from the 

INRMP will aid in improving the training lands while benefiting natural resources 

through reduced soil erosion, improvement to the flora, fauna, and their habitats, 

protection of wetlands, and conservation of rare species. Further objectives of the 

Camp Edwards INRMP are: 

1. To outline the military mission and its effects on the natural resources of 


2. To recommend guidelines for the management and protection of natural and 

cultural resources on Camp Edwards to maintain biological diversity and 

sustainability of the training site for mission use. 

3. To suggest methods for increasing awareness of the Massachusetts Army 

National Guard and the general public on matters of natural resources 

protection and conservation and its integration with military training. 

4. To provide specific natural resources management guidelines and 

recommendations so that the Environmental Performance Standards from the 

Massachusetts National Guard’s Master Plan/Area-Wide Environmental 

Impact Report, may be achieved on Camp Edwards with no net loss to the 

training mission. 

5. To describe the physical characteristics of the Camp Edwards Training Site. 

6. To describe the results and findings of the Range and Training Land 

Assessment Program and other natural resources inventories and studies on 

Camp Edwards. These results will serve as a baseline of information upon 

which management recommendations will be based. 

7. To describe in detail the organization, personnel, funding, and support 

required for the implementation of the INRMP on the Camp Edwards 

Training Site. 

22


8. To provide an avenue for public involvement in the implementation process of 

the INRMP as well as in the recommendations for use of the training site for 

recreational purposes. 

9. The experiences are to be used as lessons learned, positive and negative, for 

other military installations. 

4.2 Required and Relevant Environmental Regulations 

Various policies, laws, regulations (both federal and state), and procedures apply 

to natural resources management at Camp Edwards. Of particular importance are the 

following regulations: 

• Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.); the Sikes Act Improvement 

Amendments of 1997 (SAIA) requires every Army installation to develop 

an INRMP by November 2001 

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires review of 

environmental consequences of federal actions 

• Clean Water Act (CWA) 

• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) protects drinking water supplies 

• Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 4715.3 (Environmental 

Conservation Program) provides guidelines on developing environmental 

programs on military installations 

• National Guard Bureau All States Memo (Log Number P00-0039)(NGB, 

2000) provides instructions on developing and implementing the INRMP 

• Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Memo, dated 

21 March 1997 (Army Goals and Implementing Guidance for Natural 

Resources Planning Level Surveys (PLS) and Integrated Natural 

Resources Management Plan (INRMP)) lists planning level surveys on 

installations 

• Army Regulations (AR) 200-1 provides guidelines on protection and 

enhancement of the environment 

• AR 200-2 discusses the review environmental effects of Army actions 

• AR 200-4 addresses the protection of cultural resources on Army lands 

• AR 200-5 discusses pest management principles and policies 

• Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2002 as they pertain to the Massachusetts 

Military Reservation 

• Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) prevents a loss or take of 

state-listed rare species 

• Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act (MWPA) protects against loss or 

destruction of wetlands 

23


• The Environmental Performance Standards (EPS) listed in the 

Massachusetts National Guard’s Area Wide FEIR and as required by 

M.G.L. Chapter 47 Acts of 2002 serve as the guide by which MAARNG 

training and natural resources management will be conducted on Camp 

Edwards. These EPS’s is incorporated with federal environmental and 

land management programs specified by military regulation and federal 

law. The INRMP, to the extent appropriate and applicable, will integrate 

and aid in achieving the standards set forth within the EPS’s. For a 

complete description of the EPS’s, please refer to the Massachusetts 

National Guard’s Area Wide FEIR (2001). 

The MAARNG will maintain copies of available laws and regulations for 

review. 

4.3 Policies 

Various policies established on the Camp Edwards Training Site will be used to 

attain each of the goals of the INRMP. The physical characteristics and some natural 

resources of Camp Edwards were described by planning level surveys (e.g., soils, water 

resources, forest resources) and using geographic information systems (e.g., 

topography, land uses, habitat types). Most of the natural resources of the training site 

(i.e., flora and fauna) were described during initial inventories and later through the 

Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) Program, which was first established on 

Camp Edwards in 1994 (see Chapter 7). 

Camp Edwards Training Site Regulation 385-63 (Range Safety) was written to 

provide guidance and direction relative to the safe and efficient use of Camp Edwards’ 

training facilities for all users. A primary goal of the regulation was to ensure proper 

protection and management of hazardous wastes, wetlands and water resources, 

vegetation, cultural resources, wildlife and their habitat, and fire. 

4.4 Environmental Review (NEPA Compliance) 

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was created to identify 

environmental concerns with human activities and resolve them to the best degree 

possible at early stages of project development. The MAARNG uses NEPA analysis to 

ensure its activities are properly planned, coordinated, and documented. The 

MAARNG provides NEPA documentation for proposed projects (actions) at Camp 

Edwards that are beyond the existing required documentation developed by the 

MAARNG for the training site. This additional NEPA documentation can then be used 

for identification of potential problems or impacts on the natural resources of Camp 


24


NEPA is a three-stage process. 

1. If the proposed action meets a categorical exclusion (CX) in Army Regulation 200-2, 

a Record of Environmental Consideration (REC) is prepared for the project, and the 

project may proceed as planned. These are the most commonly prepared 

documents. 

2. An Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is 

required when an action does not qualify for Categorical Exclusion. EAs and EISs 

are comprehensive documents that describe a proposed action and the alternatives 

to the action. An EA is used for actions that will not have a significant 

environmental effect or where an action’s environmental effects can be mitigated 

below a level of significance. An EA is often used when extensive new military 

exercises, major construction, or land acquisition is planned; when the planned 

action involves a large area, or when wetlands or endangered species may be 

involved. A Finding of No Significant Impact is required for the action to proceed as 

planned. A 30-day review period is provided for public comment. 

3. An EIS is reserved for those actions with significant environmental effects that 

cannot be mitigated below a level of significance. If more study is needed or a 

Finding of No Significant Impact cannot be prepared, an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) must be written. These can be lengthy documents that require 

significant time to prepare. 

Implementation of this INRMP is the proposed action that must be reviewed in 

accordance with NEPA and AR 200-2 Environmental Effects of Army Actions before 

implementation of the projects, objectives and goals found within. An EA will be 

written to address the implementation of this plan. Topics to be addressed are related 

to the effects of implementing the proposed plan on natural resources. The details are 

discussed in the following chapters and include but are not limited to: ITAM, 

endangered species, wildlife, prescribed burning, routine maintenance activities, 

riparian zones, floodplains, wetlands, off-road vehicle use, sedimentation, erosion, and 

non-point source pollution. 

4.5 Monitoring INRMP Implementation 

Monitoring is a critical component of the INRMP implementation. Personnel 

from the Natural Resource Office on Camp Edwards will meet semi-annually with 

trainers and commanders from the Camp Edwards Training Site, the Environmental 

Management Commission (EMC), as well as with representatives from the 

Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), to discuss 

the effectiveness of INRMP implementation. Meetings are held at least once annually to 

discuss management projects that will be or were carried out, respectively. 

25


The INRMP will be renewed every five years (i.e., 2007, 2012, etc.), unless 

circumstances arise that would require the plan to be revised more frequently, to 

update the document with any changes in the military mission or the natural resources 

of the Camp Edwards Training Site. 

26


CHAPTER 5. RESPONSIBLE AND INTERESTED PARTIES 

5.1 Installation Organizations 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Military Division, as mandated in the 

license with the Department of Army, is responsible for the land that is Camp Edwards. 

Therefore, the Military Division is responsible for planning and managing activities to 

ensure compliance with an approved Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 

(INRMP). The ultimate responsibility for operating and maintaining the installation 

and implementing the INRMP resides with the Adjutant General. However, the 

development and submission of the INRMP is the responsibility of the MAARNG 

Natural Resources Planner. 

The development and implementation of the INRMP requires the cooperation 

and participation of the MAARNG Training Site Commander, the Construction and 

Facilities Management Officer (CFMO), the Plans, Operations, and Training Officer 

(POTO), and Camp Edwards Range Control. The CFMO provides a full range of 

financial, engineering and environmental services for all facilities including Camp 

Edwards, under the jurisdiction of the state Military Division. Specific responsibilities 

include: 1) procurement and contracting, 2) warehousing, 3) master planning, 4) 

construction, and 5) environmental funding. In addition, all Commanders, trainers, and 

soldiers must abide by the management guidelines detailed in this document for 

successful implementation of the INRMP. 

The Camp Edwards Operations and Training Office is primarily responsible for 

the scheduling of military training and for the safety of all personnel while training 

exercises are conducted. In addition, personnel are in charge of maintaining an 

adequate training environment, which is accomplished through monitoring usage and 

enforcement of natural resource and land management regulations. 

The Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office is responsible for coordinating 

activities that affect the installation’s natural resources. This involves, but is not limited 

to, preparing plans, developing projects, conducting field studies, securing permits, GIS 

support and analysis, preparing reports, and facilitating cooperation between military 

operations and other natural resource agencies at the local, state and federal levels. 

The responsibility of the Facility Engineers Office on Camp Edwards is to 

develop and maintain training site land and facilities. This office supports the Camp 

Edwards Natural Resource Office by providing equipment and personnel to aid in 

conducting natural resource and remediation projects. 

5.2 Federal Defense Organizations 

27


Implementing the Camp Edwards INRMP is ultimately the responsibility of the 

Adjutant General of the MA ARNG, and the day-to-day coordination and 

implementation of the management proposed in the INRMP will be the responsibility of 

the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office. The NGB is responsible for providing 

Army funds for natural resources management as programmed and budgeted by MA 

ARNG, and submitted to NGB for funding by the MA ARNG. 

5.3 Other Federal Agencies 

Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the 

development and implementation of the Camp Edwards INRMP is required under the 

Sikes Act. Therefore, upon the approval of the INRMP by the agency, the USFWS will 

serve as a signatory partner on the INRMP. Although no federally threatened or 

endangered species have been found on Camp Edwards, the USFWS is greatly 

interested in the management of wildlife and habitats of the training site and will 

provide input throughout the implementation process. Other federal agencies that 

might have an interest in the management of natural resources on Camp Edwards may 

include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Coast 

Guard. 

5.4 State Agencies 

Under the direction of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs of the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, several environmental agencies have been asked to 

provide assistance in developing and implementing the INRMP. These agencies 

include the Environmental Management Commission, as required by Chapter 47 the 

acts of 2002, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, as required by the Sikes Act, and 

subsequently the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, the Department 

of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Environmental Protection 

through the Environmental Management Commision. 

The purpose of the EMC is to ensure the permanent protection of the drinking 

water supply and wildlife habitat of the northern 15,000 acres of the MMR. The EMC 

ensures, by independent oversight, monitoring, and evaluation, that all military and 

other activities on the northern 15,000 acres are consistent with this purpose. The EMC 

oversees compliance with, and enforcement of, the Environmental Performance 

Standards (EPS); coordinate the actions of state environmental agencies in the 

enforcement of laws and regulations, as appropriate; and facilitate open and public 

review of all activities on the northern 15,000 acres of the MMR. 

28


5.4.1 Memorandum of Agreement 2001 and Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2002 (see 

Appendix G) 

On October 4, 2001, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed 

establishing a management structure for the Camp Edwards Training Area and the 

Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve. It also created the oversight structure for the area as 

outlined in the CWG Master Plan Final Report. The MOA was signed by the Governor 

of Massachusetts for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and by the Deputy Assistant 

Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety & Occupational Health) for the Department 

of the Army. Other signatories were the Secretary of EOEA, NGB, the Adjutant General 

of the Massachusetts National Guard, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts 

Department of Fisheries, Department of Fish and Game, the Commissioner of the 

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the 

Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). 

On March 5, 2002, acting Governor Jane Swift signed legislation (Chapter 47 of 

the Acts of 2002) codifying into law the MOA (Appendix G) ensuring the permanent 

protection of the drinking water supply and wildlife habitats in the Camp Edwards 

Training Area and the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve, while allowing compatible 

military training. Under the law, the compatibility of training with environmental 

protection would be verified through independent oversight, monitoring, and 

evaluation. For this purpose, the legislation created the Environmental Management 

Commission (EMC), consisting of the Commissioner of MDFWELE, the Commissioner 

of MassDEP, and the Commissioner of DCR. The EMC oversees compliance with and 

enforcement of the Environmental Performance Standards and coordinates the actions 

of environmental agencies of the Commonwealth in the enforcement of environmental 

laws and regulations within the Reserve. 

The legislation further directed that the EMC be assisted by two advisory 

councils. The Community Advisory Council (CAC), consisting of 15 members and The 

Science Advisory Council (SAC), consisting of 5 to 9 members, both of which assists the 

EMC by providing advice on issues related to the protection of the water supply and 

wildlife habitat within the Camp Edwards Training Area and the Upper Cape Water 

Supply Reserve 

Finally, the legislation established a full-time Environmental Officer (EO) for the 

MMR. This position acts as a liaison between the EMC, SAC, CAC, military, general 

public, and various state agencies, identifies and monitors ongoing issues regarding 

training procedures and the environment and keeps the EMC, SAC and CAC apprised 

of the progress of these issues, in addition to bringing issues to the Environmental and 

Readiness Center (E&RC) for resolution and participates in community outreach 

activities with the E&RC and facilitates the EMC, SAC and CAC public meetings under 

the legislation 

29


5.5 Universities 

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has provided input and advice to 

the MAARNG regarding natural resources management since the early 1980s. Recent 

cooperation with the MAARNG includes assistance in implementing the prescribed 

burn program and planning, conducting various GIS work, and graduate student 

research projects on Camp Edwards. 

5.6 Contractors 

Contractors have been and will continue to be employed for large-scale 

environmental rehabilitation and remediation projects that exceed in-house asset 

capability. The Camp Edwards Facilities Engineers Roads and Grounds Crew is 

comprised of three individuals whom are responsible for maintaining all of the roads 

and grounds of Camp Edwards. Therefore, the apparent shortage of personnel results 

in the need for hiring contractors to complete larger projects. 

5.7 Native American Tribes 

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is one of two federally 

recognized tribes of Native Americans that consider Camp Edwards to be within their 

ancestral lands. All actions, including those associated with the implementation of the 

INRMP, that have the potential for impacting tribal cultural resources must be reviewed 

by the tribe under the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

Failure to consult with the Wampanoag Tribe prior to a federal undertaking could 

result in a foreclosure of the activity to prevent any potential impacts to cultural 

resources (SEE Appendix G for MOU). The other federally recognized tribe is the The 

Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee that was federally recognized May 2007. Consultation 

with this tribe will occur according two all guidances, policies, regulations, and laws; 

the consultation process will be initiated fall 2007. 

5.8 Other Interested Parties 

Assistance in developing and implementing the INRMP may also be received 

from local agencies of the surrounding towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and 

Sandwich. These could include town selectmen, conservation agents, conservation 

commissions, and natural resources departments. 

Non-profit organizations that contribute technical advice have included The 

Nature Conservancy (see Appendix G for Cooperative Agreement), the Massachusetts 

Audubon Society, and the Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies. Other 

30


organizations that would likely be interested in reviewing the INRMP include, but are 

certainly not limited to, the following: 

• Environmental Protection Agency 

• National Park Service – Cape Cod National Seashore 

• Cape Cod Commission 

• Friends of the MMR (FMMR) 

• Massachusetts Audobon Society 

• Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod 

• Trustees of Reservations 

• Senior Environmental Corps. (RSVP) Of Cape Cod 

• Patriots Advocating Camp Edwards Restoration and Survival (PACERS) 

• Save The Reserve and Our National Guard (STRONG) 

5.9 Signatory Agencies 

The signatory partners of the INRMP include members of the National Guard as 

well as a representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts 

Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. National Guard signatories are the Chief of 

Environmental Programs at the National Guard Bureau, The Adjutant General, the 

Construction and Facilities Management Officer, the Director, Plans, Operations, 

Training, and Military Support, and the Training Site Commander of the Massachusetts 

Army National Guard. Signatory partners from federal and state agencies include an 

appointee of the Director of the New England Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife 

Service and the Director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 

31


6.1 Setting 

SECTION III. NATURAL RESOURCES OF CAMP EDWARDS 

CHAPTER 6. NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE 

The Camp Edwards Training Site is located on the western end of Cape Cod, 

within the Cape Cod and Islands Ecoregion of the Northeastern Coastal Zone (Barbour 

et al. 1999). The predominant geologic characteristics of the Cape Cod Ecoregion 

include glacial moraines with associated outwash plains and kettle holes, all of which 

are present on Camp Edwards. 

Camp Edwards contains a unique diversity of natural communities that support 

36 state-listed rare species. The predominant natural community of Camp Edwards is 

pitch pine-oak forest woodland. Pine and oak dominate this natural community, with 

pitch pine scrub oak community and black oak scarlet oak forests comprising less of the 

total acreage. Native grassland communities comprise a relatively small portion of 

Camp Edwards, but are one of the primary habitats for state-listed rare species. The 

wetland communities that exist on Camp Edwards are all classified as palustrine in that 

they are well-vegetated and most often lacking open water. 

Camp Edwards represents an island of natural resources surrounded by a sea of 

development. It is one of the largest undeveloped tracts of land over 10,000acres, along 

the coast, from Maine to New Jersey. The MMR as a whole is a “massive wooded area 

on the Upper Cape that is largely undeveloped, but fringed with highways, homes, and 

other development” (Cape Cod Commission 1998). The predominant land use 

surrounding Camp Edwards is residential or commercial development. The 

cantonment area of Camp Edwards borders Otis Air National Guard Base (Otis ANGB), 

United States Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Cape Cod, USCG Housing, and the 

Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Cemetery. Although the MMR is situated within four towns, 

Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee, Camp Edwards lies only within the 

boundaries of Bourne and Sandwich. Within the town of Sandwich is the most densely 

populated area surrounding Camp Edwards. Shawmee-Crowell State Forest, an 

undeveloped yet fragmented area of land, that borders Camp Edwards to the north and 

is used for recreational purposes. The land uses in the Town of Bourne that border 

Camp Edwards are primarily residential, but also includes the Bourne Integrated Solid 

Waste Management Facility. 

32


6.2 Topography 

The surface topography of Camp Edwards varies greatly between northern and 

western portion and the southern portion of the training area (Figure 6-1). The northern 

and western portion of Camp Edwards is part of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay 

glacial moraines, respectively. Large glacial deposits dominate this area with high 

topographic relief of rolling hills and deep kettle holes (Figure 6-1). Slopes range from 

0-15%, with a mean slope of 3.4%. The greatest change in topographic relief in this area 

of Camp Edwards is approximately 90 feet. The highest point on Cape Cod, Pine Hill 

(318 feet above sea level), is situated in this western portion of Camp Edwards, atop the 

Buzzards Bay Moraine. 

In contrast, the southern portion of Camp Edwards, which resides entirely 

within the Mashpee pitted outwash plain, has relatively low elevation (approximately 

100 feet above sea level) and little topographic relief. Although slopes range from 0- 

15% in the outwash plain, the mean slope of 1.5% is considerably less in the moraine. 

The majority of the outwash plain has a slope of 0-2%, with the exception of the 

approximately 20 kettle-holes within the area. 

33


Figure 6-1. Geology and Topography of Camp Edwards 


34


6.3 Geology 

The geologic origin of Cape Cod dates back to approximately 12,000 years ago at 

the end of the Wisconsin Period of glaciation. During the retreat of the Laurentide ice 

sheet, moraines of glacial till were deposited by the Cape Cod Bay Lobe to form the 

Sandwich moraine, the main peninsula of the Cape, and by the Buzzards Bay Lobe, 

which formed the Buzzards Bay Moraine, the western edge of the Cape and the 

Elizabeth Islands (Strahler 1966). Camp Edwards is situated on the northwest corner of 

Cape Cod where these two moraines converge. Approximately 40% of Camp Edwards 

resides on the glacial moraines. As a result, much of the geologic material with which 

much of Camp Edwards and Cape Cod was formed is an amalgam of well-scoured rock 

fragments that originated in northern New England. 

As the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted and retreated over the course of hundreds or 

thousands of years, rivers and streams of melt water deposited material from the 

moraines southward to the ocean. Much of the loam and clay washed into the Atlantic 

Ocean while the sand, gravel, and cobble was deposited closer to the moraines, forming 

the Mashpee pitted outwash plain (Strahler 1966) (Figure 6-2). This outwash plain is 

broad sloping land that forms the southern side of Cape Cod, extending from the 

terminal moraines to the Atlantic Ocean. The southeastern portion of Camp Edwards, 

approximately 60% of the land, is situated on the Mashpee pitted outwash plain. As a 

result, much of the soil in the area is a loose sand material. 

Prior to the development of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay moraines, the 

Laurentide ice sheet had advanced further south, creating the islands of Martha’s 

Vineyard and Nantucket (Strahler 1966). During the period when the glacier retreated 

northward across what is now Cape Cod, large blocks of ice were left scattered 

throughout what would become the Mashpee pitted outwash plain. As the outwash 

plain was formed, soil was deposited around the blocks of glacial ice. The glacial ice 

eventually melted leaving deep, steep-sided cavities that are referred to as kettle-holes. 

Some of these kettle-holes filled with water, creating kettle-hole ponds or lakes, which 

are present throughout Camp Edwards. 

6.4 Climate 

The climate of the region in which Camp Edwards is situated is rather temperate 

due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are generally cold, with an average 

daily temperature of 31°F, and summers are generally warm, averaging 68°F. Average 

annual precipitation is 45 inches, 21 inches of which fall between April and September. 

The average annual snowfall is about 24 inches. Mean relative humidity is 70% in midafternoon 

and 80% at dawn (Soil Conservation Service 1993). 

35


6.5 Petroleum and Minerals 

There are no known mineral or petroleum resources of commercial value on 


6.6 Soils 

In general, the soil of Camp Edwards is well-drained sand or sandy loam often 

containing stones or boulders (Figure 6-2) (Appendix A). As a result, most of the soils 

have a high susceptibility to erosion, especially at steeper slopes (US Department of 

Agriculture Soil Conservation Service 1993) and along roads (Figure 6-3). The soil 

erosion potential data represented in Figure 6-3 were generated using the Revised 

Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (Renard et al., 1996) which is an empirical model 

that predicts the amount of annual soil loss for a specified set of conditions. 

For the sake of description, the soils of Camp Edwards can be classified in two 

categories- soils of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay terminal moraines and soils of the 

outwash plain. 

6.6.1 Soils of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay Terminal Moraines 

The soils of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay terminal moraines are classified as 

rolling or hilly, and containing many boulders. These excessively drained or welldrained 

soils are typically found on slopes ranging from 3-15% and on hills of glacial 

moraine areas. Plymouth-Barnstable complex soils and Plymouth loamy coarse sand 

(7,066 Ac), and Barnstable-Plymouth complex soils (791 Ac) comprise the entirety of the 

terminal moraine soils on Camp Edwards. The Plymouth-Barnstable and Barnstable- 

Plymouth complex soils are mixtures of Plymouth, Barnstable, and other soils in 

varying proportions. These soils are typically covered with an inch of organic matter 

above the highly permeable soil. The relatively high susceptibility of these soils to 

erosion is a management concern (US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation 

Service 1993). 

6.6.2 Soils of the Outwash Plains 

The soils of the outwash plains on Camp Edwards are primarily Enfield silt 

loams and Merrimac sandy loams. Both of the Enfield and Merrimac loams have been 

classified as very deep well-drained soil commonly found in broad areas on outwash 

plains. These soils have been described at a range of slopes between 0 and 15% 

throughout outwash plains. Erosion is a management concern where these soils exist 

on moderate to steep slopes (Soil Conservation Service 1993). 

36


Other soil types that have been described on the outwash plain of Camp 

Edwards include Plymouth loamy coarse sand, Carver coarse sand, Hinckley gravelly 

sandy loam and gravelly sandy loam. These soils are often found on moderate or steep 

slopes of swales on outwash plains. Like the Enfield and Merrimac loams, these soils 

are described as excessively drained, often resulting in high erodability, especially at 

steeper slopes (Soil Conservation Service 1993). 

Soil types associated with development on the outwash plain include sand and 

gravel pits from which sand or gravel have been removed, Udipsamments, smoothed, 

which are areas that have been leveled or smoothed during construction, and urban 

land that includes buildings and pavement (Soil Conservation Service 1993). 

37


Figure 6-2. Soil classification of Camp Edwards, MA. 


38


Figure 6-3. Erosion potential of soils on Camp Edwards, MA. 


39


6.7 Water Resources 

The water resources of Camp Edwards are scarce on the surface of the land, but 

plentiful beneath. The excessively drained sandy soils of Camp Edwards are not 

conducive to surface water retention. As a result, 45% of the annual rainfall on Camp 

Edwards infiltrates the soil and contributes to the groundwater supply. 

6.7.1 Surface Water Resources 

Surface water resources are sparse on Camp Edwards. Although there are 31 

wetlands on the training site, they comprise only 55 of the 14,433 Acres, or .39%, of land 

(Table 6-1). No large lakes, rivers, or streams exist on the property, only small 

palustrine (i.e., marshy) wetlands and ponds (Gravatt et al. 1999). As determined using 

the National Wetlands Inventory classification system, there are 17 palustrine emergent, 

8 palustrine open water, 6 palustrine scrub-shrub, 5 palustrine forested, 2 Palustrine 

emergent/scrub shrub, 1 palustrine forested/scrub shrub, 1 palustrine emergent/open 

water, and 1 palustrine aquatic bed wetlands on Camp Edwards. By definition, these 

palustrine wetlands are well-vegetated nontidal wetlands that are dominated by trees, 

shrubs, or emergent plants and have salinity below 0.5 ppt. If vegetation is not present, 

then the wetlands must be less than 8 hectares, lacking in wave-formed or bedrock 

shores, and have a maximum water depth less than 2 meters at low water (Cowardin et 

al. 1979). Most of the wetlands and surface waters in the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay 

Moraines on Camp Edwards are considered to be perched (US Army Corps of 

Engineers 2000). The wetlands presented in Table 6-1 are also classified by community 

type per MA NHESP community classification scheme. It also states whether a given 

wetland is certified as a vernal pool. 

40


Table 6-1. Wetlands and Ponds of Camp Edwards, MA. 

Name Acres NWI MA NHESP 

Certified 

Vernl Pool 

A-2 Pond 0.2 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp 

/ Scrub Shrub 

Yes 

Bailey's Pond 0.9 Palustrine Emergent Coastal Plain 

Pondshore 

No 

Beaman Street Wetland 0.0 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp 

/ Open Water 

No 

Bypass Bog 0.9 Palustrine Emergent 

/ Scrub Shrub 

41 

Coastal Plain 

Pondshore 

Cranberry Bog 2.3 Palustrine Emergent Kettlehole Level Bog Yes 

Deep Bottom Pond 1.3 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

Yes 

Water 

Pondshore 

Donnely Pond 2.1 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

No 

Water 

Pondshore 

Gibbs Pond 0.6 Palustrine Emergent Basin Depression Yes 

GP-3 Pond 0.5 Palustrine Emergent Kettlehole Wet 

Meadow 

No 

Grassy Pond 0.5 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp Yes 

Little Halfway Pond 0.7 Palustrine Scrub Coastal Plain 

Yes 

Shrub 

Pondshore 

Monument Swamp 2.3 Palustrine Emergent Kettlehole Level Bog Yes 

Monument Swamp Cistern 0.1 Palustrine Open Woodland Vernal No 

Water 

Pool 

Monument Swamp Red 0.8 Palustrine Forested Forest Seep 

No 

Maple 

Community 

Opening Pond 1.0 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

Yes 

Water 

Pondshore 

Ox Pond 1.0 Palustrine Forested High Bush Blueberry No 

/ Scrub Shrub Thicket / Red Maple 

Swamp 

Raccoon Swamp A 0.1 Palustrine Open Woodland Vernal Yes 

Water 

Pool 

Raccoon Swamp B 0.0 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp Yes 

Raccoon Swamp C 0.0 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp No 

Raccoon Swamp D 0.4 Palustrine Emergent Woodland Vernal 

Pool 

No 

Raccoon Swamp E 0.5 Palustrine Emergent Kettlehole Level Bog No 

No


Table 6-1. continued. 

Name Acres NWI MA NHESP 

Certified 

Vernl Pool 

Red Maple Swamp 0.6 Palustrine Forested Red Maple Swamp No 

Rod & Gun Club Red Maple 

Swamp 

0.6 Palustrine Forested Red Maple Swamp No 

Rod & Gun Club Red Maple 

Swamp 

0.8 Palustrine Forested Red Maple Swamp No 

Rod & Gun Club S Shrub 1.7 Palustrine Scrub Shrub Swamp No 

Swamp 

Shrub 

Rod & Gun Club S Shrub 1.5 Palustrine Scrub Shrub Swamp No 

Swamp 

Shrub 

Rod and Gun Club 3 0.2 Palustrine Emergent Coastal Plain 

Pondshore 

No 

Rod and Gun Club North 6.7 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

No 

Water 

Pondshore 

Rod and Gun Club Shrub 2.1 Palustrine Scrub Shrub Swamp No 

Swamp 

Shrub 

Rod and Gun Club Shrub 2.7 Palustrine Scrub Shrub Swamp No 

Swamp 

Shrub 

Rod and Gun Club South 8.3 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

No 

Water 

Pondshore 

Rod and Gun Club West 0.9 Palustrine Open Coastal Plain 

No 

Water 

Pondshore 

Round Swamp 0.5 Palustrine Scrub High Bush Blueberry No 

Shrub 

Thicket / Red Maple 

Swamp 

Spruce Swamp 0.0 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp / 

Coastal Atlantic 

White Cedar Swamp 

No 

Succonsett Pond 1.3 Palustrine Aquatic Coastal Plain 

Yes 

Bed 

Pondshore 

Tank Trail Wetland 0.0 Palustrine Emergent Woodland Vernal 

Pool 

No 

USDA East 0.2 Palustrine Forested Shrub Swamp No 

USDA West 0.2 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp No 

UTES Pond 0.2 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp No 

Washrack Wetland 0.2 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp No 

Wood Road Wetland 0.1 Palustrine Emergent Shrub Swamp No 

42


6.7.2 Groundwater Resources 

Camp Edwards sits atop the Sagamore Lens of the Cape Cod Aquifer (Figure 6- 

4). This aquifer has been designated as a “sole-source” aquifer by the Environmental 

Protection Agency, since it meets the definition of supplying greater than 50 percent of 

the drinking water. With the exception of bottled water, it supplies 100% of the 

drinking water to the residents of Upper Cape Cod. 

The Camp Edwards Training Site is also known as the Upper Cape Water Supply 

Reserve and is providing up to 3 million gallons of clean drinking water per day to the 

MMR and the four Upper Cape Cod towns of Sandwich, Bourne, Falmouth, and 

Mashpee (Figure 6-4, see also section 3.4 Water Supply). 

Figure 6-4. Sagamore Lens of the Cape Cod Aquifer with Groundwater Contours and 

Central Monitoring Well. 

25 December 2005, USGS, AEC, MassGIS, AMEC 

43


Figure 6-5. Upper Cape Water Supply Wells on Camp Edwards, MA. 


44


6.8 Natural Communities of Camp Edwards 

An initial floristic survey of the MMR identified 433 species of vascular plants 

(Jenkins 1994). The annual RTLA and rare plant surveys have identified an additional 

124 specimens since 1994, increasing the total number of known plant species on Camp 

Edwards to 557 (Appendix B). Data from the RTLA plant surveys originally indicated 

seven major plant communities on Camp Edwards. These communities were classified 

according to The Nature Conservancy’s Albany Pine Bush Reserve Classification 

System: mixed woods forest, pitch pine-scrub oak forest, hardwood forest, scrub oak 

barrens, grasslands, wetlands, and disturbed communities. The natural communities of 

Camp Edwards and the MMR in 2004 were reclassified using the Massachusetts 

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program’s Natural Communities 

Classification (Swain and Keasley 2001). Some smaller undescribed plant communities, 

such as aspen (Populus spp.) depressions also exist within the predominant natural 

communities. 

The plant communities of Camp Edwards are generally classified as mid to late 

successional forest with intermittent early successional disturbed areas and kettle-hole 

ponds and wetlands. The climax plant community on Camp Edwards is likely an oakpine 

forest with gray birch (Betula populifolia), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and 

bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) (Foster and Motzkin 1999). Many of the plant 

communities at Camp Edwards have been influenced by several different factors 

including fire, ice storms, frost, drought, insect outbreaks, hurricanes, tropical storms, 

and historic logging and grazing. Natural or human induced fires have played an 

important role in creating and maintaining the plant communities on Camp Edwards. 

The species diversity of the forests of Camp Edwards is generally quite low. On 

average, 53 species of plants were documented in each plant community of Camp 

Edwards, which when compared to most fertile woods of western New England that 

typically have up to 200 plant species, is relatively low (Jenkins 1994). 

The following are brief descriptions of the Natural Communities of Camp 

Edwards as per the Classification of Natural Communities (Swain and Kearsely 2001) 

(see Figure 6.7): 

6.8.1 Plantations 

Prior to the creation of the MMR in the 1935, the area north of Wood Road was 

managed as pine, spruce, and fir plantations as part of Shawme State Forest. Areas 

were frequently burned over and planted with Austrian pine (Pinus sylverstris), white 

pine (Pinus strobus), red pine (Pinus resinosa), Spanish pine (Pinus sp.?), Douglas fir 

(Pseudotsuga menziesii), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and 

45


larch (Larix sp.) between 1925 and 1934 (Figure 6-6) (US Department of Agriculture 

1932). 

Figure 6-6. Portion of 1932 Shawme State Forest Map indicating historic burning, 

access roads, and exotic pine and spruce plantations. 

March 2006, MAARNG GIS, Michael Ciaranca, Natural Resource Manager 

46


Figure 6-7. Natural Communities of Camp Edwards, MA. 


47


6.8.2 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland 

The Pitch pine-oak forest woodland of Camp Edwards varies with degree of 

maturity. The structure of the forest ranges from a low canopy with a dense shrub layer 

to a taller canopy with a sparser shrub layer. In general, the plant community is in a 

mid-successional state where trees and shrubs are increasing in number, while forbs 

and grasses are becoming less abundant. The woodlands in the northern area of Camp 

Edwards tend to have a higher and denser canopy than the other forest communities. 

This may be due to less historic disturbance, resulting in a more mature forest. 

The Pitch pine-oak forest woodland of Camp Edwards has a low canopy of pitch 

pine (Pinus rigida) and tree oaks (black oak (Quercus velutina), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), 

and white oak (Q. alba) and a moderately continuous shrub layer of blueberry 

(Vaccinium spp.), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), sheep laurel (Kalmia 

angustifolia), and scrub oak (Q. ilicifolia). The sparse forbe layer consists of braken fern 

(Pteridium aquilinum), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), and Pennsylvania sedge 

(Carex pensylvanica), The low forest canopy, about 10-15 m tall, indicates a relatively 

young forest of no more than 100 years old. 

The following table (6-2) contains species of Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland 

with the plants and birds in order of abundance. 

Table 6-2: Species of the Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland 

Common Name Scientific Name Status in MA 

PLANTS 

Trees 

Black oak Quercus velutina - 

Pitch pine Pinus rigida - 

White oak Quercus alba - 

Scrub-oak Quercus ilicifolia - 

Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea - 

Red maple Acer rubrum - 

Shrubs 

Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata - 

Late lowbush blueberry Vaccinium pallidum - 

Early lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium - 

Sheep-laurel Kalmia angustifolia - 

Beaked hazel-nut Corylus cornuta - 

Sweet pepper-bush Clethra alnifolia - 

Forbes 

Wintergreen; Teaberry Gaultheria procumbens - 

Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum - 

48


Prairie three-awn Aristata oligantha - 

Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica - 

Poverty grass Danthonia spicata - 

Withe-rod Viburnum cassinoides - 

Hispid swamp dewberry Rubus hispidus - 

Ground pine Lycopodium obscurum - 

Common greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia - 

Oblong-leaf Juneberry Amelanchier canadensis - 

INVERTEBRATES 

Barrens Daggermoth Acronictan albarufa T 

Spiny Oakwoarm Anisota stigma - 

Blueberry Sallow Apharetra dentata SC 

Straight Lined Mallow Moth Bagisara rectifascia SC 

Gerhard’s Underwing Catocala herodius gerhardi T 

Melsheimer’s Sack Bearer Cicinnus melsheimeri T 

Coastal Barrens Buck Moth Hemileuca maia maia T 

Pine Barrens Itame Itame sp. SC 

Coastal Swamp Metarranthis Metarranthis pilosaria SC 

Water-willow Stem Borer Papaipema sulphurata T 

Pine Barrens Zale Zale sp. SC 

AMPHIBIANS 

Spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum - 

American toad Bufo americanus - 

Fowler’s toad Bufo woodhousei fowleri - 

Red-backed salamander Plethodon cinereus - 

Spring peeper Pseudacris crucifer - 

Wood frog Rana sylvatica - 

REPTILES 

Eastern box turtle Terrapene c. carolina SC 

Black racer Coluber constrictor - 

Ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus - 

Garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis - 

BIRDS 

Rufous-sided towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus - 

Pine warbler Dendroica pinus - 

Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas - 

49


Black-capped chickadee Parus atricapillus - 

Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus - 

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus - 

Northern oriole Icterus galbula - 

Blue jay Cyanocitta cristata - 

American goldfinch Carduelis tristis - 

American robin Turdus migratorius - 

Eastern wood-pewee Contopus virens - 

Mourning dove Zenaida macroura - 

Chipping sparrow Spizella macroura - 

Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater - 

Gray catbird Dumetella carolinensis - 

Tufted titmouse Parus bicolor - 

American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos - 

Prairie warbler Dendroica discolor - 

Northern flicker Colaptes auratus - 

Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea - 

MAMMALS 

Coyote Canis latrans - 

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes - 

Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans - 

Ground Hog Marmota monax - 

Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus - 

White Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus - 

Shorttailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda - 

White Footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus - 

Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi - 

Raccoon Procyon lotor - 

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus - 

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus - 

50


6.8.3 Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Community 

In areas of forest from which hardwood trees were historically cleared, the plant 

community is almost entirely pitch pine (Pinus rigida) with an understory of sometimes 

very dense scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) (Jenkins 1994). Other tree species that are 

present but not common to the community are scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), white oak, 

and scarlet oak. Scotch pine was likely introduced to Camp Edwards in the late 1920’s 

and the early 1930’s as plantations in Shawme State Forest (US Department of 

Agriculture 1932). The prevalent shrub species of Camp Edwards, black huckleberry 

(Gaylussacia baccata), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) are commonly interspersed among 

scrub oak. 

The structure of the pitch pine-scrub oak communities varies greatly with age. 

Younger stands are short, dense thickets of immature pitch pine. Immature pitch pine 

is relatively low in plant diversity and often occurs along roads, old firebreaks, or other 

previously disturbed areas, and comprises a total of 1% of Camp Edwards. The 

primary value of the immature pitch pine is habitat for prairie warblers. As the pitch 

pine matures, the forest has a more closed canopy, which ultimately out competes scrub 

oak for sunlight. However, in areas where pitch pine has been cleared, scrub oak often 

grows in extremely dense patches. In the pitch pine-scrub oak community, trees and 

shrubs in general are growing at a rate greater than in any other plant community, 

indicating a somewhat young, but rapidly maturing forest. 

The diversity of the pitch pine-scrub oak community, 51 plant species, is about 

average for the plant communities of Camp Edwards. However, pitch pine and scrub 

oak are the dominant and most productive species in the community. 

The following table (6-3) contains the species of Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Community with 

the plants and birds in order of abundance. 

Table 6-3: Species of the Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community 


PLANTS 

Trees 





Black cherry; Wild cherry Prunus serotina - 

Dwarf Chinkapin oak Quercus prinoides - 

51


Shrubs 






Arrow-wood Viburnum recognitum - 

Forbes 


Cat brier Smilax glauca - 


Ticklegrass Agrostis hyemalis - 




Redtop; black bentgrass Agrostis gigantea - 

Northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris - 


INVERTEBRATES 

Barrens Daggermoth Acronictus albarufa T 



Straight Lined Mallow Moth Bagiscara rectifascia SC 







AMPHIBIANS 





Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer - 

Green frog Rana clamitans - 


52


REPTILES 

Spotted turtle Clemmys guttata - 





BIRDS 

Rufous-sided towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus 

- 

- 



Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina - 










House finch Carpodacus mexicanus - 

Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos - 

Song sparrow Melospiza melodia - 

Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis - 


House wren Troglodytes aedon - 


MAMMALS 











53




6.8.4 Black Oak-Scarlet Oak Forest/Woodland 

Although pitch pine is the dominant tree species on Camp Edwards, some small 

stands of hardwood trees exist in the northeastern corner of the training area. Although 

the community comprises approximately 2% of Camp Edwards, it represents the most 

advanced state of succession of all of the plant communities. Oaks dominate the tree 

canopy of these stands and the shrub layer is similar to the pitch pine-mixed oak forest. 

The structure of the community varies with age from stands of immature hardwoods to 

more mature forest with a closed canopy and sparse understory. 

The following table (6-4) contains the species of Black Oak-Scarlet Oak Forest Woodland 

with the plants and birds in order of abundance. 

Table 6-4: Species of the Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest 


PLANTS 

Trees - 




White pine Pinus strobus - 


Norway spruce Picea abies - 

Shrubs - 



Sweet pepper-bush Clethra alnifolia - 




Forbes - 



Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium - 




Sweet fern Myrica asplenifolia - 

54


Meadow beauty Rhexia virginica - 


Oblong-leaf Juneberry Amelanchier canadensis - 

INVERTEBRATES 

Barrens Daggermoth Acronictan albarufa T 







AMPHIBIANS 



Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer - 




REPTILES 

Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene c. carolina SC 

BIRDS 












Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea - 




55



Tufted titmouse Parus bicolor - 

Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia - 

Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum - 


MAMMALS 













56


6.8.5 Scrub Oak Shrubland 

Much of Upper Cape Cod has been dominated by pitch pine and scrub oak 

barrens since the period of colonial settlement (Ruffner and Patterson 2000a). Thomas 

Bourne stated in 1769 that “a large barren wilderness of small pitch pines and scrub 

oaks make up the space between the settlements [of Sandwich] and indeed the center 

and for the greater part of the township” (Lovell 1984). The area was maintained in an 

early successional state as a result of timber harvesting and a catastrophic fire that 

occurred in 1772 (Sawyer 1988). Fire and frost effects typically suppress the growth of 

pitch pine and other tree species while promoting the growth of scrub oak. Fire 

scarring causes scrub oak acorns to germinate more readily and terminal buds to die, 

resulting in the growth of lateral branches. While frequent late spring frosts result in 

chronic dieback of developing leaves, slow growth rates, and reduced stem height 

which promotes shrub growth. Eventually, large herds of sheep were grazed 

throughout the Upper Cape, which limited tree growth and promoted the 

establishment of the scrub oak barren habitats. 

The scrub oak shrubland covers 2,107 acres, or 15% of Camp Edwards, mostly 

within the Impact Area, but also in training areas C-13 and C-14, the firing ranges on 

the northern edge of the Impact Area, as well as surrounding Demo Area 1. This plant 

community represents one of the earliest states of vegetative succession on Camp 

Edwards and consists primarily of scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) with essentially no pitch 

pine (Pinus rigida). Other common plants in the scrub oak barrens include black 

huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), cat brier (Smilax glauca), 

and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). 

The following table (6-5) contains the species of Scrub Oak Shrubland with the plants 

and birds in order of abundance. 

Table 6-5: Species of the Scrub Oak Shrubland 


PLANTS 

Trees 




Dwarf Chinkapin oak Quercus prinoides - 


Gray birch Betula populifolia - 

Shrubs - 



57





Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum - 

Forbes - 

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis - 



Sweet fern Myrica asplenifolia - 


Cat brier Smilax glauca - 

Red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia - 


Rough-stemmed goldenrod Solidago rugosa - 

Wild indigo Baptisia tinctoria - 

INVERTEBRATES 

Barrens Daggermoth Acronicta albarufa T 


Blueberry Sallow Aphraretra dentata - 

Straight Lined Mallow Moth Bagisara rectifascia SC 







AMPHIBIANS 







Pickerel frog Rana palustris - 


REPTILES 


58




Easten box turtle Terrapene c. carolina SC 


BIRDS 









House wren Troglodytes aedon - 





Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia - 


Field sparrow Spizella pusilla - 




Tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor - 

MAMMALS 










New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis - 



59


6.8.6 Cultural Grasslands 

These are human created and maintained open communities dominated by 

grasses. Mowing is the typical maintenance, however on Camp Edwards; fire has 

played and is playing a more important role. 

There is a total of 1658 acres of cultural grasslands on the MMR, only 175 acres of 

which are located on Camp Edwards (Figure 6-8). The remainder of the grasslands of 

the MMR is located in the former parade grounds and the airfield on Otis ANG Base. 

Most of the grasslands of Camp Edwards are located in the cantonment area and were 

historically cleared for use as parade grounds during World War II. Other smaller 

patches of cultural grasslands exist in the 3600 Assembly Area north of Connery 

Avenue, adjacent to the wastewater treatment facility in the northwestern corner of the 

MMR and the small arms firing ranges, although the afore mentioned areas are not 

managed grasslands. 

The cultural grasslands are one of the least diverse plant communities on Camp 

Edwards, with only 37 identified species. The community is dominated by grass 

species including filiform fescue (Festuca tenuifolia), little bluestem (Schizachyrium 

scoparium), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa), redtop 

(Agrostis gigantea), poverty grass (Danthonia spiccata), and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex 

pensylvanica). The only common tree species is immature pitch pine and red cedar. 

Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina) was found in dense thickets less than a meter in height, 

whereas bayberry (Myrica pensylavanica), blueberry, and scrub oak were present, but 

less common. Many non native species such as honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), Asiatic 

bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculata), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), and spotted 

knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) occur in the cultural grasslands of Camp Edwards and 

the MMR. There are ongoing management efforts to to remove these exotic, invasive 

plant species. 

The following table (6-6) contains the species of Cultural Grasslands with the plant and 

bird species in order of abundance. 

Table 6-6: Species of the Cultural Grassland 


PLANTS 

Trees 

Red cedar 

Shrubs 

Juniperus virginiana - 


Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii - 

60


Forbes 

Filiform fescue Festuca tenuifolia - 


Purple Lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis - 


Bead-grass Paspalum setaceum - 

Swith-grass Panicum virgatum - 

Star-thistle; Knapweed Centaurea maculosa - 




INVERTEBRATES 

Pink Streak Faronta rubripennis T 

AMPHIBIANS 





REPTILES 


Easten box turtle Terrapene c. carolina - 

Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis - 


BIRDS 

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina - 

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis - 

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis - 

American Robin Turdus migratorius - 

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos - 

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia - 

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor - 

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum T 

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura - 

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum - 

House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus - 

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - 

61


Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis - 

Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus - 

Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla - 

Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus - 

Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor - 

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos - 

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris - 

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater - 

MAMMALS 

Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda - 











Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonicus - 

62


Figure 6-8. Grasslands Management Area of Camp Edwards, MA 


63


6.8.7 Wetlands 

The ponds and wetlands, which comprise only 55 acres, or .39%, of Camp 

Edwards, are the most diverse plant community (Figure 6-9). A total of 67 plant species 

were documented in the wetlands. There are six different types of wetlands based on 

the “Classification of Natural Communities in Massachusetts” (MA NHESP, 2001). 

They are Ponds, Coastal Plain Pond Shore, Kettlehole Level Bogs, Red Maple Swamps, 

Highbush Blueberry Thickets, and Woodland Vernal Pools. The following is a 

description of each. 

6.8.7a Ponds 

The Coastal Plain Ponds of Camp Edwards are referred to as kettle ponds. Kettle 

ponds are typically deep ponds formed during the last Ice Age by large chunks of ice 

breaking off retreating glaciers resulting in depressions in the ground called "kettle 

holes." When the hole is deep enough to reach groundwater, it is then filled with water 

and is called a kettle pond. Seasonal changes in groundwater level are mirrored by 

changes in the level of these ponds. The fluctuating water levels alternately flood and 

expose the shore like a slow moving tide. This rates and depth of fluctuation is a main 

determinant of the plant types that can live in Coastal plain pond shore. 

6.8.7b Coastal Plain Pond Shore 

These are herbaceous communities of exposed pond shore. The ponds consist of 

shallow, acidic, exposed groundwater in the glacial outwash plain, with no inlet or 

outlet. Water levels rise and fall with changes in the water table. These changes can be 

quite dramatic and result in distinct Coastal Plain Pond flora. 

In general, the Coastal Plain Pond Shore communities of Camp Edwards can be 

classified as having four concentric circular zones of vegetation. The first zone is the 

deepest area of the wetland where open water is present. This zone is often vegetated 

by floating plants including spotted bladderwort (Utricularia purperea), water shield 

(Brasenia schreberi), and water-lily (Nymphaea odorata). The presence of this vegetation 

depends entirely upon the water levels in these wetland communities. 

The zone of emergent vegetation surrounds the open water zone and is located 

in the more shallow water of the wetlands. Common emergent plant species are 

usually grasses, including bur-reed (Sparganium americanum), wool grass (Scirpus 

cyperinus), and three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum). 

Beyond the shoreline of the wetlands lies a transitional zone that is occupied by 

many emergent species but is dominated by forbs. Lance-leaf violet (Viola lanceolata), 

northern bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus), swamp candles (Lysimachia terrestris), beggar 

64


ticks (Bidens frondosa), hyssop-hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia), rush (Juncus spp.), and 

sedges (Carex spp.) are common throughout the forb zone. 

As the wetland transitions into the surrounding forest community, a distinct 

shrub zone including highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), swamp azalea 

(Rhododendron viscosum), hardhack (Spirea tomentosa), inkberry (Ilex verticillata), 

leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus), and goldenrod 

(Solidago spp.) is present. Common tree species in this zone include red maple (Acer 

rubrum), pitch pine, and various oaks. 

Although the four zones of vegetation can describe most wetlands of Camp 

Edwards, there are some exceptions. Monument Swamp, a Kettlehole Level Bog, is 

primarily a bog of sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium 

macrocarpon). In addition, many of the Woodland Vernal Pools, and Highbush 

Blueberry Thickets that lack standing water for much of the year do not have the 

distinct vegetation zones described above. 

6.8.7c Kettle Hole Level Bogs 

These bogs occur in kettle depressions, and have zoned vegetation. They are 

typically small, round, and lack inlets and outlets. Often the outermost ring is a wet 

moat that acts as a vernal pool when water remains for 2-3 months. They are 

surrounded by highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and swamp azalea 

(Rhododendron viscosum). The central mat has a mixture of members of the heath family. 

6.8.7d Red Maple Swamps 

Red Maple Swamps consist of 5% of the total wetlands on Camp Edwards. 

The hydrogeologic setting is the primary determinant of water regime and plant 

community in Red Maple Swamps. On Camp Edwards, they are seasonally flooded, fed 

by groundwater seepage, and overland flow. The Red Maple itself typically provides 

90% of the canopy cover. The shrub layer is often dense and well developed and 

consist of Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), 

and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). The herbaceous layer is highly 

variable with abundant ferns. 

6.8.7e Highbush Blueberry Thicket 

This natural community is characterized by acidic peat lands dominated by 

dense highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) bushes and sphagnum hummocks. 

These tall thickets are generally flooded in the spring and early summer with water 

levels dropping below surface levels by late summer. Many examples are located in 

kettle holes. 

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6.8.7f Woodland Vernal Pools 

Woodland vernal pools are small, shallow depressions with little or no 

vegetation within upland forests. They are temporally flooded, provide important 

breeding habitat for amphibians, and are typically isolated from other surface waters 

and are typically dry in the summer. They do not support fish populations. Vernal 

pools support diverse invertebrate and amphibian fauna that is not adapted to fish 

predation. Most wetlands on Camp Edwards are either vernal pools or function as one. 

The following table (6-7) contains the species of the Wetlands of Camp Edwards with 

the plant and bird species in order of abundance. 

Table 6-7: Species of the Wetlands 


PLANTS 

Trees - 

Red maple Acer rubrum - 



Shrubs - 

Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica - 

Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum - 

Forbes - 

Wool grass Scirpus cyperinus - 

Large cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon - 

Common rush Juncus effusus - 

Three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum - 



Panic grass Dichanthelium acuminatum - 

Lance-leaved violet Viola lanceolata - 

Northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus - 

Hardhack Spiraea tomentosa - 

INVERTEBRATES 

Moths 

Water-willow Stem Borer Papaipema sulphurata T 

Odonates 

Amberwings Perithemis tenera - 

Blue Pirate Pachydiplax longipennis - 

Calico Pennant Celithemis elisa - 

66


Comet Darner Anax longipes SC 

Common Forktail Ischnura verticalis - 

Common Green Darner Anax junius - 

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum SC 

Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita - 

Goldenwings Libellula auripennis - 

Green Jacket Erythemis simplicicollis - 

Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina - 

New England Bluet Enallagma laterale SC 

Pine Barrens Bluet Enallagma recurvatum T 

Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta - 

Spatterdock Darner Aeshna mutata SC 

Swamp Spreadwing Lestes vigilax - 

Crustacea 

Clam Shrimp Eulimnadia agassizi E 

VERTEBRATES 

Amphibians 



Gray treefrog Hyla versicolor - 



Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana - 




Red spotted newt Notopthalmus viridescens - 

Reptiles 



Snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina - 

Musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus - 

Eastern painted turtle Chrysemys picta picta - 

Eastern ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus - 

Birds 



67



Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula - 







Red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus - 







Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus - 



Mammals 

Short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda - 

Masked shrew Sorex cinereus - 

Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus - 

Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus - 


68


Figure 6-9. Wetlands of Camp Edwards and the MMR. 


69


6.8.8 Disturbed Natural Communities 

A major objective of the ITAM Program is to monitor and assess the effects of 

ARNG training on the natural resources of Camp Edwards. In order to achieve this 

objective, disturbed plant communities were surveyed to compare results to the native 

communities to determine the effect of land use on the flora of Camp Edwards. The 

disturbed plant communities of Camp Edwards were further divided into three subsets: 

bivouacs, burns, and other disturbed (e.g., areas mowed or subject to vehicle traffic). 

The flora of bivouac sites, which total 395 acres or 2.7% of Camp Edwards, 

appear less diverse and more sparsely vegetated than the plant communities that 

surround them. In fact, bivouac sites have been found to have significantly fewer trees 

(P


competing other species, thereby promoting competition between species and 

increasing overall plant diversity. Grasses, including poverty grass, Pennsylvania 

sedge, little bluestem, cypress witchgrass (Dichanthelium dichotomum), hairgrass, panic 

grass (Dichanthelium acuminatum), and starved panic grass (Dichanthelium depauperatum), 

were the most prevalent plant form in the disturbed sites. However, pitch pine was 

abundant, with scarlet oak, black oak, white oak, and chinquapin oak (Quercus prinoides) 

being less common. The shrub layer, which included huckleberry, scrub oak, blueberry, 

and sweetfern, was typical of other plant communities on Camp Edwards. All plant 

forms, grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees, have increased in abundance within the 

disturbed sites, indicating a gradual recolonization or succession of vegetation in these 

areas. 

The plant communities that have been disturbed on Camp Edwards, either from 

training (e.g., bivouacs, vehicle traffic) or through land management (e.g., prescribed 

burning), often have characteristics that differ from the surrounding communities. 

Bivouacs are typically less diverse due to regular use, whereas the other disturbed areas 

were impacted over a shorter period of time, resulting in an increase in plant diversity. 

Bivouac restoration will serve to increase plant diversity and abundance within the 

bivouac sites on Camp Edwards. The burned areas are typically one of the least diverse 

plant communities, since prescribed fires promote growth of the shrubs and trees, but 

not the grass and forb layers. Therefore, disturbance may serve to maintain a particular 

natural community (i.e., prescribed burning in scrub oak shrublands) or increase plant 

diversity. However, where plant diversity is decreased as a direct result of training 

activities, such as in the bivouacs, land management activities (e.g., Bivouac 

Restoration) will be employed to restore plant diversity and abundance while 

maintaining the land for military training. 

Some exotic and invasive plant species benefit from disturbance. They typically 

outcompete native species and proliferate in disturbed systems. One example of such a 

proliferation is that of Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) in the Cantonment area. This 

species takes over areas where pipelines are put into the ground. The disturbance 

leaves the ground bare. The Knapweed quickly establishes and outcompetes native 

species. It should be noted however, that the Knapweed is slowly displaced by native 

bluestem grasses over a period of several years. Exotic invasives will be discussed 

further in Chapter 8 (8.10.3). 

6.9 Fauna 

Extensive surveys have been conducted to inventory the fauna of Camp 

Edwards. Annual RTLA surveys have monitored the long-term trends in bird and 

small mammal populations since 1993 while other projects have surveyed faunal 

populations for 1 to 8 years. These surveys and inventories have provided an 

enormous database of the fauna of Camp Edwards and their associated habitats. 

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6.9.1 Invertebrates 

Due to their high diversity compared to other groups of fauna, invertebrates are 

one of the least studied groups of animals on Camp Edwards. Past surveys and 

inventories have concentrated on three groups of invertebrates: moths, dragonflies, and 

aquatic invertebrates. 

Historically, 10 state-listed rare moth species dependent upon the pitch 

pine/scrub oak plant communities and 5 other state-listed rare moth species had been 

documented at locations near Camp Edwards. As a result of these reports as well as the 

relative abundance of pitch pine scrub oak communities on Camp Edwards, the training 

site was surveyed for state-listed rare moths from 1996-1998 (Mello et al. 1999). A range 

of plant communities on Camp Edwards were surveyed, primarily within the scrub oak 

shrublands, but also within pitch pine scrub oak community, pitch pine-oak forest 

woodland, and grasslands. Portions of the cantonment area and the PAVE PAWS radar 

station were also included in the survey. A total of 528 species of macrolepidoptera 

(i.e., moths and butterflies) were identified during the study (Appendix C), including 17 

state-listed rare species (Table 6-8). The open scrub oak shrublands and partially closed 

pitch pine scrub oak communities provide significant habitat for 7 of the 17 species, 

which feed upon the scrub oak. The host plants for most of the other state-listed rare 

moths were members of the plant family Ericaceae, which includes blueberries, 

huckleberry, and cranberry- shrub species common to Camp Edwards. 

Table 6-8. State-Listed rare moths, their associated habitat, and host plant on 

Camp Edwards, MA. 

Common Name* Associated Habitat on Camp Edwards Host Plant 

Barrens Daggermoth Scrub Oak Shrubland Scrub Oak 

Coastal Barren’s Buckmoth Scrub Oak Shrubland Scrub Oak 

Gerhard’s Underwing Scrub Oak Shrubland Scrub Oak 

Melsheimer’s Sack Bearer Scrub Oak Shrubland Scrub Oak 

Pink Streak Grassland/Wet Meadow Panic Grass 

Water-Willow Stem Borer Wetlands Water Willow 

Chain-dotted Geometer Scrub Oak Shrubland Ericaceae & bayberry 

Coastal Heathland Cutworm ??? Ericaeae/Grasses? 

Coastal Swamp Metarranthis Pine/Oak Barrens Swamps Cranberry 

Ostrich Fern Borer ??? Ostrich Fern 

Pine Barrens Itame Scrub Oak Shrubland Ericaceae? 

Pine Barrens Zale Scrub Oak Shrubland Scrub Oak 

Pink Swallow Moth Pine/Oak Barrens Ericaceae 

Straight Lined Mallow Moth ??? Hazelnut? 

Sandplain Euchlaena Scrub Oak Shrubland ??? 

*for scientific names and status in MA, see Table 6-14. 

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The most significant plant communities for state-listed rare moth species on 

Camp Edwards are the scrub oak shrubland and the cultural grasslands. Since both of 

these habitats are early successional fire-adapted habitats, active management will be 

required to ensure their existence on Camp Edwards. 

Although not systematically, dragonflies and damselflies (i.e., odonates) have 

been surveyed during the past 11 years on Camp Edwards. Mello et al. (1999) noted 20 

species of odonates throughout the course of the moth surveys. In addition, some of the 

ponds and wetlands of Camp Edwards were surveyed for dragonflies during the 

summers of 1995-2005. A list of documented odonates was compiled, but should by no 

means be considered a complete inventory of Camp Edwards (Appendix D). Five statelisted 

rare species of dragonflies were documented during the surveys: the comet 

darner (Anax longipes), the spatterdock darner (Aeshna mutata), the Tule Bluet (Enallagma 

carunculatum), the New England bluet (Enallagma laterale), and the pine barrens bluet 

(Enallagma recurvatum). 

An aquatic invertebrate survey was conducted in the ponds and wetlands of 

Camp Edwards during the summer of 1997, during which 153 distinct taxa were 

identified (Wojtowicz 2000). The majority of the taxa were in the orders Diptera (flies), 

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hemiptera (true bugs). 

Other less common insect orders included Megaloptera (dobsonflies, fishflies, and 

alderflies), Trichoptera (caddisflies), and Ephemeroptera (mayflies). Two species from 

the study are state-listed rare species: the clam shrimp Eulimnadia agassizi (endangered) 

and the damselfly Enallagma carunculatum (special concern). Non-insect invertebrates 

were rather diverse and included Collembola (springtails), Nematoda (roundworms), 

Hydracarina (water mites), Hydra, Oligochaeta (aquatic earthworms), Isopoda (aquatic 

sow bugs), Hirudinea (Leeches), Conchostraca (clam shrimp), Gastropoda (snails), 

Amphipoda (scuds and sideswimmers), Copepoda , and Cladocera (water fleas). 

6.9.2 Birds 

A total of 105 bird species have been documented on Camp Edwards since 1994 

during annual RTLA bird surveys as well as during surveys of grasslands, the Impact 

Area, and other areas of Camp Edwards (Appendix E). The RTLA bird surveys are 

conducted along the same transects as the RTLA plant surveys. The data from the bird 

surveys are used to determine abundance and species richness of birds throughout the 

natural communities of Camp Edwards. Camp Edwards supports a relatively large 

amount of habitat for bird species that are characteristic of oak and pitch-pine scrub oak 

habitats. Many of these species, including the eastern towhee, field sparrow, song 

sparrow, prairie warbler, whip-poor-will, and gray catbird that have exhibited 

significant regional declines (Scott Melvin, personal communication), are relatively 

abundant on Camp Edwards. 

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There were distinct differences between the avifauna of bivouac sites and their 

surrounding habitats. The most noticeable difference was that ovenbirds (Seiurus 

aurocapillus) and common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas), two scrubland nesting bird 

species that typically require deep leaf litter and dense, low vegetation, respectively, 

were significantly less abundant in bivouac sites on Camp Edwards (P=0.024, 0.019, 

respectively) (Stokes and Griffin 1997). A P-value is a “probability value” relating to 

the probability that the groups being measured are statistically different from one 

another. In this case, a P-value of less than 0.05 indicates that there is less than a 5 % 

chance that the differences in abundance observed at bivouac sites were false. In 

contrast, the American robin (Turdus migratorius), chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), 

and Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), three species that are often associated with 

suburban park-like habitats or open woodlands, were significantly more abundant in 

the bivouac sites (P=0.001, 0.001, 0.033, respectively). 

The grasslands of Camp Edwards and Otis ANG Base cantonment area are 

critical habitat for four state-listed rare bird species. These species include the upland 

sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda - endangered), the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus 

savannarum – threatened), the vesper sparrow (Pooecetes graminus - threatened), and the 

northern harrier (Circus cyaneus - threatened). The largest population of upland 

sandpipers, 14 pairs, observed by White and Melvin (1985) in Massachusetts occurred 

in the cantonment area grasslands. The sandpipers used mowed and unmowed areas 

of the grasslands for feeding, loafing, courtship, nesting, and brood-rearing. However, 

the numbers of upland sandpipers have declined since the initial survey (White and 

Melvin 1985), perhaps due to the gradual succession of the grasslands, including 

recolonization of pitch pine (Table 6-9). 

The second largest population of grasshopper sparrows in Massachusetts, 22 

pairs, was observed in the unmowed portions of the cantonment area grasslands. The 

population of grasshopper sparrows has also declined from 22 pairs in 1985 to 10 

individuals in 1998. Numbers currently are on the increase, 54 individuals were 

reported in 2004, and 60 in 2005. This increase reflects the mowing schedule of the 

runway. The later in spring that it is mowed, the larger the number of grasshopper 

sparrows. 

Northern harriers have been observed in the grasslands and scrub oak 

shrublands of Camp Edwards. One pair of northern harriers is observed hunting in the 

grasslands most years; however a nest has not been located. A female northern harrier 

was observed with three recently fledged young in the Impact Area during a 1998 

survey. Although a nest was not located, the presence of the young suggests that the 

female may have nested nearby. 

74


Although the vesper sparrow was not observed during the White and Melvin 

(1985) survey, it has been documented within the cantonment area grasslands several 

times since in 1995, 2004, and 2005. 

A new arrival to the grasslands was discovered during the RTLA surveys in 

2004, 2005, and 2006. The Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) has been observed 

several times utilizing previously burned areas of the cantonment area grasslands. 

Table 6-9. Numbers of state-listed rare bird species observed in 

Camp Edwards grasslands. 

Species 1985 1995 2001 2005 

Upland sandpiper 14* 16 2 23 

Grasshopper sparrow 22* 11 7 60 

Vesper sparrow 0* 1 0 3 

Northern harrier 1* 1 1 3* 

*recorded as number of pairs 

The wetlands of Camp Edwards were surveyed in 1995 for secretive waterbirds, 

some species of which are declining in or have disappeared from the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts (Veit and Petersen 1993). Only one species of secretive waterbird, the 

green heron (Butorides striatus), was observed during the study (Wilson and Cavanaugh 

1996). Other documented wetland bird species were the great blue heron (Ardea 

herodius), the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), the wood duck (Aix sponsa), the mallard 

(Anas platyrhynchos), and the mute swan (Cygnus olor). None of the bird species 

observed were state-listed rare species in Massachusetts. 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) developed and 

implemented a wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) reintroduction program beginning in 

1972. Between 1979 and 1996, 561 turkeys were released throughout the 

Commonwealth. The DFW successfully reintroduced wild turkey to the forests of 

Camp Edwards, one of the two locations on Cape Cod where turkeys were released. 

Eighteen turkeys, 6 males and 12 females, were released during the winter months of 

1989. Since this time, wild turkeys have been a common sight on Camp Edwards. The 

first organized wild turkey harvest was held in the spring 2000, during which a total of 

121 hunters shot 11 turkeys. The harvest has since been conducted in spring 2004 (105 

hunters, 4 turkeys), spring 2005 (44 hunters, 1 turkey), and spring 2006 (90 hunters, 4 

turkeys). Techniques used when hunting wild turkey in the spring favors the harvest of 

males over females, thereby minimizing the long-term impact to the overall population 

(J. Cardoza pers. comm.). 

75


6.9.3 Mammals 

Camp Edwards is inhabited by at least 30 species of mammals (Appendix F). 

The most common of these mammals is likely the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus 

leucopus). Nine other small mammals have been captured on Camp Edwards. Ten 

species of medium-sized small mammals have been documented from visual 

observations. The only mammals that have been observed on Camp Edwards that 

could be classified as large mammals are the coyote and the white-tailed deer. Four 

species of bats have been captured throughout the training area during chiropteran 

surveys. 

Populations of small mammals on Camp Edwards have been monitored since 

1994 during annual RTLA surveys. The most abundant small mammal species 

encountered during the surveys were the white-footed mouse and the southern redbacked 

vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) (P=.0001). The white-footed mouse was captured in 

every plant community on Camp Edwards, whereas the southern red-backed vole was 

found mostly within communities dominated by pitch pine. In the relatively small 

grasslands that were surveyed, the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) was 

common. Other species that were uncommon or rarely captured included, in order of 

relative abundance, short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), southern flying squirrel 

(Glaucomys volans), masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), 

eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), and red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). The only 

other species of small mammals observed on Camp Edwards not documented during 

the RTLA surveys were the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus), grey squirrel (Sciurus 

carolinensis) and meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius). 

Among the plant communities, or habitats, of Camp Edwards, the number of 

small mammal species (i.e., richness) did not vary significantly (P = .6062). However, a 

significantly greater number of small mammals was captured in the mixed woods north 

plant community than in any other (P = .0001). The burn, pitch pine scrub oak, and 

grassland communities produced a relatively moderate number of individuals. The 

fewest number of small mammals was captured within the disturbed, wetland, and 

bivouac communities. 

Most of the medium-sized small mammals on Camp Edwards are species that 

are common to Southeastern Massachusetts, with the exception of the fisher (Martes 

pennanti) and the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). The geographic 

range of the fisher usually does not extend as far south as Cape Cod (Burt and 

Grossenheider 1980), the southernmost observation of the species was Middleborough, 

Massachusetts. Sightings of fisher by field crews, soldiers etc. was confirmed in 2005 

with a road kill discovery on SR 130, by the convoy gate. Also discovered by the 

convoy gate in 2005 was the first recorded specimen of a Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) 

on Cape Cod. The New England Cottontail is recognized by the USFWS as a candidate 

76


species for listing. Thus, it is not yet listed as endangedered and no regulations to their 

protection are imposed. However, Camp Edwards hosts a population of this species 

and it will be protected through the early successional putch pine scrub oak community 

and scrub oak shrublands management. 

Beginning in the 1950s, an annual white tail deer hunt has taken place on Camp 

Edwards. However, records from only 1992-2005 were available (Table 6-10). On 

average, 102 deer were shot each year during this time period. Although the harvest 

data do not provide an accurate estimation of the abundance of the deer on Camp 

Edwards, the consistent success rate of 4-6% suggests that the population size has not 

fluctuated greatly. However, this is assuming that the effort and skill of the hunters 

does not vary much between years. Personal accounts from hunters indicate that they 

often return to the same location each year, which contributed to a consistent hunting 

effort. No hunt occurred in 2001 due to the terrorist attacks of 11 September. This 

caused a spike in the take, and thus hunter success due to the increase in deer 

population. Two years later, the numbers returned to pre 11 September 2001 levels. 

This emphasizes the importance of holding the annual hunt to maintain a healthy deer 

herd on Camp Edwards. 

Table 6-10. Deer harvest data for Camp Edwards, MA, 1992-2005. 

Year Hunters Bucks Does Sex Ratio Total Deer/Hunter 

1992 2516 68 32 2.1 100 0.04 

1993 2364 41 51 0.8 92 0.04 

1994 2177 61 34 1.8 95 0.04 

1995 2290 53 39 1.4 92 0.04 

1996 1919 58 49 1.2 107 0.06 

1997 1352 50 32 1.6 82 0.06 

1998 2139 62 33 1.9 95 0.04 

1999 1778 50 39 1.3 89 0.05 

2000 1624 48 43 1.12 91 0.06 

2002 1272 105 64 1.64 169 0.13 

2003 1291 79 50 1.58 129 0.10 

2004 1658 49 56 0.88 105 0.06 

2005 1573 38 37 1.03 75 0.05 

A survey of the bat species on Camp Edwards was conducted during 1999 and 

2000. Four species were documented during the preliminary survey: the big brown bat 

(Eptesicus fuscus), the red bat (Lasiurus borealis), the northern myotis (Myotis 

septentrionalis), and the eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus). In 2002 Bat/Duck 

boxes have been placed in the wetlands of Camp Edwards. Bats (northern myotis?) 

have been recorded in two houses located in Donnelly Pond and the Rod and Gun Club 

South Pond. 

77


Domesticated cats are not common to Camp Edwards, but have been observed in 

the housing and cantonment areas of the MMR. Domestic cats may pose a threat to 

ground nesting grassland birds. In the event that feral cats are observed in the 

grasslands, consultation with MA DFW will occur to determine the appropriate method 

of removal. 

6.9.4 Reptiles 

The reptile species that are found on Camp Edwards have been documented as a 

result of surveys for the Massachusetts Herpetological Atlas Project or from incidental 

sightings. Twelve species of reptiles, 5 turtles and 7 snakes, have been observed on 

Camp Edwards, including one species of special concern, the eastern box turtle (Table 

6-11). 

Table 6-11. Reptile species observed on Camp Edwards*. 




Snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina - 

Musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus - 

Eastern painted turtle Chrysemys p. picta - 


Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis - 

Garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis - 

Eastern ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus - 

Northern ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsii - 

Milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum - 

Eastern hog-nosed snake 

*SC = Special Concern 

Heterodon platirhinos - 

The sightings of eastern box turtles have been of particular interest to the Camp 

Edwards Natural Resource Office and the Massachusetts NHESP. Personnel from the 

Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office and Range Control as well as MAARNG 

soldiers have recorded eastern box turtle sightings during the past eight years on Camp 

Edwards. Approximately 170 individuals have been recorded, 46 of which were 

marked. Each individual that was marked was also measured (i.e., carapace length and 

width), weighed, sexed, and aged. 

As a result of the relatively high incidence of eastern box turtle sightings, the 

Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office attached transmitters to 10 individuals to 

monitor their movements and habitat use each year for five years. Preliminary analysis 

of the data indicates that, in general, eastern box turtles are ubiquitous within the 

ecosystem of Camp Edwards. Home ranges of eastern box turtles vary in size from 3.2- 

84.4 acres (mean=20.4 acres) and do not vary much between years. One individual was 

78


observed moving over one kilometer within one week. Further analysis of these data 

will be summarized in a following report. 

6.9.5 Amphibians 

A survey of the reptiles and amphibians of Camp Edwards was conducted in 

1995 as part of the Massachusetts Herpetological Atlas Project. Every wetland, drainage 

ditch, or area of standing water on Camp Edwards was visually inspected and sampled 

for eggs, larvae, and adults using a dipnet. In addition, most wetlands were surveyed 

for calling amphibians in the evening. Although the survey was qualitative in nature, it 

resulted in approximately 200 reptile and amphibian records for Camp Edwards. 

A total of 11 species of amphibians have been observed on Camp Edwards. The 

ponds and wetlands of Camp Edwards were surveyed for amphibians as part of the 

Massachusetts Herpetological Atlas Project as well as periodically during the breeding 

season since 1994. Observations of breeding amphibians have included 7 species. The 

most commonly observed amphibians include bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), green frogs 

(Rana clamitans), grey treefrogs (Hyla versicolor), wood frog (Rana sylvatica), and spring 

peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), however, American toads (Bufo americanus) spotted 

salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and eastern newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) were 

also frequently observed. The redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus), pickerel frog 

(Rana palustris), and American toad (Bufo americanus) have been observed at areas of 

Camp Edwards not necessarily associated with delineated wetlands. 

6.9.6 Fish 

The following fish have been documented within wetlands of Camp Edwards: 

Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), Pumpkinseed 

(Lepomis gibbosus), Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), and Largemouth bass 

(Micropterus salmoides). Additional surveys are planned to complete the inventory of 

fish species on Camp Edwards. 

6.10 Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species 

The Cape Cod Ecoregion has the highest number and one of the highest densities 

of state-listed rare plant and animal species within the 13 ecoregions in Massachusetts 

(Barbour et al. 1999). Within the Cape Cod Ecoregion, the greatest number of statelisted 

rare species can be found at the MMR. 41 state-listed (i.e., endangered (E), 

threatened (T), and special concern (SC)) and 6 species on the unofficial watch-list (WL) 

have been observed on Camp Edwards (Table 6-12). 

Along with the 41 state listed species there is one candidate for federal listing-the 

New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) that occurs on Camp Edwards. As it is 

79


not yet federally listed, no regulatory actions are required. However, this management 

plan outlines further studies of this species (see 8.8.3) and habitat management of it 

required habitat of early successional scrub oak shrublands and pitch pine scrub oak 

community (see .8.2 and 8.5). 

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Table 6-12. State-listed and watch-listed species observed on Camp Edwards, MA. 

group Endangered Threatened Special concern State-Listed Total Watch-Listed 

plants 4 1 0 5 6 

odonates 1 1 3 5 0 

butterflies 0 0 1 1 0 

moths 0 4 12 16 0 

reptiles 0 0 1 1 0 

amphibians 0 1 0 1 0 

birds 1 4 1 6 0 

total 6 11 18 35 6 

6.10.1 Threatened and Endangered Flora 

Only one species of state-listed plants, broad tinker’s-weed (Triosteum 

perfoliatum), was documented during the initial floristic survey of Camp Edwards 

(Jenkins 1994). As a result of annual surveys to update the list of flora on Camp 

Edwards, 4 more state-listed and 6 watch-listed plant species have been identified on 

Camp Edwards (Table 6-13). Conservation of the state-listed rare plant species is 

discussed in Chapter 9.2. 

Table 6-13 State Listed Plant Species of Camp Edwards 

Scientific Name Common Name Status in MA National Status 

Rhynchospora torreyana Torrey's Beak Rush *E G5 

Thuja occidentalis Northern White Cedar E G5 

Triosteum perfoliatum Broad Tinker's Weed E G5 

Ophioglossum pusillum Adder's Tongue Fern T G5 

Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed WL G5 

Fuirena pumila Umbrella Grass WL G5 

Lechea minor Least Pinweed WL G5 

Lupinis perennis Lupine WL G5 

Polygala nuttallii Nutall's Milkwort WL G5 

Stachys hyssopifolia Hyssop Hedge Nettle WL G5 

Eleocharis ovata Ovate Spike-sedge E G5 

6.10.2 Threatened and Endangered Fauna 

A total of 30 state-listed animals have been observed on Camp Edwards (Table 6- 

14). These species include 17 species of lepidoptera, 5 species of odonates, 6 species of 

birds, 1 species of turtle, and 1 amphibian. 

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Table 6-14 State Listed Fauna of Camp Edwards 

Scientific Name Common Name Status in MA Heritage Status 

BIRDS (6) 

Bartramia longicauda Upland Sandpiper E G5 

Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper Sparrow T G5 

Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier T G5 

Parula americana Northern Parula T G5 

Pooecetes gramineus Vesper Sparrow T G5 

Accipiter striatus Sharp-shinned Hawk SC G5 

REPTILES and AMPHIBIANS (2) 

Scaphiopus holbrooki Eastern Spadefoot T G5T5 

Terrapene carolina carolina Eastern Box Turtle SC G5T5 

ODONATES (5) 

Anax longipes Comet Darner SC G5 

Aeshna mutata Spatterdock Darner E G3G4 

Enallagma carunculatum Tule Bluet SC G5 

Enallagma recurvatum Pine Barrens Bluet T G3 

Enallagma laterale New England Bluet SC G3 

MOTHS (16) 

Acronicta albarufa Barrens Daggermoth T G3G4 

Hemileuca maia Coastal Barren’s Buckmoth SC G5T3T4 

Catocala herodias gerhardi Gerhard’s Underwing SC G3T3 

Cicinnius melsheimeri Melsheimer’s Sack Bearer T G4 

Faronta rubripennis Pink Streak T G3G4 

Papaipema sulphurata Water-Willow Stem Borer T G2 

Cingilia catenaria Chain-dotted Geometer SC G4 

Abagrotis nefascia benjamini Coastal Heathland Cutworm SC G4T3 

Metarrhanthis pilosaria Coastal Swamp Metarranthis SC G3G4 

Papaipema sp. Ostrich Fern Borer SC G3G4 

Itame sp. Pine Barrens Itame SC G3 

Zale sp. Pine Barrens Zale SC G3Q 

Psectraglaea carnosa Pink Swalow Moth SC G3 

Oncocnemis riparia noctuid moth SC G4 

Bagisara rectifascia Straight Lined Mallow Moth SC G4 

Euchlaena madusaria Sandplain Euchlaena SC G5S1 

BUTTERFLYS (1) 

Callophrys irus Frosted elfin SC G3 

The Massachusetts NHESP lists sixteen species of moths and one butterfly that 

inhabit Camp Edwards as either threatened or special concern. At least ten of these 

species depend upon the scrub oak barrens of Camp Edwards for at least part of their 

life cycle (see Chapter 6.9.1). Mello et al. (1999) identified the habitats on Camp 

Edwards that contain scrub oak and an open forest canopy as critical habitat for statelisted 

rare moths. The Massachusetts NHESP has requested that the MAARNG 

maintain approximately 4000 acres of scrub oak barrens as rare wildlife habitat. The 

other species of state-listed rare moths have been documented in either grasslands, 

wetlands, or forested habitats on Camp Edwards. The conservation of state-listed rare 

moth species is discussed in Chapter 9.4 of this document. 

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Five state-listed rare species of odonates (i.e., dragonflies and damselflies) have 

been documented in or near the ponds on the western edge of Camp Edwards (Table 6- 

14). The Rod and Gun Club Ponds, Donnely Pond, and Deep Bottom Pond are critical 

habitat for these species. The occurrence of the state-listed rare odonates in these ponds 

suggests that the land along the western edge of Camp Edwards, which includes an 

open path along the powerline easements, serves as a migration corridor between the 

ponds. The emphasis in protecting these species should be placed not only on the 

aquatic habitats used for feeding and larval development, but also the upland habitats 

that are used by the adults. The conservation of state-listed rare odonate species is 

discussed in Chapter 9.3 of this document. 

Six species of state-listed rare birds have been documented on Camp Edwards. 

Four of these species, the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, vesper sparrow, and 

northern harrier, inhabit the grasslands of the Camp Edwards cantonment area. Their 

habitat requirements and management are discussed in Chapters 8.6 and 9.5 of this 

document. Migratory records exist for the sharp-shinned hawk and northern parula in 

the forests of Camp Edwards. The common tern has been observed flying over Camp 

Edwards. The conservation of state-listed rare birds will be described in Chapter 9.5 of 

this document. 

One species of state-listed rare turtle, the eastern box turtle, has been 

documented on Camp Edwards. The eastern box turtle has been observed in nearly 

every natural community on Camp Edwards, including grasslands, forests, and 

disturbed areas (e.g., bivouacs and powerline easements). The conservation of statelisted 

rare turtle species will be discussed in Chapter 9.6 of this document. 

Along with the 41 state listed species there is one candidate for federal listing-the 

New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) that occurs on Camp Edwards. As it is 

not yet federally listed, no regulatory actions are required. However, this management 

plan outlines further studies of this species (see 8.8.3) and habitat management of it 

required habitat of early successional scrub oak shrublands and pitch pine scrub oak 

community (see .8.2 and 8.5). 

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SECTION IV. NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT CAMP EDWARDS 

CHAPTER 7. INTEGRATED TRAINING AREA MANAGEMENT (ITAM) PROGRAM 

7.1 Overview of ITAM and Relationship to Natural Resource Management 

The Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program is responsible for 

maintaining the land to help the Army to meet its training requirements. This requires 

understanding and balancing Army Training requirements and land management 

practices. The Integrated Training Area Management Program (ITAM) is the U.S. Army 

standard for sustaining the capability of installation land units to support their military 

training missions by achieving the following goals: 

• to integrate environmental planning procedures into all operations 

• to protect natural and cultural resources 

• to ensure compliance with existing statutory regulations (See Chapter 4) 

• to prevent future pollution and reduce hazardous waste and toxic releases 

(This final goal is coordinated thru the Camp Edwards Environmental 

Manger and Hazardous Waste Coordinator. References: MMR 

Groundwater Protection Policy, October 1, 2003, Camp Edwards 

Integrated Contigency Plan and the Hazardous Materials and Waste 

Management Plans) 

The ITAM Program relies on its four components and an integrated management 

from HQDA, MACOM, and installations to accomplish its mission. The four 

components are Training Requirements Integration (TRI); Range and Training Land 

Assessment (RTLA); Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance (LRAM); and Sustainable 

Range Awareness (SRA). These components combine to provide the means to 

understand how the Army's training requirements impact land management practices, 

what the impact of training is on the land, how to mitigate and repair the impact, and 

communicate the ITAM message to soldiers and the public. Geographic Information 

Systems (GIS) is a foundational support element that provides locational information 

that assists land managers in making their decisions. 

1) Range and Training Land Assessments (RTLA): The RTLA 

program inventories and monitors natural resource conditions and 

manages and analyzes natural resource information. Results are 

pertinent to management of training and testing lands from 

training area to installation scales and provides input to decisions 

that promote sustained and multiple uses on military lands. The 

RTLA program evaluates relationships between land use and 

condition through the collection of physical and biological resource 

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data. Some RTLA projects are long term, while others are relatively 

short. Key to RTLA success is the evaluation and analysis of 

collected data. 

2) Training Requirements Integration (TRI): TRI is the component of 

the ITAM Program that provides a decision support procedure that 

integrates training requirements with land management, training 

management, and natural and cultural resources management 

processes and data derived from RTLA and Army Conservation 

Program components. 

3) Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance (LRAM): LRAM is the 

component of the ITAM Program that provides a preventive and 

corrective land rehabilitation and maintenance procedure to reduce 

the long-term impacts of training and testing on an installation. It 

includes training area redesign and/or reconfiguration to meet 

training requirements. 

4) Sustainable Range Awareness (SRA): Sustainable Range 

Awareness is the component of the ITAM Program that provides a 

proactive means to develop and distribute educational materials to 

users of range and training land assets. Materials relate procedures 

that reduce the potential for inflicting avoidable impacts on range 

and training land assets, including the local natural and cultural 

resources. ITAM SRA addresses specific environmental sensitivities 

at the installation level, to inform land users of restrictions and 

activities to avoid so as to prevent damage to natural and cultural 

resources. 

In 1994, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security 

issued a memorandum to all forces in the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement 

Ecosystem Management on DoD lands. In addition to being a smart way of doing 

business, ecosystem management blends multiple-use needs, provides a consistent 

framework to manage installations, and ensures that the integrity of the system of DoD 

lands remains intact. 

DoD Instruction 4715.3 “Environmental Conservation Programs”, implements policy, 

assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the integrated management of natural and 

cultural resources on property under DoD control. The guidelines issued by the Department of 

Defense in both documents were incorporated into the goals and objectives of this plan (see 

Chapter 8 for detailed information about Ecosystem Management at Camp Edwards). 

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Together, the ITAM Program and Natural Resource Management ensure 

sustainable use of training lands as well as taking into consideration the surrounding 

environment and public concern. 

7.1.1 ITAM Coordination 

National Guard Bureau ITAM program proponency resides in the Army 

Training Division (NGB-ART), while the Army Environmental Programs Division 

(NGB-ARE) and Army Installations Division (NGB-ARI) provide technical expertise to 

support ITAM (see Chapter 4 for responsibilities). In Massachusetts, the Office of The 

Adjutant General has proponency of the ITAM program for the MAARNG. 

7.1.2 ITAM Program on Camp Edwards 

The National Guard Bureau (NGB) and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State 

Military Department (MAARNG) have made a commitment to implement the ITAM 

program at Camp Edwards. ITAM at Camp Edwards was formally initiated with the 

start of the Land Condition Trend Analysis (LCTA) Program in 1993. The LCTA 

program is now called the RTLA program. 

The ITAM Program at Camp Edwards is administered by the Camp Edwards 

Natural Resource Office with cooperation and support from Operations and Range 

Control at Camp Edwards. The RTLA portion of the ITAM Program is carried out by 

the seasonal and permanent staff of the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office. 

LRAM Projects are initiated by the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office, with most 

of the work conducted by the Roads and Grounds crew within the Camp Edwards 

Division of Facilities Engineering. TRI initiatives are coordinated between the Camp 

Edwards Natural Resource Office, The Environmental and Readiness Center, Range 

Control, and trainers. The EA portion of the ITAM Program is conducted by the Camp 

Edwards Natural Resource Office with an emphasis not only on the soldiers that train at 

Camp Edwards, but also people and organizations outside the MAARNG (e.g., the 

public, local school groups). 

7.2 Range and Training Land Assessments (RTLA) 

7.2.1 Introduction 

RTLA is the natural resources data collection and analysis component of the 

ITAM Program and is used as a standard base for inventory and monitoring on 

Department of Defense owned or managed properties (US Army Construction 

Engineering Research Laboratories 1995). The intent of RTLA is to acquire essential 

natural resource baseline information that is needed to effectively manage training 

lands. 

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RTLA surveys inventory plants, animals, and describe the condition of the land. 

The information obtained from RTLA surveys may be integrated with standard data 

elements from ancillary components of ITAM (for example, cultural resources surveys, 

wetlands surveys, endangered species surveys, water quality monitoring), as well as 

satellite imagery and aerial photography to portray a total picture of the natural and 

cultural resources of the training site. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is used 

to integrate all natural and cultural resources data and graphically display the 

relationships between individual resource components. 

LCTA was initiated in the mid-1980’s by the Department of Army as a top-down 

program emphasizing uniform data collection methodologies to provide regional, 

MACOM, or national-level assessments of land condition. With the adoption of ITAM 

by the Training & Operations community, the LCTA program has evolved to RTLA, a 

decentralized, installation-level management of objectives to document the status and 

trends in natural resources, examine the relationships between disturbance and 

condition, and support training and testing area land use decisions. Current policies 

allow installation-level managers (land managers and range operations staff) to 

determine how they can best collect and use resource data to support short and longterm 

land management decisions such as training area allocation, training area use, and 

land rehabilitation. 

A successful RTLA program provides scientifically valid baseline and long-term 

monitoring data. Monitoring is a critical component of the adaptive management cycle, 

especially in the context of ecosystem management, but can only be successful if it is 

objective-based. Limited resources dictate that qualitative methods sometimes be 

coupled with quantitative methods to address short- and long-term objectives. 

Long-term monitoring plots, in addition to non-permanent plots and other 

sampling sites, reduce the “noise” caused by annual variability and facilitates detection 

of condition trends over time. This information supports stationing decisions, mission 

change analysis, and natural resource management activities. It is important to note 

that RTLA encompasses the collection and analysis of both field-scale 

(plot/transect/area) and spatial (i.e., GIS) data. 

RTLA has changed in recent years in response to needs and constraints coming 

from installations and Major Army Command (MACOMs- i.e., NGB) as well as changes 

in organizational responsibilities and funding. There is a need for core elements that 

will remain important over time and flexible regardless of most policy changes. 

Decision-making at the installation level is also essential to ensure site-specific issues 

can be addressed effectively (Center for Ecological Management of Military Lands, 

1999). 

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7.2.2 History of RTLA at Camp Edwards 

The RTLA component of the ITAM program at Camp Edwards was launched 

during the spring of 1993, when 30 core plots were installed and monitored (then called 

the LCTA program). The number of plots increased with the addition of 30 special use 

plots to a total of 60 plots by 1994 (Figure 7-1). Some smaller plant communities (e.g., 

wetlands) were underrepresented within the 30 core plots but were sampled using 

special use plots. The special use plots were also established in sites that were visibly 

impacted or disturbed by military activities. The purpose of establishing these plots 

was to examine the direct impacts of certain activities associated with military training 

(e.g., bivouacking, establishing a helicopter landing zone, driving in assembly areas) on 

the natural resources of Camp Edwards. This was accomplished by comparing the data 

from the disturbed areas to those from the core plots. The core plots are distributed on 

Camp Edwards in a stratified random fashion. Within the stratified random sampling, 

the number of plots in each of the plant communities on Camp Edwards was directly 

proportionate to the percentage of the area of Camp Edwards that is occupied by that 

natural community. Within each natural community, the plots were distributed in a 

random fashion. In 2003, a Forest Resource Inventory was conducted. At that time it 

was decided to add all of the Forest Inventory plots to the RTLA database, for better 

plot coverage, and call them Environmental Monitoring (EM) Plots. There are currently 

224 EM plots located on Camp Edwards. All EM plots are included in the Camp 

Edwards GIS database. 

Bird surveys began at Camp Edwards in 1993. Surveys for birds have occurred 

yearly since 1993 on Camp Edwards. Incidental sightings of the less commonly 

observed faunal species have been recorded, and the presence of rare or protected 

species has also been documented. 

The data entered into the training site’s database has many different uses. Of 

primary interest to the training staff is the application of data to produce overlays of 

particular areas of the training site to get a snap-shot of what is happening within that 

portion of the site. Satellite imagery and aerial photography can be viewed within 

Arcview along with a map of the site’s training areas and training facilities. Trainers 

can use GIS generated maps to plan maneuvers, since terrain, topography, and 

vegetation can be portrayed on each map at or above the original scale of the input data. 

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Figure 7-1. RTLA (EM) plot locations within natural communities on Camp Edwards. 


89


7.2.3 RTLA Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Maintain the RTLA monitoring system on Camp Edwards that will serve as a 

measure of the integrity of the training site’s ecosystem and defend mission 

activities. This system also provides for the early detection of any adverse 

environmental impacts by the yearly monitoring of RTLA study plots. 

Objectives: 

a. Document existing conditions through standardized inventories to evaluate 

the capability of the land to meet multiple-use objectives on a sustained basis 

and to match land capabilities with land use. 

b. Conduct inventories of vegetation, wildlife, and effects of training on the 

landscape by monitoring EM plots. 

c. Establish additional plots as necessary on Camp Edwards. 

d. Monitor change and detect trends, thereby providing a basis for altering land 

use and amending land management plans to ensure long-term resource 

availability. 

GOAL 2. Maintain a comprehensive RTLA database with sufficient completeness, 

consistency, and accuracy, so that reliable and useful analysis can be 

achieved. 

Objectives: 

a. Establish consistent data entry protocols for use by all RTLA database users 

and field crews. 

b. Train Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office staff in RTLA database 

development and maintenance. 

GOAL 3. Maintain a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will provide efficient 

data storage, retrieval, and presentation to facilitate fully informed and 

integrated management decisions on Camp Edwards. 

Objectives: 

a. Support environmental, facilities, and training GIS needs. 

b. Develop and implement written standards and procedures for GIS 

administration. 

c. Define how GIS should be used within Camp Edwards Natural Resource 

Office, Facilities, and Training staffs. 

d. Use the Federal Geographic Data Committee Metadata Standard to document 

geo-spatial data sets as required by Executive Order 12906. 

7.2.4 Plot Inventory and Monitoring 

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RTLA data collection can be divided into three phases: initial plot inventory, 

long-term monitoring, and data interpretation. Establishing and inventorying 

permanent core field plots are the first and second phases in measuring changes to soil, 

vegetation, and wildlife on the entire training site. The initial inventory and monitoring 

consist of three major elements: land use assessment, line intercept sampling, and belt 

transect sampling. All the data are entered on handheld computers while in the field 

doing the actual inventory. 

The RTLA plot surveys are conducted each year during the peak of the growing 

season for plants, which at Camp Edwards is from June to August. However, the peak 

in bird and small mammal breeding typically occurred in the spring, just prior to or at 

the beginning of the surveys. Long-term monitoring techniques are used to monitor all 

plots. Details of RTLA monitoring can be found in US Army Construction Engineering 

Research Laboratories (1992) and U.S. Army Environmental Center (1997a). Results of 

10 years of RTLA data gathering at Camp Edwards are represented in Section III - 

Natural Resources of Camp Edwards and in the State of the Reservation Report 

produced yearly for the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve, Massachusetts Army 

National Guard, Camp Edwards, MA. 

The second type of plot is the special use plot. As the name implies, special use 

plots are for use in special situations. They are not necessarily permanent and may only 

be as long lived as required to collect enough data to monitor and assess potential 

impacts. Special use plots are used to address issues that cannot be addressed by core 

plots. Data collected from special use plots can be used to evaluate land rehabilitation 

efforts (i.e., LRAM projects), document the effects of prescribed or accidental fires, 

assess natural recovery of degraded lands, or to characterize and monitor relatively 

small habitats, including those of sensitive species or wetlands. Special use plots at 

Camp Edwards have been established to monitor the effects of training activities. 

7.2.5 Data Management and Analysis 

The RTLA plant data are summarized using Microsoft Excel and Access and 

analyzed using a variety of statistical software. The RTLA plots serve as replicates for 

each of the habitat types in which they are located. Hence, data is analyzed by 

comparing habitats, rather than plots. 

The RTLA data from 1994-1999 indicated that the plots were sampled in a 

somewhat haphazard fashion. Therefore, a permanent plot rotation was established 

starting in 2000 in order to facilitate data analysis in the future. Plots were sampled for 

birds and small mammals every other year, and sampled for plants every three years. 

As a result, one-half of the plots from each habitat and one-half of the core plots were 

surveyed for birds and small mammals each year whereas one-third of the plots were 

surveyed for plants. These plot rotations were repeated every two (birds and small 

91


mammals) or three (plant) years. The objective in establishing this plot rotation was to 

create a sampling regime in which habitats could better be compared. Since 2004, when 

we created the EM plots, a 1-7 year rotation is in effect. This is due not only to the 

increased number of plots, but for reasons of flexibility. For example, core habitat plots 

need only be visited every 5-7 years. This is the amount of time most habitats on Camp 

Edwards need to exhibit change of any kind. However, if there is a disturbance present 

on any one plot such as fire or training damage, a 1-2 year rotation may be necessary to 

monitor its recovery, and avoid establishment of invasives on the disturbed soil. 

The RTLA plant data are analyzed for species frequency, diversity, stem density, 

canopy structure, and rates of succession. The RTLA mammal data are analyzed for 

species richness, diversity, abundance, sex ratio, population size, trap success, and 

capture success. The RTLA bird data are analyzed for species abundance and diversity. 

7.2.6 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

A GIS is an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic 

data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, 

and display all forms of geographically referenced information. A simpler definition of 

a GIS is a computer system capable of holding and using data describing places on the 

Earth’s surface. The power of a GIS is its ability to identify spatial relationships between 

geographic features. A GIS is an analytical tool used not only for making maps but also 

for performing complex spatial analysis and modeling. 

Over the past several years, the Massachusetts Army National Guard (MA- 

ARNG) has developed and maintained a GIS database for Camp Edwards, the 

Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), and other MA-ARNG facilities. Until 

recently, only a few individuals had direct contact with this database, but with more 

workstations (faster PCs) and better-trained personnel, GIS is becoming available to 

other individuals and groups. Standards have been implemented to educate users, 

improve communication, maintain consistency, assure data compatibility, reduce 

duplication of efforts, and provide a medium to transfer the most current information. 

In addition to applying standards, a plan to create an Enterprise GIS is being 

developed. An Enterprise GIS uses a Relational Database Management System 

(RDBMS) and ArcSDE to distribute a GIS to multiple clients over a network. ArcSDE is 

an application server and acts as a GIS gateway that facilitates managing and storing 

spatial data in a RDBMS like Microsoft SQL Server. An Enterprise GIS is the key 

component in managing a multi-user GIS and creates the possibility of integrating GIS 

data with other relational databases. A central repository for spatial and non-spatial 

data optimizes information accessibility, eliminates the duplication of data, and 

increases an organization's efficiency. 

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The GIS database is dynamic. The MAARNG is always obtaining and creating 

new layers, updating existing layers, accumulating additional data, and performing 

new and more complex analysis in GIS. This GIS is moving towards compliance with 

Federal and National Guard Bureau standards. GIS is now a significant part of 

facilitating the National Guard mission in environmental stewardship, facility 

management, and training. 

7.3 Training Requirements Integration (TRI) 

7.3.1 TRI Introduction 

Training Requirements Integration (TRI) supports the integration of land use 

requirements with natural and cultural resources management processes. Siting 

military missions (and other land uses) in areas best capable of supporting the activities 

is the main goal of TRI. TRI relies heavily on GIS and RTLA to determine land 

capabilities and includes rotation of training lands as well as scheduling lands 

according to their “carrying capacity” to support specific missions. TRI also includes 

those restrictions required to maintain high-quality training lands, provide a safe 

training environment, and protect significant natural resources. When areas cannot be 

placed “off-limits” or signage cannot be used, the Sustainable Range Awareness 

program will serve to educate the training site users about site limitations. Sustainable 

Range Awareness also instructs units about the best means to accomplish the missions 

with minimal damage. 

Training land and range requirements are derived from the Range and Training 

Land Program (RTLP), using the installation’s assigned units’ Mission Essential Task 

List (METL) and Combined Arms Training Strategy (CATS). Procedures for the day-today 

management of range and training lands are also outlined by the RTLP. Using 

RTLP information, TRI integrates the training requirements with the capabilities of the 

natural resources to support those requirements. 

Range Control at Camp Edwards has fielded the Range Facility Management 

Support System (RFMSS) since 1998. RFMSS, which was developed by the USACE, is a 

collection of microcomputer-based software programs designed to automate the 

training facility management functions at an installation. RFMSS consists of 

components that can be customized to a particular installation, scheduling of ranges 

and training areas, collection and analysis of range and training area usage data, and 

generation of various administrative reports. 

RFMSS is used extensively by Range Control and using units in scheduling 

training areas, ensuring that planned training activities do not overlap with other units 

scheduled to train or affect sensitive areas within the training site. Range control 

personnel enter the training site utilization data into dBase compatible tables in the 

93


RFMSS program. These tables, in particular, the UPROCESS.DBF table can be added to 

ARCVIEW and queried by programs that summarize the data. In so doing, training site 

utilization data can be correlated with any information loaded into the GIS system, for 

example, ground cover types, wildlife abundance, tree mortality, and bivouac site usage 

tracking. 

7.3.2 TRI Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Ensure that there is no net loss in the capability of training site lands to 

support existing and projected military missions on Camp Edwards. 

Objectives: 

a. Maximize training opportunities while minimizing impacts to training 

lands. 

b. Distribute activities and minimize conflicts. 

GOAL 2. Maintain quality training lands by minimizing, rehabilitating, and mitigating 

damage. 

Objectives: 

a. Site military missions (and other land uses) in the areas best capable of 

supporting them. 

c. Provide command elements with the information needed to make 

decisions that include natural resource-related values. 

d. Aid in coordinating development of the five-year Range Training Land 

Program (RTLP) Development Plan 

GOAL 3. Provide guidance to users of Camp Edwards regarding their conduct while 

on the installation. 

Objectives: 

a. Update the Camp Edwards Regulation 385-63 as needed. 

b. Provide adequate boundary signage and boundary fencing to deter 

trespassing 

GOAL 4. Aid in establishing consistent RFMSS data entry protocols for use by Range 

Control. 

Objectives: 

a. Continue RFMSS coordination between Range Control and Natural 

Resource Office. 

7.3.3 Training Siting 

Engineer and special types of engineer training projects that involve grading, 

filling, or excavation activities must be coordinated with and approved by Camp 

Edwards Operations and Natural Resource Office. Prior to the start of any such action, 

94


the commander of the using unit must coordinate with Range Control and the Natural 

Resource Office to find a location for the action that would limit or prevent the impact 

to the natural resources. 

Timing and scheduling of activities is important as well; for example, an activity 

that might impact the habitat of a breeding bird or flowering plant during a particular 

season might not do so in a different season. As a consequence, site-specific 

determinations must be made when assessing the possible consequence(s) of an 

activity. 

The Camp Edwards trainer’s manual that is being developed by the Natural 

Resource Office will describe the characteristics and restrictions associated with each of 

the training areas on Camp Edwards. This will assist trainers in selecting training areas 

that best suit their mission requirements while protecting sensitive areas from 

disturbance. See Chapter 7.5.5 for a more detailed description of the trainer’s manual. 

7.3.4 Guidelines for Protection of Natural Resources During Training 

Training restrictions are a form of ecosystem protection, since not all locations 

within the training area boundaries are always compatible with military training. 

Training Site operations will be conducted in accordance with Camp Edwards Training 

Site Regulation 385-63 and the Environmental Performance Standards as outlined in 

MA General Law Chapter 47 the Acts of 2002 and in the Massachusetts National 

Guard’s Master Plan/Area-Wide Environmental Impact Report. 

Examples of natural communities that are protected by training restrictions 

include wetlands and grasslands. Placing troop-oriented signs or marking trees in a 

buffer zone around them can prevent training use in these areas. By delineating 

wetland buffer zones and grasslands as “off-limits” not only improves the quality of 

training, but also improves the quality of the natural communities on Camp Edwards. 

Other off-limits areas, such as cultural resources sites or sensitive species 

locations are marked or fenced in addition to placing them on Range Control maps. It is 

important that commanders planning training activities incorporate environmental 

concerns and hazardous areas during initial planning. Restrictions associated with 

these areas are passed on to the soldiers taking part in the training exercise. Each 

soldier that trains on Camp Edwards is issued a Soldier’s/Leader’s Field Card (Figure 

7-2), which outlines the environmental restrictions on activities associated with training. 

95


Figure 7-2. The Soldier’s/Leader’s Field Card from Camp Edwards. 

Camp Edwards is an important training center for National Guard and Reserve Units throughout 

Northeastern United States. Located on Cape Cod, an environmentally sensitive region, Camp Edwards 

contains a number of threatened and endangered wildlife species, culturally sensitive sites, and wetland 

areas. Moreover Camp Edwards sits on top of a sole source aquifer for Cape Cod that is recharged by 

rainfall alone and the Northern 15,000 acres of Camp Edwards have been designated as the Upper Cape 

Water Supply Reserve. Materials left on the ground can eventually reach and contaminate this vital 

water source. 

All users of Camp Edwards are strictly responsible for ensuring that Army, National Guard, and 

Camp Edwards Range Regulations are followed along with the environmental laws of the Federal, State, 

and Local governments. Users are to minimize environmental disturbance to protect the eco-system thus 

preserving the long-term training value of the Camp. 

VISION 

The Adjutant General for the MANG and Headquarters, Camp Edwards are committed to excellence in 

all aspects of management and environmental protection of the training site. We will seek to constantly 

improve upon training practices that protect the future of our eco-system and allow for trained and ready 

soldiers. 

TRAINING AREAS 

- Currently NO LEAD can be fired at Camp Edwards. 

- Do not limb trees above seven (7) feet. 

- Complete trees will not be cut without permission of Range Control and the Natural Resource Office. 

- Mechanical excavations require advance approval by Camp Edwards Range Control and the Natural 

Resource Office. 

- Portable latrine units will be used at all times. 

- The following will be performed prior to requesting clearance inspection from Range Control: 

- Fill and mound approved excavations. 

- Report damaged facilities to Range Control 

- Collect casings, brass, wire, etc. for turn in to Range Control 

- Remove all packing material and trash 

- DO NOT BURY ANY WASTE 

VEHICLE MOVEMENT 

- Speed limit 25mph on range roads 

- Obey all posted speed limits and traffic control signs. 

- Stay on established roads, unless otherwise approved by Range Control and the Natural Resource Office 

- Do not create roads, this is strictly prohibited. 

- Stay clear at least 100 feet of Off Limit Areas such as: Impact Areas, Wetlands, Land Rehab, and 

other posted sites. 

- Track Vehicles will not make pivot or neutral steer turns except on concrete turning pads or where 

otherwise designated. 

- Any unauthorized vehicles (ATVs, Motorcycles) must be immediately reported to Range Control 

POL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 

- Accidents happen: Immediately report the type, size and location of any POL or hazardous waste to 

Range Control. 

- Stop the spill, if it can be done safely. 

- Contain spill or incident to the smallest possible area. 

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- Clean up spill and remove contaminated soil to polyethylene bags or hazardous waste drums (available 

at DOL) at the time of the spill, Do Not Wait! 

- Refueling vehicles may only be conducted at the Turpentine Rd. fuel point or in the 3600 area on 

secondary containment. 

- Generators may be refueled in the field, (5 gallon fuel cans only) on secondary containment. 

WILDLIFE 

- Harassment of wildlife or destruction of their habitat (nests, dens, burrows etc.) is strictly prohibited. 

- Because of rabies and other animal born diseases; animals exhibiting odd behaviors should be avoided 

and immediately reported to Camp Edwards Range Control. 

- Tick awareness and precautions should be followed. Lyme disease is prevalent in Cape Cod. All tick 

bites should be reported to Range Control on a DA Form 285, by the end of the day of the incident. 

CULTURAL RESOURCES 

- Disturbance or removal of cultural resources (e.g., Native American artifacts, old stone foundations) is 

strictly prohibited and will result in penalties including fines and/or imprisonment. 

- Report all discoveries of cultural resources, artifacts, or any suspected human remains, to the Camp 

Edwards Range Control. Range control will then notify the Natural Resource Office or EandRC 

representative 

FIRE 

- Open fires are prohibited. 

- Immediately report any fire to Range Control. 

- Be observant of, and adhere to, pyrotechnic suspensions 

- Units near a fire are expected to aid in extinguishing or to provide assistance to fire crews, as directed by 

Range Control. 

UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE (UXO) 

- Do not approach, pick up, or touch UXO or any item not identifiable. Mark the location, not the item, 

and notify Range Control. 

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS 

Range Control 508-968-5925 or 5926 

Range Control frequency FM 38.50 or 52.95MHz 

Force Protection (24hrs) 508-968-5997 

Environmental Office 508-968-5148 

cell 508-294-2243 

Natural Resource Office 508-968-5121 

cell 508-294-2244 

COMMENTS 

Any suggestions for improvement, as well as comments or questions concerning Camp Edwards’ 

Environmental programs should be provided to the Environmental & Readiness Center at (508) 968-5152. 

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Figure 7-2. The Soldier’s/Leader’s Field Card from Camp Edwards cont. 

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7.3.5 Rotational Use of Training Areas 

The goal of this plan is to minimize loss of training acreage by implementing 

training standard operating procedures for protection of the environment and 

implementing adaptive management on the site; however, if training area use results in 

detectable damage, training areas will be rotated, giving specific areas a “rest and 

rehabilitation” time, during which any LRAM projects or sensitive species habitat 

management activities could occur. 

Rotational training may be implemented at the site if a training area is not able to 

recover from training activities (for example, if no ground cover can be established, 

unacceptable erosion is occurring, gullies are forming, or woody vegetation has become 

damaged and susceptible to disease). Specifically, any of the activities associated with 

training that cause significant effects will be excluded from that particular area until the 

area has recovered enough to support training again. Conversely, activities with 

negligible effects will be scheduled in that training area. Camp Edwards Range Control 

and Environmental Staffs have up-to-date knowledge of the conditions on each training 

area. Therefore, these offices must routinely inform the training site commander of 

natural resources conditions that indicate that some change in training types or levels 

must be made. 

7.3.6 Restricted Areas 

Training areas or portions of training areas are set aside when significant natural 

resources that are incompatible with training activities have been identified on those 

areas. These areas are usually associated with wetlands and grasslands or are areas that 

pose a threat to human safety. The wetlands of Camp Edwards and their 100-ft buffer 

zones are generally closed to all training activities. The Rod and Gun Club, including 

the wetlands, in the southwestern portion of Camp Edwards is also off-limits to 

training. The cantonment area grasslands are off-limits to training from 1 May to 31 

July due to the presence of nesting state-listed grassland birds. Another temporal 

closure is from 1 March-15 June on roads within the 500 foot wetland buffers to allow 

for amphibian migration. Areas of Camp Edwards that pose a threat to human safety 

include the Impact Area, the former J Ranges, and the Ammunition Supply Point. 

Training is not permitted in these areas. 

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7.4 Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance (LRAM) 

7.4.1 LRAM Introduction 

LRAM is an active component of the ITAM program that is designed to restore 

and maintain soil, vegetation, and water resources for long-term sustainable use and 

training realism. The program uses cost-effective technologies such as revegetation and 

erosion control techniques to reduce soil loss, control water runoff, and protect soil 

productivity and riparian areas (adjacent to water and wetlands). A key element in the 

LRAM program is the watershed or drainage basin approach to land rehabilitation. 

This approach ensures that land rehabilitation projects address actual land degradation 

problems, not just the symptoms. 

There are four types of rehabilitation activities: (1) reducing activities that result 

in negative environmental impacts, (2) adding materials, (3) accelerating or decelerating 

environmental processes, and (4) changing site conditions. The simplest and least 

costly rehabilitation activity is to reduce or control an activity such as cutting of live 

vegetation. A second and more costly activity involves adding species (by planting or 

seeding), water, fertilizers, or soil to the site. Accelerating or decelerating 

environmental processes might involve introducing prescribed fire to reduce woody 

species and provide nutrients to the soil, mowing or shredding to slow successional 

processes, or attracting seed vectors such as birds to accelerate seed input to a site. In 

severely damaged sites, changing site conditions would be accomplished by changing 

drainage, slope, or vegetation to improve environmental conditions. 

LRAM efforts are specifically designed to minimize long-term costs associated 

with land rehabilitation and reduce the need for additional land purchase due to 

unusable existing training site conditions. The success of the Camp Edwards LRAM 

program will ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, in particular 

the Clean Water Act. 

7.4.2 LRAM Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Protect, maintain, and improve soil integrity, water quality, and air quality by 

providing adequate vegetative cover on all soils and maintaining appropriate 

drainage structures. Provide improved troop training environments that can 

sustain training indefinitely. 

Objectives: 

a. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining 

to soil stabilization and water/air quality. 

b. Provide protection of natural resources (i.e. native communities and 

species) by implementing best management practices (BMP’s) for routine 

maintenance/repair projects and LRAM projects. 

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c. Improve surface water quality by reducing sediment loading in drainages 

on Camp Edwards. 

d. Rehabilitate damaged training areas with native species. 

e. Protect soil integrity and enhance soil productivity. 

7.4.3 LRAM Project Planning 

Project planning is essential for successful execution of LRAM projects. All 

interested parties must communicate with each other frequently to maximize efficient 

use of resources and ensure successful project execution. 

Planning for LRAM projects has been the responsibility of the Camp Edwards 

Natural Resource Office. In coordination with the Division of Facilities, the Camp 

Edwards Natural Resource Office has successfully identified important erosion 

problems, designed projects to resolve problems (with estimated costs), and prioritized 

activities for implementation. 

Project planning, coordination, and design will include the following: 

• Construction/rehabilitation designs for all projects 

• Cost estimates 

• Resource requirements (e.g., labor, materials, equipment, monitoring) 

• Impacts to training 

• Project timelines 

• Support preparation of applicable permits and approvals from affected 

state and federal agencies (e.g., storm water, 404 permits, air permits, 

biological opinions, cultural resources, and NEPA documentation). 

• Maintenance requirements 

• Applicable schedules 

• Coordination procedures and points-of-contact 

• Notifications 

Important considerations affecting project plans include: soil properties, 

topography, accessibility, sensitive species, cultural resources, training realism, 

vegetation, wetlands, water quality, and environmentally sensitive areas. 

Projects will be designed in accordance with current Erosion Control Best 

Management Practices. The design process will be followed by requests for funding. 

Funding for projects will come from three sources: ITAM, Status Tool for 

Environmental Programming (STEP), and Real Property Operation and Maintenance 

funds (DPW). 

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Execution of projects may be accomplished by engineering units, private 

contractors, in-house personnel, universities, LRAM field crews, volunteer groups, or 

state/federal governmental agencies. 

7.4.4 LRAM Projects 

All LRAM Projects that are carried out on Camp Edwards will consider the established 

guidelines at each stage of their development and implementation. 

Guidelines for LRAM projects: 

• Schedule and perform land rehabilitation projects during optimum 

seeding periods. If projects cannot be performed within those time 

frames, complete them as soon as possible. 

• After heavy training exercises are conducted on the site, identify areas 

needing rehabilitation and schedule them to receive soil amendments or 

reseeding. 

• Use temporary erosion control methods (such as silt fences or hay bale 

diversions) during periods of heavy troop training and inclement weather 

to avoid excessive siltation to watercourses and water bodies and other 

sensitive areas. 

• Include soil capabilities, water management, landscaping, erosion control, 

and conservation of natural resources in all site feasibility studies and in 

project planning, design, and construction. 

• Contact the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Wampanoag Tribe 

of Aquinnah and Mashpee in the event that any ground disturbing 

activities are scheduled to occur. Consultation with the tribe is mandated 

under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

• Include all necessary rehabilitation work and associated costs in project 

proposals and construction contracts and specifications. 

• Use native grasses to revegetate disturbed soils when feasible, effective, 

and economical. 

• When planting native grasses, include non-persistent grasses that act as a 

cover crop for the first two or three years to minimize erosion before 

native species become established; for example, red top, timothy, or 

annual rye. 

• Areas that fail to establish vegetative cover adequate to prevent erosion 

will be re-seeded as soon as such areas are identified and weather permits. 

7.4.5 LRAM Project Monitoring 

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LRAM projects are, in some instances, monitored using RTLA special use plots. 

Through the integration of LRAM and RTLA, the vegetation, birds, and small mammals 

that exist at LRAM project sites may be monitored during and after the implementation 

of the project. 

All LRAM projects will be assessed on at least a monthly basis for the first year 

after completion. After this time period, the sites will be revisited on an annual basis to 

determine the effectiveness of the rehabilitation. A plan will be developed to continue 

work at the site if the initial rehabilitation was not successful or requires maintenance. 

7.5 Sustainable Range Awareness (SRA) 

7.5.1 SRA Introduction 

Sustainable Range Awareness is an education and consciousness-raising 

program to encourage environmental stewardship and responsible use of the natural 

resources of Camp Edwards. The purpose of Sustainable Range Awareness is to 

provide information to all site users with the ultimate goal of preventing unnecessary 

damage to the environment and in particular, training lands. 

The Sustainable Range Awareness Program focuses on primarily two groups of 

land users: military and non-military training site users (e.g., police, local population, 

and school and community groups). It is designed to improve their understanding of 

the effects of their mission, training, or activity on the natural resources of the Camp 


Sustainable Range Awareness also serves to educate the public and garner their 

support by effectively communicating the nature of the military mission at Camp 

Edwards and the level of success of natural resources management at the site. Military 

users and the public are informed and educated about “easily understood” 

management practices (such as wildlife food plots, reseeding, tree plantings) as well as 

“misunderstood” management practices (such as restrictions on field operations or 

hunting, prescribed burning, or reduced grounds maintenance). 

7.5.2 SRA Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Create a conservation ethic in those who use Camp Edwards’ lands to 

minimize damage to lands and natural resources. 

Objectives: 

a. Design, produce and update soldier education materials that identify 

environmental considerations and guidelines for military tenants utilizing 

the facilities and resources on Camp Edwards (posters, ITAM video, 

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trainer’s handbook, educational displays, signs, and a website regarding 

natural resources on Camp Edwards) 

b. Provide decision makers with information needed to make sound natural 

resources judgments 

c. Enhance the professional skills of the Camp Edwards Environmental staff. 

GOAL 2. Develop and implement a public education program to increase public 

awareness and acceptance of natural resource management. 

Objectives: 

a. Provide an understanding of the Camp Edwards natural resources 

program to training site and surrounding communities. 

b. Provide general conservation education to the Camp Edwards 

community. 

c. Support community and youth groups with educational tours. 

d. Use available media effectively in public education. 

7.5.3 Environmental Stewardship 

Environmental Stewardship at Camp Edwards is a moral and legal obligation for 

all users to carefully and responsibly use and manage the land and resources of the 

training site. As leaders and soldiers alike adopt a sense of environmental stewardship 

of the training site, the natural resources will be more effectively conserved and 

sustained for future training use. True environmental stewardship and awareness must 

originate from The Adjutant General through the Training Directorate to each 

Commander and soldier within the MAARNG. 

7.5.4 Soldier Awareness 

Camp Edwards Training Site Regulation 385-63 was designed in part to educate 

soldiers training at Camp Edwards about proper protection and management of 

hazardous wastes, wetlands and water resources, vegetation, cultural resources, 

wildlife and their habitat, and fire. Range Control staff conduct advance party 

environmental briefings and post-training reviews to ensure that soldiers training at 

Camp Edwards adhere to the training site regulation and avoid sensitive or restricted 

areas. Each unit commander will be involved in incorporating this information into 

training plans to minimize effects of soldier activities on natural resources. 

From reports of other military installations, most accidents, injuries, loss of life, 

and damage to natural resources occur during administrative duties. It is, therefore, 

important to emphasize that the training site regulation applies to all activities (for 

example, construction, surveys, public hunting periods, and contractor labor) 

conducted at the training site, not just training activities. Also an effective 

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environmental awareness program that stresses the importance of personal 

responsibility and accountability can minimize the kinds of accidents and losses 

experienced at other installations. 

7.5.5 Educational Training Tools 

Sustainable Range Awareness will be used to promote different aspects of the 

Environmental Program such as the protection of sensitive species and their habitats; 

hazardous materials spill prevention, cultural resources protection, and soil erosion 

control. An effective Sustainable Range Awareness effort is essential to the 

implementation of a range-oriented environmental program. 

Soldier’s/Leader’s Field Card 

In 2006, the Camp Edwards Environmental and Readiness Center updated the 

1994 version of the Soldier’s/Leader’s Field Card for use by trainers in the field (Figure 7- 

2). The field card consists of condensed information contained in other awareness 

materials such as the Training Site Regulation and the Sustainable Range Awareness 

goals. Following a brief introduction, it describes environmental stewardship 

guidelines with an emphasis on training area uses, the protection of wildlife and their 

habitats, vehicle movement, erosion control, cultural resources protection, hazardous 

waste management, and fire prevention. 

Environmental Management Systems and Awareness Training 

An Environmental Management Systems and Awareness Training DVD was 

produced in 2005. MAARNG personnel will view the DVD during meetings prior to 

annual training and upon arrival at Camp Edwards. The DVD will also be made 

available to community groups. It focuses on taking a proactive approach to protecting 

and maintaining sustainable natural resources. The DVD provides soldiers with 

information about the environment while training on the Camp Edwards and addresses 

the following topics: 

• Natural resources protection 

• Wildlife protection 

• Hazardous material and waste management 

• Land rehabilitation 

• Soil erosion 

• Vehicle maneuvers 

• Fire prevention 

• Restricted areas 

• Deer ticks and Lyme disease 

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Trainer’s Guide 

The Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office developed a Trainer’s Guide in 

2002 that describes the characteristics and restrictions associated with each training area 

on the installation. This is accomplished by combining GIS and RTLA from the Natural 

Resource Office with land use data from Range Control. The Trainer’s Guide is 

designed to be used by range control, headquarters, and MAARNG units that train at 


The description of each training area includes a detailed map and a list of 

relevant land use data. The map will display forest types, roads and their surface 

conditions, topographic contours, existing bivouacs, latrines, firing points, and RTLA 

plots, as well as other important land features of each training area. 

The land use data includes a description and relevant data for each training area. 

Land use data will include the following information: 

• Total acreage of the training area 

• Roads within the area and their mileage 

• Area occupied by the natural communities within the training area 

• Training use (as a measure of the number of soldiers times the 

number of days used) data from previous years 

• Soil erosion risks (high, medium, or low) 

• Types of training that may occur in the area 

• Presence of state-listed rare species and sensitive habitats 

• Cultural Resources Sensitivity 

• LRAM activities 

• Notification of the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office and 

Range Control for permission to conduct activities that were not 

previously authorized 

The Trainer’s Guide will be available on the website of the Camp Edwards 

Natural Resource Office and is distributed to MAARNG Headquarters, Camp Edwards 

Headquarters, Billeting, and Range Control. The Trainer’s Guide is being updated by 

the MAARNG GIS Office as an intranet based interactive guide to better serve the units 

in the field and at their home station to allow for more efficient planning and more time 

for training and readiness. 

7.5.6 Community Environmental Awareness 

The Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office and the Environmental and 

Readiness Center use several educational tools to inform the public about the natural 

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resources, natural communities, and environmental protection on Camp Edwards. The 

most common methods include presentations, tours, pamphlets, a web site, and 

participation in science fairs. 

Presentations 

Presentations describing the natural resources of Camp Edwards and the 

activities of the Natural Resource Office are often the most effective method of raising 

community awareness. Since the early 1990s, presentations have been given to public 

groups including the following: 

Tours 

• Town selectmen 

• General public 

• State environmental agencies 

• Federal and State Representatives 

• Public service organizations 

• Chambers of Commerce 

• DoD officials 

• Local school groups 

• Non profit conservation organizations 

Guided tours of Camp Edwards are offered through the Camp Edwards Natural 

Resource Office, the Environmental and Readiness Center, and Range Control. 

Members of the public as well as representatives from state agencies are often taken on 

tours of Camp Edwards to describe the management efforts under the ITAM Program 

and other natural resources surveys and studies undertaken by the Natural Resource 

Office. Tours of remediation sites are also available for those who are interested in 

learning about the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program. 

Web Site 

The Camp Edwards Environmental and Readiness Center currently maintains a 

web site that describes the natural resources of Camp Edwards, including the flora, 

fauna, rare species, the ITAM Program, and other natural resources surveys and 

research. The site can be accessed at http://www.mass.gov/guard/E&RC/index.htm 

and is updated as new information becomes available. 

Pamphlet 

A pamphlet was designed and produced by the Camp Edwards Natural 

Resource Office to convey the same information as the web site, but in an abbreviated 

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form. Pamphlets are usually handed out at meetings, poster sessions, tours, or science 

fairs; they also contain the web site address and phone numbers of the Camp Edwards 

Natural Resource Office. 

7.5.7 Professional Education 

The staff of the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office is encouraged to attend 

classes, seminars, and professional meetings to further their education as it pertains to 

their duties and expertise. The National Guard Bureau (NGB) often funds 

developmental seminars such as the Cultural Resources Management Seminar, the 

NEPA Writer’s Course at Duke University, or the System Architecture and Design for 

GIS Seminar. These NGB-sponsored seminars are always beneficial and usually are at 

no cost to the installation. 

The Department of the Army’s (DA) ITAM Program hosts several annual 

conferences and Workshops that should be attended by the Camp Edwards Natural 

Resource Office staff as well as by trainers. The ITAM Workshop is held each year in a 

different part of the country to showcase new ITAM programs and the results of ITAM 

related research at U.S. Army installations throughout the world. The DA also hosts 

annual RTLA Workshops and GIS Defense User Group Conferences. It is encouraged 

that research and survey results be presented to the ITAM community at these 

conferences. 

Participation in professional societies may further the education of the Natural 

Resource Office staff as well as to contribute to the scientific community. Staff of the 

Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office should participate in regional societies such as 

the regional section of The Wildlife Society, the Northeastern Association of Fish and 

Wildlife Agencies, or the Northeast Arc Users Group (GIS). National societies may 

include the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, American Society of 

Mammalogists, American Ornithologists’ Union, or Torrey Botanical Society. 

7.5.8 Research Opportunities 

As one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on Cape Cod, Camp Edwards 

may be considered an ideal site for conducting field research. Researchers affiliated 

with state universities, non-profit organizations, and state and federal environmental 

agencies have conducted surveys and research projects on Camp Edwards, either as 

contractors or independently. Any person that is affiliated with the aforementioned 

organizations and is interested in conducting research on Camp Edwards should 

submit a research proposal to the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office for review. 

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8.1 Introduction 

CHAPTER 8. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 

8.1.1 Philosophy of Natural Community Management at Camp Edwards 

Management of natural communities is “driven by explicit goals, executed by 

policies, protocols, and practices, and made adaptable by monitoring and research 

based on our best understanding of the ecological interactions and processes necessary 

to sustain ecosystem structure and function” (Ecological Society of America, 1996). For 

example, the goals, objectives, and projects defined in this management plan will be 

accomplished by following the guidelines in the plan; all management actions will be 

monitored through the RTLA program and other monitoring programs; and 

management will be adapted according to monitoring results; thus, an endless feedback 

loop. 

The goal of ecosystem management on military training lands is to ensure that 

military lands support present and future training requirements while, as much as 

possible, preserving, improving, and enhancing an ecosystem’s characteristics and 

communities of which it is comprised. Over the long term, that approach will maintain 

and improve the sustainability and biological function of ecosystems; while supporting 

sustainable economies, human use, and the environment required for realistic military 

training operations (DoD Instruction 4715.3). 

Natural Community management is based on a holistic, systems-oriented 

approach, and not predicated on single species management or maximizing the 

prevalence of a small group of organisms. However, rare species management should 

absolutely complement the conservation of a healthy, biologically diverse system. It is 

important to note that, although this plan takes an ecosystem approach to managing the 

lands of Camp Edwards, the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act still protects 

against a “take”, or loss, of state-listed rare species and their habitats. Combining both 

management objectives will ensure that the natural communities maintain their 

integrity, their constituent species and dynamics, and continue to support those species 

that are most vulnerable to ecosystem change- state-listed rare species. 

8.1.2 Natural Community Management Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Follow DoD guidelines on Ecosystem Management to enhance natural 

community integrity and MAARNG training on a sustainable basis. 

Objectives: 

a. Implement an adaptive management strategy through updating 

management recommendations in the Camp Edwards INRMP along with 

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the change or succession of natural communities and resources, best 

management practices, or scientific knowledge. 

b. Emphasize protection, restoration, and management of state-listed rare 

species, native plants and animals, and sensitive natural communities, 

such as wetlands and grasslands. 

c. Monitor and manage soils, vegetation, and wildlife on Camp Edwards 

considering all biological communities and the human values associated 

with these resources. 

d. Take a proactive approach to managing sensitive species before federal or 

state listing. 

e. Maintain natural communities in such a way that does not result in a net 

loss of training area. 

GOAL 2. Maintain the ecosystems of Camp Edwards with variation in vegetation 

structure resulting from disturbance and recovery, not only to benefit the 

natural communities, but also to provide training opportunities in terrain 

with a variety of landscape structure. 

Objectives: 

a. Meet with MADFW yearly to coordinate ecosystem maintainenance 

b. Meet with Camp Edwards Training staff to determine needed landscape 

structure for training 

GOAL 3. Prevent conflicts between training operations and rare species management. 

Objectives: 

a. Research rare species to minimize potential impacts on training 

b. Research training to reduce potential impacts on rare species 

GOAL 4. Restore and maintain native wildlife populations and habitats through the 

use of integrated ecosystem management principles when compatible with 

the military mission. 

Objectives: 

a. Improve the quality of wildlife habitat for game and nongame species. 

b. Protect and conserve natural communities. 

GOAL 5. Prevent the spread and further introduction of invasive exotic plant and 

animal species to the training site. 

Objectives: 

a. Inventory invasive and exotic plants on an ongoing basis 

a. Reduce numbers of exotics / invasive through accepted best management 

practices 

GOAL 6. Provide research, special projects, and other studies to support natural 

resources management on Camp Edwards 

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Objectives: 

a. Reach out to appropriate state agencies, local universities, and non-profits 

to provide natural resource research and management opportunities on 

Camp Edwards 

b. Aquire funding to conduct research, special projects, and other studies to 

support natural resources management through seasonal staff or out side 

agencies on Camp Edwards 

GOAL 7. Inventory the natural resources of Camp Edwards and monitor resources that 

are important indicators of ecosystem integrity, water quality, capability of 

lands to support military missions, renewable product surpluses, imperiled 

species or communities, and other special interests. 

Objectives: 

a. Conduct RTLA surveys every year 

GOAL 8. Provide continuing education for Environmental staff. 

Objectives: 

a. Natural Resource staff will attend at least one professional workshop per 

year 

b. Natural Resource staff to renew INRMP every five years 

GOAL 9. Continually monitor and inventory existing natural communities to identify 

previously unclassified subsystems (e.g., hemlock stands within the mixed 

woods forest, red maple swamps within wetlands). 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor and inventory natural communities by using environmental 

monitoring plots. 

b. Aquire funding to hire seasonal crews to conduct monitoring and 

inventorying of environmental monitoring plots. 

8.1.3 Natural Resource Management Units 

Within natural community management, goals and objectives are developed for 

each natural community and decisions made based upon a predetermined desired 

future condition for the landscape. The MAARNG believes that future condition for 

Camp Edwards is a mosaic of interacting natural communities linked by hydrologic 

flow, nutrient cycling, fire, animal movement, and transitions between natural 

communities. 

8.2 Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community Management 

8.2.1 Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community Introduction 

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Pitch pine scrub oak communities are well-adapted to fire, which is a critical 

component of the natural community’s ecology. Mature pitch pine can survive regular 

low intensity ground fires; and most saplings have the ability to sprout after being topkilled 

by fire. Fire also contributes to the health of pitch pine scrub oak community by 

recycling plant nutrients and removing substances of plant origin that accumulate in 

the duff and litter and are toxic to some plants and other organisms. Without fire, the 

character of vegetation would change, and the health of plant communities would 

decline. Many of the plant species in the pitch pine scrub oak community are 

maintained and perpetuated by fire, which stimulates seed germination in some brush 

species and creates the necessary conditions of disturbance that promote seedling 

establishment of others. 

The pitch pine scrub oak community share many of the similar characteristic 

species with the scrub oak shrublands natural community on Camp Edwards. Some of 

these species, such as the moths and the eastern box turtle, are state-listed rare species 

in Massachusetts. As a result, the pitch pine scrub oak community will be managed in 

conjunction with the scrub oak shrublands to improve the quality of habitat for the 

state-listed rare species as well as for wildlife in general. 

8.2.2 Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Maintain the pitch pine-scrub oak community of Camp Edwards in multiple 

states of succession for the purposes of protection of sensitive species, soil 

stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and military training. 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor the effects of training on pitch pine scrub oak communities and 

their characteristic species using RTLA methods. 

b. Use prescribed burning to maintain pitch pine scrub oak communities in a 

variety of age classes and structure. 

c. Prevent the spread and further introduction of invasive exotic plant and 

animal species to the pitch pine scrub oak community. 

d. Preserve snags and dead logs as wildlife habitat. 

e. Provide management that leads to recovery of rare species and protects 

other sensitive species through maintenance of their required habitat. 

f. Maintain or improve wildlife species richness, productivity, and 

survivorship. 

g. Inventory and manage game wildlife (i.e., white-tailed deer and wild 

turkey) populations through surveys and annual hunts. 

8.2.3 Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community Management 

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The pitch pine-scrub oak community will be maintained in a range of 

successional states using periodic prescribed burning and selective cutting of hardwood 

tree species and specific age classes of pitch pine depending upon the desired 

successional state. Specific burn prescriptions have been written for the pitch pinescrub 

oak community and will be employed within the training areas of Camp 

Edwards. The successional state of the pitch pine scrub oak community will be 

monitored using the established RTLA survey plots (see Figure 7-1). As the 

composition of the forest begins to change from that of pitch pine and scrub oak 

community to a pitch pine-oak forest woodland or black oak scarlet oak forest, an 

assessment will be made as to the desired successional state for each particular area. 

After an assessment is performed and consultation with specialists from USFWS, DFW, 

and NHESP, the appropriate management techniques (i.e., prescribed burning, selective 

cutting) will be selected and employed on Camp Edwards. The ever-changing 

successional state of the pitch pine scrub oak community on Camp Edwards renders 

selecting specific areas for burning or selective cutting up to five years in advance rather 

difficult. As a result, an assessment will be made each year as to the priority of each 

portion of the natural community to be managed in the appropriate season. The 

effectiveness of techniques used will be evaluated using RTLA. 

Standing dead trees (i.e., snags) and fallen logs will be left where they lie except 

when they pose a threat to human safety. Snags and logs serve several important 

ecological functions. They provide structural habitat characteristics for various plant 

and animal species, are potentially important in long-term nutrient cycling, and help 

minimize effects to soil and water resources caused by erosion. An average percent 

basal area of snags is 4.5% throughout Camp Edwards. Snags may be created through 

tree thinning to remove unwanted species. 

8.3 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland Management 

8.3.1 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland Introduction 

The Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland on Camp Edwards represents an 

intermediate successional state between the pitch pine scrub oak community and black 

oak scarlet oak forest natural communities. As a result, the characteristic species of the 

pitch pine-oak forest woodland is essentially a composite of those from the pitch pine 

scrub oak community and the black oak scarlet oak forest. However, the sparse 

understory of the pitch pine-oak forest woodland results in a relatively lower 

abundance of scrub oak, a plant essential to several state-listed rare species. 

Furthermore, the pitch pine-oak forest woodland comprises 40% of Camp Edwards, the 

greatest proportion of any natural community. 

8.3.2 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland Goals and Objectives 

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GOAL 1. Maintain the pitch pine-oak forest woodland on Camp Edwards for the 

purposes of sensitive species and natural community protection, soil 

stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and military training. 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor the pitch pine-oak forest woodland using RTLA methods. 

b. Decrease the presence of aggressive exotic plants (e.g., Japanese barberry). 

c. Preserve snags and logs as wildlife habitat 

d. Provide special protection to state-listed rare species and their habitats. 

e. Maintain or improve wildlife species richness, productivity, and 

survivorship. 

f. Manage game wildlife (i.e., white tailed deer and wild turkey) 

populations with annual hunts. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain pitch pine-oak forest woodland in a 


8.3.2 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland Management 

It is proposed that active management to promote pitch pine-oak forest 

woodland will not necessarily occur on Camp Edwards. However, portions of the pitch 

pine-oak forest woodland will instead be utilized in the creation of larger, more 

contiguous tracts of other natural communities such as scrub oak shrublands and black 

oak scarlet oak forest. 

8.4 Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest 

8.4.1 Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest Introduction 

The black oak scarlet oak forest community currently comprises only 2% of the 

habitats on Camp Edwards. Hardwood forests are valuable in that they provide a 

larger, more contiguous tract of hardwood forest, with a low understory that provides 

valuable training for MAARNG soldiers. Training in a greater diversity of habitats, 

from scrub oak shrublands to mature hardwood forest, would prepare soldiers in a 

wide variety of missionscapes. 

Aside from enhancing training, a larger tract of black oak scarlet oak forest 

would provide habitat and diverse mast crop that is beneficial to a diverse array of 

wildlife. Aside from oak acorns, hardwood mast may include fruits from American 

beech, hickories, American hazelnut, and black cherry. Hardwood trees also often 

provide nest or den cavities for wildlife including woodpeckers, squirrels, raccoons, 

and fishers. Several unconfirmed sightings of fishers (Martes pennanti) have occurred 

on Camp Edwards in 1998, 1999, and 2005. The black oak scarlet oak forest community 

on Camp Edwards may provide the required extensive mixed hardwood forest habitat 

for the species. 

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8.4.2 Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Maintain the black oak scarlet oak forest natural community on Camp 

Edwards for the purposes of sensitive species and natural community 

protection, soil stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and military training. 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor the pitch pine-oak forest woodland natural community using 

RTLA methods. 


c. Preserve snags and logs as wildlife habitat 

d. Provide special protection to state-listed rare species and their habitats. 


survivorship. 

f. Manage game wildlife (i.e., white tailed deer and wild turkey) 

populations with annual hunts. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain black oak scarlet oak forests in a 


GOAL 2. Increase the amount of black oak scarlet oak forest on Camp Edwards by 

converting pitch pine-oak forest woodland to black oak scarlet oak forest to 

create a larger, more contiguous tract of hardwood forest on the Camp 

Edwards training site. 

Objectives: 

a. Delineate area in which black oak scarlet oak forest succession will be 

promoted. 

b. Promote succession to black oak scarlet oak forest by selectively cutting 

coniferous trees. 

c. Enhance wildlife habitat by leaving cut trees. 

8.4.3 Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest Management 

It is proposed to increase the size of the black oak scarlet oak forest in the 

northeastern portion of Camp Edwards to create a larger, more contiguous tract of 

wildlife habitat. This will be accomplished by mechanical cutting (thinning) of pitch 

pine within the proposed black oak scarlet oak forest management area. Trees will 

either be cut down and left on the ground or girdled creating standing snags to promote 

wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire will also be used to maintain black oak scarlet oak 

forests in a variety of age classes and structure, and to promote germination 

compositional and structural heterogeneity. 

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8.5 Scrub Oak Shrubland Management 

8.5.1 Scrub Oak Shrubland Introduction 

The scrub oak shrublands habitat on Camp Edwards has been traditionally been 

maintained from live artillery fire into the Impact Area over the past 60-70 years. Since 

live artillery fire no longer occurs on Camp Edwards, it is necessary to maintain the 

scrub oak habitat using prescribed burning. A fire management plan has been 

developed for and accepted by the MAARNG that describes the methods for burning 

each unit of the Impact Area as well as other land management units of Camp Edwards 

(Ruffner and Patterson 2000a, 2005). Although the main purpose of the fire 

management plan is to reduce accumulated fuels and therefore reduce the risk of 

catastrophic forest fires, it also serves to maintain the Impact Area as scrub oak habitat, 

a critical refuge for several state-listed rare species. 

8.5.2 Scrub Oak Shrubland Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Maintain and increase the amount of scrub oak shrubland on Camp Edwards 

for the purposes of state-listed rare species and natural community 

protection, soil stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and military training. 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor the scrub oak shrubland using RTLA methods, to include the 

impact area where feasible. 


c. Preserve snags and logs as wildlife habitat. 

d. Provide protection to state-listed rare species and their habitats. 


survivorship. 

f. Delineate other areas in which scrub oak shrubland will be maintained 

and promoted. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain scrub oak shrubland in a variety of 

age classes and structure. 

h. Enhance wildlife habitat by leaving dead snags and logs where they lie. 

8.5.3 Scrub Oak Shrubland Management 

Controlled burning of the scrub oak habitats will occur every 8 years. The scrub 

oak habitat of the Impact Area is divided into eight burn units by roads. A burning 

rotation of these units every 8 years would require the burning of one of the eight units 

on an annual basis. Such a rotation would reduce dead standing fuel (i.e., snags) and 

regeneration of large woody tree species. The burns should be of low or moderate 

intensity to burn the finer fuels (i.e., litter and duff) that have accumulated on the 

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ground, while reducing the chances of widespread indiscriminate mortality that 

inevitably occurs during wildfires of high heat intensity. All prescribed burns on Camp 

Edwards should occur during the period of dormancy in order to minimize the 

mortality to wildlife. Furthermore, the relatively low rates of movement by the low-tomoderate 

intensity burns would allow the few animals active during this period (e.g., 

small mammals, rabbits, deer) to escape the fire. The only foreseeable wildlife mortality 

as a result of prescribed burning might be that of larval moths, small mammals, and 

other wildlife that may be active during this period (Ruffner and Patterson 2000a). 

However, the benefit to the critical Lepidopteran habitat is considered to outweigh that 

of the possibility of mortality to vulnerable fauna (Drake et al. 1988, Mello et al. 1999). 

The MAARNG proposes to increase the size of the scrub oak shrubland to create 

a larger, more contiguous tract on Camp Edwards. This will be accomplished using 

prescribed burns and mechanical removal as the primary management techniques. A 

relatively large percentage of the area that will be converted to scrub oak shrubland is 

presently pitch pine scrub oak community. These areas will be burned to reduce the 

presence of immature tree species (e.g., pitch pine) and to promote the growth of scrub 

oak. The larger trees that may survive the cooler fires will be removed by mechanical 

means (i.e., cutting with chainsaws). Any trees that are cut will be left in place to 

provide cover for ground dwelling wildlife. Some of the larger trees should be girdled 

to provide dead snags as habitat for wildlife such as insects and cavity nesting birds. 

Periodic prescribed burns will serve to reduce the accumulation of woody plant debris 

on the ground and to discourage the growth of larger tree species. 

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8.6 Grasslands Management 

8.6.1 Grasslands Management Introduction 

Grassland-dwelling birds are suffering the most precipitous population declines 

of any habitat-specific group in the eastern United States. Annual Christmas Bird 

Counts going back in some cases 50 years, the Breeding Bird Survey, and various local 

studies have all documented decreases as great as 90 percent for such species as Upland 

Sandpiper, Northern Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. 

Common to nearly all grassland birds is the extent of grassland required. Fields 

must be as large as a few hundred acres to support a population of these birds. It is 

important to note that this is not a territorial requirement; for example Grasshopper 

Sparrows will readily nest in a small, uncultivated strip in a large working farm field. 

Setting aside enough habitats to preserve grassland birds poses a difficult 

challenge in Massachusetts and most areas of the northeast. At Camp Edwards, 

opportunity exists to manage large tracts of grassland. Many of the natural processes 

that once maintained this type of habitat, no longer occur. Development and 

agricultural practices are mostly incompatible with breeding habitat and nesting 

success, while such old fields, as do occur, eventually succeed to forest, or get sold for 

development. Large tracts of land used for military bases such as Camp Edwards, 

airports, and landfills are often compatible with the needs of grassland birds being in 

many cases the last refuge for grassland species (Jones, A. and P. Vickery 1997 and 

Maryland Partners in Flight 1999). 

The grasslands of Camp Edwards are inhabited by four state-listed species of 

birds: the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda – endangered), the grasshopper 

sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum – special concern), the vesper sparrow (Pooecetes 

graminus - threatened), and the northern harrier (Circus cyaneus - threatened). In 

conjunction with those of Otis ANG Base, the grasslands of Camp Edwards, in 1985, 

supported the largest known population of upland sandpipers in Massachusetts and 

were therefore critical habitats for the species’ survival (White and Melvin 1985). Since 

the 1985 survey, grassland areas on the MMR have ebbed and flowed with regards to 

natural succession (or restoration) and the number of grassland birds has reflected this. 

As of 2005 numbers of grassland bird species of concern are at or exceeding historic 

numbers. Four of the seven locations at which breeding pairs of upland sandpipers 

were observed by White and Melvin in 1984 and 1985 were military installations. This 

illustrates not only the importance of habitat management on military installations, but 

also that military installations often provide large amounts of unfragmented habitats 

that are crucial to rare and endangered wildlife species as a result of activities directly 

related to military training. 

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White and Melvin (1985) indicated that different bird species may prefer 

grasslands with differing characteristics. For instance, they stated that upland 

sandpipers would feed, nest, and raise young in short-grass fields that were recently 

mowed. However, taller vegetation often served as protective cover for young. In 

contrast, grasshopper sparrows preferred unmowed fields with scattered taller 

vegetation that were used for song perches. Furthermore, grasslands preferred by 

grasshopper sparrows tended to have relatively low stem densities and amounts of 

ground litter (Whitmore 1979, Whitmore 1981). 

8.6.2 Grasslands Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Maintain and restore grassland communities on Camp Edwards for the 

purposes of rare species protection, wildlife habitat, and, at times, military 

training. 

Objectives: 

a. Monitor grassland communities using RTLA methods. 

b. Provide special protection and habitat management that leads to the 

recovery of state-listed rare species including upland sandpiper and 

grasshopper sparrows. 

c. Decrease the presence of aggressive exotic plants (e.g., knapweed, 

honeysuckle, autumn olive.) using mowing, prescribed burning, or 

mechanical removal. 

d. Increase the presence of native grassland vegetation. 

e. Prevent conflicts between training site operations and rare species 

management. 

f. Monitor effects of training activities on animal and plant populations 

dependent on the grassland communities. 

g. Maintain or improve grassland bird species richness, productivity, and 

survivorship. 

GOAL 2. Use prescribed fire and at times mowing as the primary means of grassland 

management while protecting and conserving natural and cultural resources. 

Objectives: 

a. Apply the Camp Edwards Training Site, Integrated Fire Management Plan 

(2006) to maintain certain areas of the grasslands on Camp Edwards, 

remove accumulated litter, and control exotic invasive species. 

b. Using mowing regimes when appropriate to create short grass areas 

needed for some grassland bird species (e.g. upland sandpipers) 

c. Minimize the threat to human safety when conducting prescribed burns in 

the grasslands within the cantonment area of Camp Edwards. 

d. Set a precedent for grassland management to provide guidance to other 

branches of the military that manage grasslands on the MMR. 

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GOAL 3. Increase the acreage of grasslands on Camp Edwards as existing structures 

and facilities are demolished. 

Objectives: 

a. Remove all structures associated with the facility. 

b. Plant only native grass and tree species. 

c. Maintain grasslands using prescribed fire and mowing regimes. 

8.6.3 Grasslands Management 

All activities and land uses are restricted from the grasslands in the Cantonment 

Area of Camp Edwards between 1 May and 31 July of each year. This time period 

should accommodate the period of nesting and brood-rearing by the state-listed 

grassland birds. Restricted activities include the following: 

• mowing 

• vehicle traffic in areas other than the established roads 

• foot traffic in areas other than the established roads 

• camping or bivouacking 

Major grassland management activities such as large tree removal should be 

conducted either before or after 1 May to 31 July, the breeding season of the grassland 

birds. Other management activities such as small area burning must be conducted to 

ensure that effects on nesting grassland birds are minimized. 

Grassland areas (Fig. 6-8), are currently being restored. Restoration has been 

successful if the basis for success is the number of grassland bird species surveyed 

(Table 6-9) Also, species of grassland-like birds that have not been previously recorded 

are now being documented such as the Clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida). These 

areas have been treated by removing trees, late spring prescribed burning, and when 

necessary, mowing. Mowing of 10-20 ft wide strips along roads and around buildings 

of the grassland units may occur throughout the summer. 

Burning and mowing schedules should accommodate the annual use of 

grasslands by state-listed grassland birds while enhancing the habitats by removing 

large tree species. The periodic burning and mowing of the grasslands will serve to 

maintain the natural community, by preventing colonization of trees and shrubs. The 

following are further specific management recommendations for the grasslands of 

Camp Edwards (adapted from Jones, A. and P. Vickery 1997 and Maryland Partners in 

Flight 1999): 

1. On Camp Edwards, grassland bird conservation efforts will be aimed at 

benefiting grassland breeding birds and target existing grasslands that are at 

least 100 acres (40 ha) or larger. These large tracts offer the best opportunity to 

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provide suitable habitat for entire grassland bird communities. A tract that is 

large enough to accommodate the area-sensitive species also benefits less 

sensitive species. Where there are management opportunities in smaller areas, 

efforts will focus on existing grasslands that are at least 25 acres (10 ha) in size. 

2. When possible, grasslands on Camp Edwards will be adjacent or close to each 

other (less than 1/2 mile, or 1 km, apart), particularly if the areas are relatively 

small (25-100 acres, or 10-40 ha). Connecting strips, when feasible, will be 

developed and maintained between adjacent patches. 

3. Grasslands on Camp Edwards will be managed to provide a diversity of 

grassland habitats and structure. 

4. On Camp Edwards, grassland edge-to-area ratio will be minimized where 

possible. 

5. Circular tracts are preferred, and square plots are better than rectangular ones. 

However, on Camp Edwards historic configuration of post structures and 

roadways has left square and rectangular grassland areas for management. 

Long, thin (less than 600 ft, or 185 m, wide), linear tracts and areas with highly 

convoluted or irregular borders will be avoided as these areas provide little or no 

benefit to most grassland breeding birds. 

6. Non-native plants (e.g., Asiatic bittersweet, multiflora rose, Autumn olive, 

Japanese honeysuckle) within grasslands, and all other communities, will be 

eradicated, when possible, by current best management practices including but 

not limited to stump and paint application of herbicide and mechanical removal. 

7. Fragmentation is a major concern for all habitats on Camp Edwards and 

regionally throughout the northeast. Fragmentation reduces the probability of 

attracting grassland birds, particularly highly area-sensitive species such as the 

Upland Sandpiper. With fragmentation, it is likely that nest predation will 

increase. Also, trees or shrubs that fragment grasslands can increase brood 

parasitism by providing cowbirds with perches close to nesting areas. 

Fragmentation of grasslands on Camp Edwards will be avoided, and when 

possible, sources of fragmentation (e.g. roads, groves of trees, hedgerows) will be 

removed. Hedgerows dominated by woody vegetation taller than 10 ft (3 m) or 

wider than 16 feet (5 m) will be cut or removed when practical. 

8. Sharply contrasting edges between forest and grassland have higher nest 

predation rates as opposed to edges that are feathered. One benefit of such a 

practice is that these edges present longer lines-of-sight for cowbirds scanning 

for nests to parasitize. Where grassland habitats, on Camp Edwards, border 

forested habitats, a more natural, open or "feathered" edge between grassland 

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and forest will be encouraged rather than maintaining sharp, straight, 

contrasting walls of woody vegetation. 

9. Native warm-season grasses, which grow during the summer rather than 

during the cooler spring and fall months, grow in clumps. Each clump is 

surrounded by relatively open areas that provide a network of travel lanes for 

birds. Tall fescue and other cold-season grasses, in contrast, form more 

uniformly dense stands, leaving little room for birds to move about and should 

not be used in grassland areas. On Camp Edwards, management efforts will be 

aimed at establishing native warm-season grasses as the dominant cover type. 

Use of cold-season grasses (e.g., Kentucky 31 tall fescue, bluegrass, and timothy) 

will be discouraged. The following are recommendations regarding 

management for native warm-season grasses: 

a. Monotypic stands do not provide adequate habitat for birds, especially 

in the form of vegetative structure. It is more beneficial to plant a mixture 

of tall and short grasses, which result in a mosaic of vegetative heights. 

Recommended tall grasses include big bluestem, Indian grass, switch 

grass, and side-oats grama. Recommended short grasses include little 

bluestem and broomsedge. Because native warm-season grasses vary in 

soil and moisture requirements, some of the grasses will become 

dominant in some fields, or parts of larger fields, and other grasses in 

other fields or parts of fields, depending on soil moisture and fertility. As 

a result, the habitat will become more diverse and of greater benefit to 

birds. To further increase the diversity of the vegetation, native forbs can 

be encouraged (e.g. Butterfly Weed). These will help attract insects, which 

are a vital protein source for growing nestlings. 

b. Maintain native warm-season grasses through prescribed burning. 

i. Prescribed burns generally provide the most benefit to grassland 

bird communities. Burns should be conducted in late spring (Mayearly 

June) or late fall (October-November). In grasslands larger 

than 100 acres (40 ha), prescribed burns should be conducted on an 

annual rotation in which 20-30 percent of the total grassland area is 

burned during a single year. On smaller grasslands, annual burn 

areas may represent a larger percentage of the total grassland area, 

but should not exceed 50-60 percent. 

c. Although mowing is often necessary for maintaining grasslands and 

preventing succession to forest, mowing should not be done during May-July, 

the breeding season for most grassland birds in Massachusetts. When mowing 

needs to be done during this period, the following should be followed to provide 

benefit to nesting birds: 

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a. Concentrate mowing outside of mid-May to mid-July, the peak 

nesting period for the majority of grassland breeding birds. 

b. During the breeding season, mow on a rotational basis, 

allowing some large (greater than 10 acres, or 4 ha) blocks or wide 

(greater than 300 ft, or 90 m) strips to remain unmowed for at 

least a 6-week period. Stagger the location of mowed sections so 

that the amount of contiguous unmowed area is maximized. 

c. Use an annual rotational mowing system in which some 

sections are left unmowed each year; a mowing cycle of 3 to 5 

years (depending on site conditions) is beneficial especially for 

species that need bushes or short trees for perches. 

d. Use a cutting height of at least 10 inches (25 cm). 

e. Favor early spring (March-early April) mowing over late 

summer-fall (August-October) mowing to provide winter 

habitat for grassland birds (e.g., Northern Bobwhite, Northern 

Harrier, Short-eared Owl). This will allow time for regrowth 

and seed production. 

f. Mowed areas must be treated with prescribed fire every two to 

three years to remove the thatch layer and expose interstitial spaces 

among native bunch grasses. 

10. Tall (more than 10 ft, or 3 m, in height) trees and snags will be removed from 

the parts of grasslands that are more than 300 feet (90 m) from the grassland 

edge. If not removed these structures may provide observation perches for avian 

nest predators or for Brown-headed Cowbirds scouting for host-species' nests to 

parasitize. However, a few small trees scattered throughout the area can 

improve habitat for species such as Field Sparrows, and American Kestrels. 

Within a regional context, it is probably best to protect and manage enough sites 

to provide a diversity of grassland habitats, ranging from prairie-like areas free 

of woody vegetation to lightly treed, savannah-like grasslands. 

11. Current nest boxes for Eastern Bluebirds, wood ducks, American Kestrels, 

and bats will be maintained and others can be added for other species. 

12. Human disturbance to grasslands will be minimized, especially during the 

nesting season. 

13. Garbage and trash collection facilities and containers will be locked and or 

kept away from grassland areas as they can attract unwanted concentrations of 

predators. 

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14. Modifications or amendments to grassland management will be made as 

needed and that are appropriate and beneficial. 

8.7 Wetland Resource Management 

8.7.1 Wetland Resource Management Introduction 

8.7.2 Wetland Resource Management Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Protect and maintain wetland communities on Camp Edwards for the 

purposes of rare species protection, water quality, and wildlife habitat. 

Objectives: 

a. Prohibit activities except those associated with natural community 

management or restoration and travel along existing roads within the 

wetlands and their buffers. 

b. Monitor wetland communities using RTLA methods. 

c. Prevent the introduction of or colonization by invasive exotic species (e.g., 

Phragmites sp., purple loosestrife) within the wetlands communities. 

d. Prevent the removal or draw-down of water from wetlands as a result of 

any activity, including the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve 

Cooperative. 

e. Identify vernal pools on Camp Edwards and submit completed 

applications to NHESP for vernal pool certification. 

GOAL 2. Restore disturbed wetland communities when neccessary to their historic 

conditions to enhance rare species habitat, water quality, and biodiversity. 

Objectives: 

a. Survey wetlands for visible signs of disturbance (e.g., erosion). 

b. Review historic aerial photographs of Camp Edwards to determine the 

changes, if any, to the size, shape, or condition of each wetland and its 

buffer 

c. Control and eliminate runoff and sedimentation within wetlands and their 

buffers using sound vegetative and land management practices. 

d. Conduct restoration activities, when practical and feasible, during periods 

of hibernation or inactivity (i.e., late fall and winter months). 

e. Abide by laws and regulations governing water resources, including, but 

not necessarily limited to the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, 

Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, and those pertaining to local 

conservation commissions. 

f. Monitor the success of restoration and rehabilitation of wetlands on at 

least an annual basis. 

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GOAL 3. Preserve and maintain water quality and quantity and recharge areas to 

existing water supply wells. 

Objectives: 

a. Abide by and accommodate existing state and federal laws and 

regulations pertaining to water supply, the MMR Groundwater Protection 

Policy Plan, the CCC Regional Policy Plan’s Water Quality Improvement 

sections, the Camp Edwards Spill Prevention Control and 

Countermeasures Plan, and MMR groundwater remediation and 

restoration programs. 

b. Allow only activities that are associated with the Upper Cape Water 

Supply Reserve Cooperative and the Camp Edwards Training Site within 

established wellhead protection zones. 

8.7.3 Wetland Resource Management 

A relatively small proportion, .39%, of Camp Edwards is covered by surface 

water. As a result, it is especially important to protect the wetlands and surrounding 

buffers throughout the training site. As mentioned in Chapter 2.3, any training 

activities that are potentially destructive to surface water resources of Camp Edwards 

are prohibited within the wetland habitats and their 100-foot buffers (Massachusetts 

General Law c. 131 § 40, 310 CMR 10)(Massachusetts National Guard 2001). Any land 

use that is proposed to occur within wetlands or their buffers must be reviewed by 

Camp Edwards Operations and Natural Resource Office (Camp Edwards Regulation 

385-63, Range Safety), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s 

Wetlands Unit, and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, including the 

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, at least 45 days before the activity 

is scheduled to take place. 

Although Massachusetts General Law defines a 100-foot buffer to protect 

wetlands and vernal pools, certain species of wildlife, such as amphibians or odonates, 

might require a greater area of upland habitat surrounding wetlands. For instance, 

adult state-listed rare damselflies and dragonflies that inhabit Camp Edwards may 

roost in trees up to 250 or 1000 meters (825 or 3300 feet), respectively, from a wetland (J. 

Hull, pers. comm.). Therefore, aside from protecting the wetland that is inhabited by 

the odonate larvae, it is also necessary to consider the upland habitat requirements of 

the adults. Establishing a buffer that exceeds 100 feet around a particular wetland to 

protect the natural community or even a single species of plant or animal does not 

necessarily restrict all activities from taking place. Rather, the apparent threats to the 

wetland or species should be identified and minimized either altogether or during 

important activity periods. Activity near most wetlands on Camp Edwards, with the 

exception of vehicle travel on existing roads and remediation projects, usually does not 

occur within areas that often exceed the required 100 foot buffer. Please see Chapter 9.3 

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for a more complete discussion of the conservation of state-listed rare odonates on 


A 500-foot seasonal buffer has been established for all wetlands per the MANG 

FEIR (2001). This buffer restriction is in place from 1 March through 15 June. 

Although Army Regulation 200-3 requires no net loss of wetlands on Camp 

Edwards, any loss of wetlands is unacceptable to the MAARNG. In the event that a 

portion of a wetland or its buffer is negatively impacted due to an activity, it must be 

restored to the condition prior to the disturbance. An assessment will be made to 

determine whether natural recovery will be sufficient or if a greater effort is required. 

For instance, if a vehicle accidentally travels on the edge of a road within a wetland 

buffer and impacts the vegetation, natural recovery may be appropriate. However, if 

past activities such as the construction of roads or a land bridge has resulted in erosion 

and sedimentation of a wetland, a restoration plan will be created as a LRAM project to 

restore the site to its historic condition. The recovery of the wetland will be monitored 

using RTLA and other survey methods to determine if the efforts were successful. If 

recovery was not successful, restoration efforts will continue until the site has fully 

recovered. 

8.7.4 Groundwater Management 

All land uses on the Camp Edwards Training Site must conform to MAARNG, 

Camp Edwards, Department of Defense, local town, and Massachusetts State 

regulations pertaining to groundwater resources and wellhead protection. These 

regulations include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: 

• Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141, 144-147) 

• Clean Water Act (40 CFR 61, 33 USC 1251-1387) 

• State Drinking Water Regulations (310 CMR 22.00) 

• State Wellhead Protection Act (310 CMR 22.21) 

• Water Management Act (310 CMR 36.00) 

Land uses on Camp Edwards must not interfere with current or future 

restoration or remediation projects or with the distribution of water supplies to the 

surrounding Upper Cape towns. Furthermore, the extraction, use, and transfer of 

groundwater resources must not degrade or impact natural resources, aquatic or 

terrestrial habitats on Camp Edwards. 

Water quality management on Camp Edwards, as pertaining to public water 

supply, is based upon compliance with the Groundwater Protection Policy Plan. All 

land uses on Camp Edwards must adhere to the requirements and regulatory 

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restrictions of the Groundwater Protection Policy Plan. In addition, water quality 

management on Camp Edwards includes the following regulations: 

• Federal water supply regulations 

• State water supply regulations 

• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan 

For further information regarding groundwater management, consult the current 

annual State of the Reservation Report. 

8.8 Research and Monitoring 

8.8.1 Research and Monitoring Introduction 

The primary method for monitoring the natural communities of Camp Edwards 

will be the RTLA Program (see Chapter 7.2). However, other monitoring methods may 

be employed when the RTLA methods do not meet the requirements for a specific 

monitoring goal. For instance, the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office has 

developed methods for monitoring the restoration and revegetation of monitoring well 

pads on Camp Edwards. After a new well is created, the excavated pad is 

photographed and its area is measured. The well pad is described and photographed 

and percent ground covered by vegetation is estimated every three months after the 

initial description. In addition to these monitoring programs, the populations of statelisted 

rare species that have been documented on Camp Edwards are monitored each 

year. The site where a particular species was documented is visited each summer and 

the state of the population is assessed to determine the relative size of the population 

and changes, if any, since the previous year. 

8.8.2 Research and Monitoring Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Conduct long-term monitoring to determine the effects of training and 

management practices on the natural resources of Camp Edwards to preserve 

training. 

Objectives: 

a. Continue the Camp Edwards RTLA monitoring program on an annual 

basis. 

b. Implement other monitoring programs in conjunction with the RTLA 

Program when additional information is required. 

GOAL 2. Design and implement research projects to address specific resource or 

natural community concerns or interests on Camp Edwards. 

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Objectives: 

a. Determine a purpose or need for conducting each research project. 

b. Research projects funded by the MAARNG should focus on continuing 

inventories of flora and fauna as well as projects addressing the status and 

requirements of rare species that inhabit Camp Edwards. 

c. Describe the results of each project in a final report including the benefits 

to training and readiness. 

8.8.3 Projects, Research, and Surveys 

In addition to implementing the ITAM Program on Camp Edwards, the Natural 

Resource Office also conducts research, projects, and surveys. A proposal will be 

developed and reviewed for each project. 

As one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on Cape Cod, Camp Edwards 

may be considered an ideal site for conducting field research. In the past, researchers 

affiliated with state universities, non-profit organizations, as well as state and federal 

environmental agencies have conducted surveys or research projects on Camp 

Edwards, either as contractors or independently. Any person that is affiliated with the 

aforementioned organizations, and is interested in conducting research on Camp 

Edwards, should submit a research proposal to the Camp Edwards Natural Resource 

Office for review. 

The projects, research, and surveys that have been proposed for FY 2008-2013 

include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: 

Groundwater Studies 

At the MMR there are two major clean-up programs that are investigating soil 

and groundwater contamination caused by past activities. They are, the Installation 

Restoration Program (IRP) managed by the Air Force Center for Environmental 

Excellence and the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program (IAGWSP) managed by 

the Army Environmental Center. The IRP is a Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation, and Recovery Act (CERCLA) based investigation and 

remediation program and the IAGWSP investigation and remediation decisions are 

based on the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The IAGWSP area of investigation is in 

the Camp Edwards training area with the sources of contamination linked to some 

military training and government contract weapons testing; the significant 

contaminates to groundwater include RDX and perchlorate, both of which are explosive 

by-products. More information on the specifics of these programs can be found on their 

respect web sites; www.mmr.org and http://groundwaterprogram.army.mil . 

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Additionally, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted a variety of 

studies on the aquifer to provide information to the two clean up programs, the EPA 

and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection as well as stand alone 

research on the water resources of Massachusetts. The USGS has installed a monitoring 

well near the mound of the aquifer’s Sagamore Lens, which is in the training area, to 

measure the height of the water table based on annual precipitation. For further 

information of the USGS visit their website at http://ma.water.usgs/gov . 

Due to the efforts of the two clean-up programs and with only minimal surface 

water bodies at Camp Edwards, the Natural Resource Office has focused their efforts, 

with respect to groundwater monitoring, on ecosystem management as identified in 

section 8.8.2 Research and Monitoring Introduction. Plus, the MAARNG will be 

exploring options to assess the need to conduct periodic surface water monitoring to 

support the ecosystem management venues in section 8.2.2. However, the MAARNG 

has initiated two programs that will increase its assessment of how training may be 

affecting the groundwater. The first program, started in 2006, is to create a Small Arms 

Management Plan/Pollution Prevention Plan that will incorporate best management 

practices in monitoring the activities of small arms training and reduces the footprint on 

the environment. A component of this program will be to install lysimeters and 

groundwater wells to measure pore water and groundwater. The second program was 

initiated in 2004, which was to start an investigation based on its current use of the 

tungsten-nylon small arms ammunition. 

Fate and Transport of Tungsten at Camp Edward’s Small Arms Ranges 

In response to the EMC, the MAARNG requested that the Army Environmental 

Center conduct a feasibility study on the mobility of tungsten that is left on the small 

arms ranges as a result of firing tungsten-nylon ammunition on the ranges at Camp 

Edwards. Due to the issue of the Administrative Orders by EPA in 1997, which stopped 

the firing of lead based ammunition, the MAARNG switched to the recently released 

“green” ammunition issued by the Army; the MAARNG began firing this new 

tungsten-nylon bullet in October 1999. When the MAARNG starting using this 

ammunition for small arms training it was considered a safe and environmentally 

friendly ammunition that could stay on the range after training; however by 2004 there 

was sufficient scientific information for the MAARNG to assess whether the use of this 

ammunition, specifically tungsten, could affect the environment, whether soil or 

groundwater. 

The feasibility field work for the mobility study began in June 2005 and samples 

were collected in the soil, in pour water, and in the groundwater. Sampling results 

have shown tungsten is reaching the groundwater, and while tungsten is not currently 

regulated by the MassDEP or EPA, the values were significant enough to temporarily 

suspend firing and try to determine whether tungsten does represent a threat to the 

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environment. The report for the field work is due in the fall of 2006; and, AEC has 

decided to expand its’ initial study and will be conducting a Phase II by installing 

additional monitoring wells on other ranges to further understand the possible extent of 

the tungsten and possible impact to the groundwater. 

Wetlands Rehabilitation (1999-present) 

The wetlands rehabilitation will serve to reduce or eliminate soil erosion into 

wetlands or their buffers and to restore ponds to their historic conditions, if deemed 

beneficial to the natural resources of the wetlands. Activities include: removing soil 

that was deposited by erosion or filling, implementing erosion control techniques, 

revegetating wetland buffers, and closing roads adjacent to the wetlands. Prior to any 

disturbance in or near the wetlands of Camp Edwards, the Natural Resource Office will 

consult and coordinate with the Massachusetts DEP, NHESP, and appropriate local 

conservation commission. Notification of, and consultation with, the Wampanoag 

Tribe is required under Section 106 of the NHPA prior to excavation or earth-moving 

activities near all wetlands. Inadvertent discovery of cultural resources should be 

reported to the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office. All necessary consultation and 

permitting procedures will be conducted prior to disturbing wetlands or regulated 

wetland buffers. 

Road Closures (1999-present) 

Roads that pose a threat to sensitive habitat areas have been seasonally or 

permanently closed as long as there is no net loss to maneuver areas (Table 8-1). These 

roads are most often associated with wetland buffers. Seasonal closures are from 1 

March through 15 June and occur at designated roads through out the training area that 

are within the 500 ft regulatory buffer of a wetland. 

Table 8-1. Seasonal and permanent road closures on Camp Edwards 

Road Training Seasonal Permanent 

Area Closure Closure 

Deep Bottom 

Pond Road 

Bravo 9 X 

Orchard Road Bravo 10 X 

Spruce Swamp 

Road 

Charly 14 X 

Unnamed road 

between Spruce 

Swamp and 

Sandwich Roads 

Charly 15 X 

Jefferson Road 

between 

Burgoyne and 

Orchard 

Bravo 10 X 

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Erosion Control (1997-present) 

Avery Road at 

Wood Road 

Bravo 9 X 

Tank Trail Bravo 8 X 

Canal View Road Rod and X 

at the Rod and 

Gun Club 

Gun Club 

All roads, improved (i.e., paved or gravel) or unimproved (i.e., dirt), are and will 

be maintained to prevent erosion. Roads will be graded and stabilized and proper 

drainage will be constructed or maintained to prevent soil erosion. The Roads and 

Grounds Crew of the Division of Facilities and Engineers or other MAARNG 

engineering units will conduct work that requires heavy machinery; however 

contractors may be used when funds are available. 

MAARNG personnel and contractors should be aware of the potential for 

impacting cultural resources during any ground disturbing activity associated with 

erosion control. Any erosion control project that results in ground disturbance off of 

established roads must be reviewed by the Wampanoag Tribe, as mandated by Section 

106 of NHPA. 

In areas where road erosion might occur, hay bales and silt fences will be 

installed as a temporary means of erosion control, with the ultimate goal of stabilizing 

roads to eliminate soil erosion. The condition of the roads on Camp Edwards will be 

monitored on a regular basis and erosion control measures will be implemented where 

necessary. 

Bivouac Restoration (2000-present) 

The purpose of bivouac sites is to assemble or camp in an area that provides 

tactical concealment, both horizontal and vertical, which depends directly upon existing 

vegetation. Some of the bivouac sites on Camp Edwards have been negatively 

impacted by overuse, which has resulted in vegetation loss, soil compaction, and 

erosion. In some cases, numerous access points to a bivouac have been created. 

Bivouac site restoration includes closing any unnecessary access points and 

stabilizes others, as well as to restore the soil and vegetation to promote growth and 

concealment for troops. Compacted soil will be aerated and protected from erosion 

using wood chips, hay bales, and silt fences until native vegetation can be established. 

Wood chips will also be used to protect the root stock of existing trees and shrubs. New 

trees and shrubs will be planted or transplanted from other areas of Camp Edwards to 

stabilize soil and provide additional concealment within the bivouac sites. All plantings 

in the bivouac sites will be native species. 

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Ground disturbing activities (e.g., planting vegetation, grading the soil surface) 

associated with bivouac restoration have the potential to impact cultural resources on 

Camp Edwards. Consultation with the Wampanoag Tribe prior to these activities is 

required under Section 106 of NHPA 

Landing Zone Restoration (2000-present) 

Most of the helicopter landing zones (LZs) on Camp Edwards are obsolete and in 

disrepair. This is due to the change in air frame from the Huey to the Blackhawk, 

woody vegetation encroachment, well drilling practices, etc. Thus, many of these LZs 

are no longer safe for landing. This has resulted in a loss of training area for MAARNG 

Aviation personnel. Coordination with MAARNG aviation has been initiated to 

determine needs and restore the existing LZs on Camp Edwards to a useable condition 

by removing trees, debris, and regrading the ground surface. Any ground disturbing 

activities require prior consultation with the Wampanoag Tribe. 

Bat Survey 

Mist-netting was conducted throughout the training areas of Camp Edwards 

during the summers of 1999, 2000, and 2001. This survey will be continued to 

determine the species distribution among the different natural communities of Camp 

Edwards and to aid in the habitat use and home range study. 

Whip-poor-will Survey and Habitat Use and Home Range Research Project 

The Caprimulginae (Aves: Caprimulgiformes: Caprimulgidae) are 

crepuscular/nocturnal insectivores that occur virtually worldwide (Cleere 1998). In the 

Nearctic, the subfamily is represented by several species including; the Whip-poor-will 

(Caprimulgus vociferus). Due to its nocturnal habits the Whip-poor-will is one of the 

most poorly known species in North America. This species is a ground-nester that 

inhabits oak-pine forests (Cleere 1998); laying two eggs on bare ground (Bent 1940). 

The Whip-poor-will is double brooded (Cleere 1998). Young are incubated and reared 

by both sexes, however diurnal incubation is usually by the female (Bent 1940). Males 

are territorial and will give their characteristic song from song posts within their 

territories (Bent 1940). Singing activity varies with moonlight (Bent 1940). Feeding is 

done low, over the ground. Insects are consumed during short sallies from the ground 

or from perches (Bent 1940). Typical foods include; moths, beetles, crickets, 

grasshoppers and mosquitoes (Cleere 1998). 

A regional decline in population has been documented over the last several 

years. The lack of information on this species makes developing management strategies 

nearly impossible. The study will provide data on Whip-poor-will density, micro- 

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habitat (nesting), spatial and overall habitat use and requirements. Data derived from 

this study is essential for developing Whip-poor-will conservation and management 

strategies on Camp Edwards (MMR) and other suitable habitats throughout the region. 

Areas of highest Whip-poor-will density on Camp Edwards are determined by 

point counts, and abundance will be determined by the presence of singing males. Ten 

individuals are captured per year in mist nets and given USFWS leg bands. Tapeplayback 

is used to lure the birds to the nets (Mengel et al. 1972, Mills 1986). The nest 

site will be found by scanning the area near where each bird is captured for eye shine 

with hand-held spotlights, and by random encounters. Nests will be monitored 

periodically throughout the season to determine nesting success. Microhabitat of each 

nesting site will be examined. The nest sites will be marked. Marking will allow for 

diurnal determination of vegetative composition of all territories, according to the 

methods of Dueser and Shugart (1978). 

This study focuses on the habitat use by the species and their home range. The 

relatively large tracts of undisturbed forest on Camp Edwards most likely provide 

desirable habitat for whip-poor-wills, a species that has declined in abundance due to 

habitat loss from forest fragmentation, urban development, and lack of wildland fire. 

Ten Whip-poor-wills are fitted with radio transmitters per year. Transmitters are 

affixed using elastic harnesses according to the methods of Brigham (1988) and are 

retrieved before fall migration. Individuals are tracked three times per week. 

Observation periods alternate. These periods will be 6:00am to 8:00pm, 8:00pm to 

1:00am, and 1:00am to 6:00am. These periods allow for the determination of nesting, 

roosting, and feeding habitats used on Camp Edwards. This information will also be 

used to determine individual and overall home ranges of Whip-poor-wills on Camp 


Management efforts are focused on maintaining large un-fragmented tracts of 

land here on Camp Edwards, and when possible increasing the size of theses tracts. 

Also, through a proactive fire management program habitat diversities will be 

maintained which is found to be beneficial for this species. 

Eastern Box Turtle Habitat Selection and Hibernation Thermal Ecology Research Project 

The purpose of the eastern box turtle research project on Camp Edwards, 

Massachusetts, was to: (1) determine the characteristics of the microhabitats in which 

the turtles are located and whether or not the turtles select a microhabitat with 

particular resources or conditions; (2) to quantify the daily movements and home 

ranges of the turtles; (3) to attempt to determine the abundance of eastern box turtles 

throughout the various habitats of Camp Edwards. Two important objectives for this 

project were to standardize the methods of the study so that they may be repeated each 

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year in the future and to successfully monitor the movements and habitat selection of 

the same ten individual box turtles over the course of multiple (5) years. 

Eastern box turtles were fitted with radio transmitters during 1998-2004 (n=10) to 

monitor their movements on Camp Edwards. Turtles were located throughout the 

summer to determine habitat preferences and the relation of microhabitat 

characteristics to those of the home range used by the turtle. 

Management efforts are focused on maintaining large un-fragmented tracts of 

land here on Camp Edwards and when possible increasing the size of theses tracts. 

Also, through a proactive fire management program habitat diversities will be 

maintained which appears to be essential to maintaining healthy populations of box 

turtles. 

Finally, a proactive educational plan has been implemented at Camp Edwards 

beginning in 1998 to educate Camp Edwards land users to the importance of this 

species and so that notification is made to the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office 

when Box Turtles are found on site. Wanted posters asking to report all box turtle 

sightings have been placed throughout the MMR-buildings and kiosks. All reports are 

filed with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of the Division of 

Fisheries and Wildlife at the end of the field season. 

Amphibian Survey 

A comprehensive amphibian survey has not been conducted for most wetlands 

on Camp Edwards. Monument Swamp and Raccoon Swamp were surveyed for three 

years during spring amphibian migrations, and vernal pool surveys are conducted each 

year on as many wetlands as feasible. To date (spring 2006), 12 vernal pools have been 

certified by MA NHESP. A quantitative survey should be conducted on the rest of the 

major wetland communities to determine the species diversity and abundance 

throughout Camp Edwards. Surveys will be conducted for the remaining ponds and 

wetlands as well as the terrestrial communities of Camp Edwards. The surveys should 

be conducted for at least one year, between March and July during the height of the 

activity (e.g., breeding) period. 

Reptile Survey 

Little effort has been made to systematically document all reptiles that occur on 

Camp Edwards. Therefore, a comprehensive survey of the reptiles of Camp Edwards is 

necessary. A survey of the ponds and wetlands Camp Edwards for aquatic turtles has 

been conducted sporadically in the past. The presence of the spotted turtle in two of the 

wetlands (Monument and Raccoon Swamp) of Camp Edwards warrants a more 

comprehensive survey. The survey will involve live trapping throughout the summer 

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to assess the species diversity and abundance within each of the ponds and wetlands on 

Camp Edwards. The survey should be conducted for at least one year, between May 

and July, the height of the active season of the turtles. A survey of terrestrial reptiles 

may be conducted using pitfall traps with drift fences, plywood boards placed in open, 

sunny areas, or other appropriate techniques 

Grassland Bird Survey 

A grassland bird survey was conducted in the cantonment area of the MMR in 

1985, during which one of the largest populations of upland sandpipers in 

Massachusetts was documented. Since that time, trees and shrubs have colonized much 

of the grasslands on Camp Edwards. Grassland birds were also surveyed in 1995, 1997, 

1998, and 2001-2006. The increase in abundance of upland sandpipers and grasshopper 

sparrows (Table 6-9) can likely be attributed to a change in mowing schedules and 

subsequent restoration of the cantonment area grasslands. Grassland bird surveys 

assist in the management of the grasslands by documenting the population sizes and 

distribution. Surveys are conducted between April and August, the breeding season for 

most grassland birds. 

Odonate Survey 

Surveys for dragonflies and damselflies have been conducted since 1995, The 

presence of five state-listed rare odonate species on Camp Edwards justify the necessity 

to conduct a comprehensive survey to determine species distribution and to identify not 

only the aquatic habitats, but also the upland habitats used by the species. A 

comprehensive survey should be conducted for at least one year, between May and 

August to encompass all of the flight periods of the state-listed rare odonates on Camp 


American Burying Beetle Survey 

The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) is a federally-listed rare 

insect species; the geographic range of which has historically included Massachusetts. 

The relatively close proximity of an identified population in Rhode Island and large 

tracts of undisturbed open woodland forest on Camp Edwards provide a likely 

possibility of the species occurring on Camp Edwards. A survey for American burying 

beetles on Camp Edwards would be conducted under the guidance of NHESP. 

New England Cottontail Survey 

On August 30 th , 2000, the US Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition 

requesting the need to list the New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) as a 

threatened or endangered species. Findings indicated that the petitioned action may be 

135


warranted and that a full status review is needed. Consequently, the New England 

Cottontail is officially acknowledged as a species in need of conservation attention (as a 

candidate species). 

The New England Cottontail is a medium sized cottontail rabbit, weighing 

approximately 2.2 lbs. It can be distinguished from its countepart, the Eastern 

Cottontail by several features including pelage color, body size, and skull 

characteristics. The external characteristics of pelage and body size are not 100% 

reliable; however, the skull characteristics are very trustworthy. This lagomorph is 

considered an early successional forest species with suitable habitat comprising both of 

forested and shrub lands with dense understory growth. 

With the introduction of the Eastern Cottontail in 1930’s, fragmentation of habitat 

as the human population grows, and higher predation and hunting rates as the habitat 

is more and more fragmented, have all contributed to the decline of this species. It has 

been found that large patches of habitat, like that of Camp Edwards, are essential for 

sustaining populations of this species. 

Camp Edwards is considered, by some, to be the stronghold for this species on 

Cape Cod. A baseline survey was conducted on Camp Edwards in 2006. The study 

will be carried out for at least two additional years to provide information on 

population status and habitat requirements on Camp Edwards. 

Camp Edwards Box Project 

Camp Edwards, with the aid of the Senior Environmental Corps (SEC), 

maintains a bluebird trail in the cantonment area. In addition to bluebird boxes, 

bat/duck boxes were built and placed into the wetlands of the training area. These 

boxes provide nesting habitat for up to two wood duck pairs and additional space for 

1000’s of roosting bats. To date, there are several bats in four of the boxes located on 

Donnelly Pond, Baileys Pond, Little Halfway Pond, and Rod and Gun Club South Pond. 

These boxes will be maintained and monitored yearly for species use and success with 

the aid of the SEC. 

8.9 Fire Management 

This section is derived from the Integrated Fire Management Plan (2006) for the 

Camp Edwards Training Site. 

8.9.1 Fire Management Introduction 

The natural communities found on the Camp Edwards Training Site (CETS) are 

fire dependant systems resulting from the interaction with fire through time. With 

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Euro-American influence, the natural fire regime has mostly been suppressed and 

replaced with infrequent human induced catastrophic fires. Further anthropogenic 

changes to the environment surrounding Camp Edwards has greatly accelerated in 

recent times with home building and population growth, creating a severe Wildland 

Urban Interface (WUI). Given this scenario, the MAARNG aims to proactively address 

and plan for wildland fire using a landscape-scale approach outlined in an Integrated 

Fire Management Plan (IFMP). The goal of the IFMP is to support the military mission 

of the Camp Edwards Training Site, while promoting the sustainment of native 

biological systems and their inherent processes by encouraging sound fire management 

planning, policy, and procedure. 

It is the intent of the MAARNG and other stake holders that fire be reintroduced 

to this system by taking a landscape scale approach. It is critical to the success of this 

undertaking that wildland and prescribed fire planning is in place to ensure the most 

ecologically sound and safest approach to this endeavor. 

The overriding goal of fire management on Camp Edwards is to support the 

mission of the training site (combat readiness), while promoting a diverse ecosystem, 

public safety, and protection of the surrounding community from wildland fire. 

General program direction for Fire Management on Camp Edwards is: 

• To guide the decision making process-where safety, social, political, and 

resource values are evaluated with appropriate management. 

• To provide a framework for fuels management through the use of 

prescribed fire. 

• To provide a platform to cooperate in planning and implementing a fire 

program within and across agency boundaries. 

Program operations include preparedness, prevention, fuels management, and 

suppression. Current scientific knowledge (at the local and international scale), 

historical background, and operational standards have been incorporated to accomplish 

resource and fire management goals and objectives. Also fire management on Camp 

Edwards will evolve with the scientific knowledge domain and as new operational 

protocols are developed. On-going review and updates for fire management will 

consequently be prepared by the Massachusetts Army National Guard, Natural 

Resource Office, Camp Edwards. 

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8.9.2 Fire Management Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Prevent wildfires from resulting in a threat to life and property on Camp 

Edwards and to surrounding towns. 

Objectives: 

a. Restore and maintain existing and historical firebreaks that would be 

beneficial and enhance the effectiveness of wildfire suppression and 

wildland fuel reduction activities. 

b. Reduce wildland fuel loads with the use of prescribed fire and other fuel 

treatment techniques. 

c. Provide wildland fire prevention education to the users of Camp 


GOAL 2. Restore and maintain the ecological processes that have occurred historically 

across the Camp Edwards landscape in such a manner so as to promote 

viable plant and animal populations and communities. 

Objectives: 

a. Revert and restore plant and animal communities to varied stages of early 

ecological succession with the use of prescribed fire and other vegetation 

management techniques. 

b. Maintain these varied stages of ecological succession on the Camp 

Edwards landscape with the use of prescribed fire and other vegetation 


c. Ensure that specific plant and animal community targets complement the 

overall ecological health and diversity of the southeastern Massachusetts 

region. 

d. Ensure that prescribed fire and vegetation management techniques are 

conducted in such a manner that a healthy and varied suite of plant and 

animal population is maintained. 

e. When possible conduct large scale landscape level treatments (greater 

than 300 acres in size) in such a manner that the ecological results of 

historical large scale natural disturbances are reintroduced to the 

southeastern Massachusetts’ region. 

GOAL 3. Establish an informed and effective fire management program that will 

facilitate the accomplishment of Fire Management Goals 1 and 2. 

Objectives: 

a. Establish and maintain a cadre of staff that has experience and training in 

fire management techniques and practices. 

b. Conduct fire management planning that uses best available information to 

refine fire management goals and objectives over time. 

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c. Monitor the success of fire management activities using the Land 

Condition Trend Analysis Method in addition to other methods as 

needed. 

d. Ensure that the users of Camp Edwards and surrounding towns are kept 

informed on the fire management activities at Camp Edwards and of the 

benefits associated with these activities. 

e. Ensure that the capacity to execute fire management goals and objectives 

is established and maintained through a combination of direct action and 

partnering with other organizations. 

8.9.3 Fire Management 

Much of the vegetation of Camp Edwards is characterized as pitch pine and 

scrub oak barrens. Comprised of various combinations of tree and scrub oaks and pitch 

pine, the vegetation is the product of wildfires and human disturbance activities 

including timber cutting, grazing, and military training exercises. Many of the largest 

fires occurring in Massachusetts in the last 50 years have originated within Camp 

Edwards. Some have threatened surrounding developments and communities, all of 

which are expanding rapidly along the installation boundary. 

Long viewed by foresters and the public as "wastelands" to be converted to other 

uses (e.g. planting to more valuable timber species, conversion to agriculture, or as sites 

for industrial and residential development), “barrens" are now seen as unique 

landscapes which serve as habitat for a number of rare plant, insect and animal species. 

Almost without exception, they also serve to protect aquifers that are becoming 

increasingly important to the rapidly developing population. 

Land managers recognize that the management of pine barrens systems requires 

the use of prescribed fires, which has the advantage of duplicating the natural role of 

fire in regenerating barrens vegetation and retarding succession to more tolerant 

species. Many areas in the northeast are now too fragmented by development to 

employ prescribed fire at a cost-efficient level in terms of acres treated per year. Camp 

Edwards is one of the few remaining barrens north of New Jersey for which the use of 

prescribed fire to reduce wildfire hazard and maintain valued landscape features is still 

a viable alternative. In the IFMP, the history of fire on the land that is Camp Edwards, 

the ecological importance fire-adapted communities, and options that exist to reduce 

the threat of wildfire while maintaining the ecological integrity are discussed and 

evaluated. 

Fire management options include continuation of past policies of suppressing 

wildfires, a continuation and expansion of efforts to implement a prescribed fire 

program, which began in the early 1980s, and the mechanical manipulation of fuels to 

reduce fire hazard. 

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Suppression alone will not eliminate the risk for wildfires. Although fires may 

occur less frequently, they will, inevitably occur, and at intensities that will defy control 

and threaten human resources, both on Camp Edwards and on adjacent public and 

private property. Prevention, detection and suppression of wildfires should remain a 

priority for local fire control organizations, but resource managers must, at the same 

time, actively work to reduce fuel loads in areas where flammable fuels have 

accumulated as a result of past management. Mechanical reduction of fuel loads can be 

employed effectively on high priority areas, but the cost of mechanically treating large 

areas, and the hazard of unexploded ordinance in some portions of the installation, 

preclude relying solely on mechanical measures for reducing hazardous fuel 

accumulations. The ecological effects on sensitive species of mechanically “chopping” 

or “shredding” fuels are unknown. 

Camp Edwards environmental management staff, and Massachusetts Military 

Reservation staff in cooperation with the MADFW, MA Bureau of Fire Control, the 

University of Massachusetts, the Nature Conservancy and other non-profits, have 

learned much from past efforts to employ prescribed fire at Camp Edwards. The 

program has resulted in the burning of more than 3,955 acres since 1983 (Table 8-2) and 

has the support of local fire chiefs, conservation, and land management 

agencies/organizations. 

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Table 8-2. Historic prescribed fire activity for Camp Edwards, 1983-2005. 

Date Location Area Burned (acres) 

1983 ─ 370 

1984 ─ 126 

1985 ─ 494 

1989 ─ 600 

1990 ─ 404 

1991 ─ 10 

1993 ─ 400 

1994 ─ 45 

2000 ─ 88 

3/1/2000 NW corner of IA 40 

3/23/2000 NW corner of IA 40 

3/28/2003 MMR Cantonment, Area 1, Sub-Unit A & B 40 

5/15/2003 MMR Camp Edwards, Training Area Buffer 20 

5/16/2003 MMR Camp Edwards, A2 223 

11/10/2003 MMR Cantonment, Area 1, Sub-Unit D, E, & F 50 

11/10/2003 Cantoment 1 50 

5/14/2004 A-4 186 

5/18/2004 Cantoment 1 1 

5/19/2004 Cantoment 1 1 

5/20/2004 Cantoment 1 3 

6/3/2004 A-3/1 East 5 

6/4/2004 A-3/1 East 1 

6/8/2004 A-3/1 East 58 

6/9/2004 A-3/1 East 222 

6/24/2004 A-1/3 West 200 

10/7/2004 BA-3 East 40 

10/8/2004 BA-3 East 40 

5/10/2005 Cantonment Area 1 





6/8/2005 BA-3 20 

6/9/2005 BA-3 149 

6/24/2005 B Range 2 

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Total: 3955


8.9.4 Fire Management Blocks 

Delineation of Fire Management Blocks (FMB) at Camp Edwards is based upon 

numerous influences including vegetation composition/fuel type, topographic features, 

training area configurations, reservation boundaries, desired ecological effects, safety 

for people and property, common management objectives at the local scale and other 

management constraints (Figure 8-1). Burn unit boundaries within a given FMB, in 

general, reflect present training subsections (i.e. A-1 through A-6, B-7 through B-12, and 

C-13 through C-16; Figure 8-2. Site specific burn plans will reflect the training unit 

organization in most cases. In most instances, management objective for a given unit 

will be dictated by the FMB it falls within. Specific planning for those areas outside of 

the current training ground configuration will be considered when required. Block 

descriptions, dominant management objectives, and pre-selected strategies to 

accomplish zone specific targets are as follows: 

Fire Management Block A: 

Description – FMB A is 2230 acres in size and located along the western 

side of Camp Edwards along route 28 in the Town of Bourne (Figure 8-1). 

FMB-A lies in glacial moraine deposits, with pitch pine – oak forest found 

as the dominant vegetation community in the block (83 % of the block). 

Pitch pine – scrub oak community, immature pitch pine, and some small 

disturbed and developed areas make up a very minor portion of the 

vegetation cover in the block. The dominant fuel models in the block 

include custom fuel model (CFM) 1, 2, and 3. Alternatively, past 

prescribed burn plans have used standard fuel model (SFM) 8, 4, 6, and 9 

to model fire spread and flame height. Training Areas A-1 through A-6, 

unit BA-3, and unit BA-4 are located with FMB-A. 

Management Objective - General management objectives for this block 

are to, initially, conduct growing season burns to develop a patch work of 

early successional habitat within, to conduct dormant season burns to 

reduce fuel loads, the duff layer, and for overall maintenance. Growing 

season burns will enable the relief of the canopy that will inturn aid in the 

creation of an early successional patch work dynamic. These burns will 

create standing dead wood, which is distinctly lacking in this system, and 

snags that provides habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. Site specific 

objectives will be addressed in unit specific burn plans. 

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Fire Management Block B: 

Description – FMB B, 3119 acres in size, is found in the northwest corner 

of Camp Edwards, in the Town of Bourne, closest to Cape Cod Canal 

(Figure 8-1). The most complex topography on Camp Edwards is found 

in this block, which is part of the Sandwich and Buzzards Bay terminal 

moraines. Pitch pine – oak forest is the prevailing block vegetation cover 

(68 %), though pitch pine – scrub oak community, black oak – scarlet oak 

forest, scrub oak shrubland, and Scotch pine dominated stands make-up 

minor components. The main fuel models for this block include CFM 1, 2, 

and 3. The Training Areas B-7 through B-12 structures the block. 


are to, initially, conduct growing season burns to maintain the patch work 

dynamic of early successional habitat that already exist, to conduct 

dormant season burns to reduce fuel loads, the duff layer, and for overall 

maintenance. Growing season burns will maintain the canopy openings 

that will provide for early successional patch dynamics. These burns will 


snags that provides habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. Dormant 

season burns will provide for the maintenance of the hardwood 

component of this management block. Site specific objectives will be 

addressed in unit specific burn plans 

Fire Management Block C: 

Description – FMB C is 2023 acres, and lies in the northeastern portion of 

Camp Edwards in the Town of Sandwich, with its northern border 

adjacent to Route 6, the mid-Cape Highway (Figure 8-1). Glacial moraine 

constitutes the accumulated soils in the block. Pitch pine – oak forest form 

the primary vegetation cover in the block (62 % of the block); however, 

pitch pine – scrub oak communities, black oak – scarlet oak forests, scrub 

oak shrublands, and disturbed areas are also observed. Important fuel 

models include CFM 2, 3, and SFM 6. The Training Areas C-13 through 

C16 builds the block. 


are to, initially, conduct growing season burns to maintain the patch work 

dynamic of early successional habitat that already exist, to conduct 

dormant season burns to reduce fuel loads, the duff layer, and for overall 

maintenance. Growing season burns will maintain the canopy openings 

that will provide for early successional patch dynamics. These burns will 


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snags that provides habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. Dormant 

season burns will also provide for the maintenance of the hardwood 

component of this management block. Site specific objectives will be 

addressed in unit specific burn plans 

Fire Management Block D: 

Description – FMB D is a 2546 acre, narrow, horseshoe shaped section 

wrapping around to the northern, southern, and western margins of the 

Impact Area (Figure 8-1). The block rests within the towns of Bourne and 

Sandwich. Its main vegetation cover is pitch pine – oak forest (42 %), 

though pitch pine scrub oak community (31 %), scrub oak shrubland, 

black oak – scarlet oak forest (10 %), cultural grassland (.4 %), and 

sandplain heathland (9 %) are also important cover types. Fuel models 

linked to this block include CFM 2, 3, and 4, but SFM 5 and 6 should also 

be considered. The small arms range areas and the BA-5 training areas are 

situated in this management block. 


are to conduct growing season burns to maintain the patch work dynamic 

of early successional habitats that exist, to conduct dormant season burns 

to reduce fuel loads, the duff layer, and for overall maintenance. Several 

areas within this block will need management similar to the objectives 

stated for the previously mentioned blocks. These objectives will be 

addressed in unit specific burn plans. 

Fire Management Block E: 

Description – FMB E rests on the eastern side of Camp Edwards in the 

Town of Sandwich along Route 130 (Figure 8-1). Its total area is 1037 

acres. The major vegetation types include pitch pine – oak forest (43 %), 

sandplain heathland (18 %), and pitch pine – scrub oak community (28 %), 

while pitch pine community, cultural grassland, and disturbed areas 

function as minor vegetative components. Custom Fuel Models 2,and 3 

are the dominant models for describing this block. Standard Fuel Models 

5 and 6 also are significant. Several small arms ranges, a Coast Guard 

facility, and two antenna farms one subsurface and one above ground 

occur within this management block. 


are to conduct growing season burns to maintain the patch work dynamic 

of early successional habitats that exist, to conduct dormant season burns 

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to reduce fuel loads, the duff layer, and for overall maintenance. Site 

specific objectives will be addressed in unit specific burn plans. 

Fire Management Block F: 

Description – FMB F is located in the southeast corner of Camp Edwards, 

Sandwich, Massachusetts and measures 1734 acres. Soils in the 

management block are classified of the outwash plain. The major 

vegetation types are pitch pine – scrub oak community (48 %), pitch pine – 

oak forest (23 %), and developed areas (12.5 %). Minor vegetation classes 

in the block include cultural grassland, scrub oak shrubland, black oak – 

scarlet oak forest, and disturbed areas. Custom Fuel Models 2, 3, and 4 

prove most important. Training areas BA-1, BA-2, BA-6, and the 1800 area 

are found in this FMB. 


are to conduct dormant season burns to top kill pitch pine – scrub oak 

community flora, primarily scruboak. Other objectives are to conduct 

growing season burns to maintain patch work dynamics of early 

successional habitats, to conduct dormant season burns to reduce fuel 

loads, the duff layer, and for overall maintenance. Site specific objectives 

will be addressed in unit specific burn plans, for example hardwood areas 

of this block will be burned during the dormant season for the purpose of 

maintenance. 

Fire Management Block G: 

Description – FMB G is a disjunct management area measuring 572 acres 

and abuts Otis Airfield in the Mashpee outwash plains. The major 

vegetation classes include cultural grassland (47 % of the block), sandplain 

heathland (23 %) , pitch pine – scrub oak community (8%), and developed 

areas (22 % of the block); significant fuel models being SFM 1, 2, 5 and 6, 

and CFM 2 and 3. Training areas 1100, 1200, 1300, 1500, 1600, 1700, and 

2800 are within FMB- G. 


are to conduct growing season burns, late May to early June, to stimulate 

grassland species growth, remove thatch layer, to kill small woody 

vegetation, and for overall maintenance. Site specific objectives will be 


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Fire Management Block IA: 

Description – FMB IA, 2197 acres in dimension, encompasses the Impact 

Area of Camp Edwards and is located approximately in the center of the 

base and within the towns of Bourne and Sandwich (Figure 8-1). 

Vegetation is mainly composed of scrub oak shrubland (67 % of the 

block), though pitch pine – oak forest, pitch pine – scrub oak community, 

immature pitch pine and disturbed areas are observed. Custom Fuel 

Model 4 is the most important in the management block. 


are to conduct dormant or early season burns to top kill scrub oak (90%) 

and to kill pitch pine saplings. Other objectives are to conduct growing 

season burns to maintain patch work dynamics of early successional 

species, to conduct dormant season burns to reduce fuel loads, the duff 

layer, and for overall maintenance. Site specific objectives will be 


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Figure 8-1. Prescribed Fire Management Blocks on Camp Edwards, MA. 


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Figure 8-2. Burn Units on Camp Edwards, MA 


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8.9.5 Smoke Management Zones 

Awareness of smoke production, transport, and effects in conjunction with 

knowledge and implementation of control strategies maximizes the effectiveness of 

using fire as a tool. The purpose of smoke management on Camp Edwards is to 

prevent health and safety hazards by minimizing the amount of smoke entering 

sensitive areas (i.e., populated areas, hospitals, nursing homes, etc…), to avoid 

significant deterioration of air quality, and to eliminate visibility impacts on roadways 

or runways. Compliance with laws and regulations set by the U.S. EPA (i.e., the 

Federal Clean Air Act) and the state of MADEP (i.e., the Massachusetts Clean Air Act) is 

foremost in all fire management planning and implementation. Over-arching control 

strategies include: 

• Avoidance – using meteorological conditions when planning burns to 

avoid impingement of smoke into smoke sensitive area. 

• Dilution – controlling the amount of emissions for dispersion to assure 

tolerable concentrations of smoke in designated areas. 

• Emissions reduction - using techniques to minimize the smoke output per 

unit area and decrease the contribution to regional haze as well as 

intrusions into smoke sensitive areas. 

To aid in the success of smoke management on Camp Edwards, Smoke Management 

Zones (SMZ) were created that identify preferred wind direction when planning 

prescribed fire for a given area (Figure 8-3). These parameters serve as a guide to fire 

planners and managers when identifying the proper control strategies necessary for 

local scale management realization. 

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Figure 8-3. Smoke Management Zones for Camp Edwards, MA. 


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8.10 Integrated Pest Management 

8.10.1 Integrated Pest Management Introduction 

The purpose of the Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) is to describe pest 

management activities performed by and for the MAARNG. The contents of the plan 

apply to all activities and individuals working, residing or otherwise doing business on 

MAARNG installations, and are implemented to the maximum extent possible. Pest 

management operations are conducted in a manner respectful to the health and safety 

of personnel and the environment. 

Pest management responsibility begins with those individuals who occupy or 

maintain buildings or open space on the installation. Non-chemical control efforts are 

used to the maximum extent possible before pesticides are used. This is done using 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles that consist of the judicious use of both 

chemical and non-chemical control techniques to achieve effective pest management 

with minimal environmental contamination. The plan is a working document and will 

be updated in an ongoing basis to reflect actual pest management practices. 

The MAARNG IPMP describes the organization’s pest management 

requirements, outlines the resources necessary for surveillance and control, and the 

administrative, safety and environmental requirements of the program. The program 

requires state-certified contract pest management technicians to control pests. 

Pests that are discussed in the plan include cockroaches and other crawling 

insects (e.g., crickets, earwigs, and ants), medically important pests such as ticks, 

mosquitoes, rodents, other vertebrate pests, and various plant pests. Without control, 

these pests could interfere with the military mission, damage real property, increase 

maintenance costs, and expose installation personnel to diseases. 

8.10.2 Integrated Pest Management Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Ensure that the Camp Edwards INRMP is consistent with and supports the 

principles of the MAARNG Integrated Pest Management Plan to maximize 

safety and minimize pesticide use. 

Objectives: 

a. Control invasive exotic plants and pest animals in a manner that supports 

the military mission, promotes sustained ecosystem functionality, and 

favors native species. 

b. Update the MAARNG Integrated Pest Management Plan on a regular 

basis. 

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c. Conduct a comprehensive pest plant inventory and supply information 

regarding areas on Camp Edwards needing invasive pest plant removal. 

d. Apply the most effective strategies when managing pest populations. 

8.10.3. Invasive Plant Species 

Non-native invasive plant species are relatively uncommon throughout Camp 

Edwards. A roadside survey of the training area, conducted by the Senior Environment 

Corps, was conducted from 2003-2004. The Impact Area Groundwater Study Program 

and the annual RTLA surveys also report occurrences of invasive plants through their 

annual floristic surveys. The results showed that although certain species may be 

abundant in small, localized areas, they are generally not widely dispersed throughout 

the installation. Ten exotic invasive plant species have been documented as potentially 

posing a threat to native plant communities. Plans for removal of exotic or invasive 

species from Camp Edwards are coordinated with appropriate representatives from the 

MA NHESP to reduce risk to state-listed rare plant species. Prescribed fire and fire 

break maintenance will play an important role in control and management of invasive 

plant species on Camp Edwards. The following is the list of the 10 exotic invasive plant 

species documented on Camp Edwards that potentially pose a threat to native plant 

communities. 

Japanease knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) has been found on a few well pads 

as well as in the cantonment area. These plants are destroyed immediately upon 

verification to avoid this quickly spreading invasive from getting a foothold on Camp 

Edwards. These occurrences are associated with fill. 

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), a popular ornamental, is known to occur on a 

few monitoring well pads in the impact area of Camp Edwards. These individuals were 

likely introduced in the fill used to create the pads. As they are detected, they are 

removed by mechanical methods. 

Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) has been documented along the 

fenceline at Greeway Rd. and Canal View near housing, as well as several individuals 

throughout the training and cantonment area. This quickly spreading vine is being 

treated with the stump and paint method of herbicide application. 

Japanese barberry (Berberus thunbergii) has been found in dense thickets in the C- 

16 area of Camp Edwards. The species readily propagates through seeds that drop 

from the plant or are dispersed by birds. Japanese barberry outcompetes other shrubs 

and herbaceous vegetation, creating dense, thorny thickets that pose a threat to wildlife. 

The species is managed through mechanical removal, and the stump and paint method 

of herbicide application. 

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Phragmites australis, otherwise called common reed, has been observed in 

disturbed grassland areas of Camp Edwards as well as wetlands associated with the 

Rod and Gun Club. The propagation of Phragmites occurs at a relatively high rate 

through underground rhizomes or wind-dispersed seeds. The establishment of 

Phragmites in the wetlands of Camp Edwards can result in a lower diversity of aquatic 

vegetation as Phragmites outcompetes the other species. Mechanical removal of the 

plant, including the roots, is likely the most effective method of control. 

Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) exists throughout the grasslands in the southern 

portion of Camp Edwards. The species is considered to be highly invasive in 

previously disturbed grassland areas. The management of knapweed in the grasslands 

may be achieved through periodic prescribed burning during the summer to create hot 

fires to consume fine debris. Although mowing temporarily controls knapweed, it 

likely serves to disperse seeds from the plant, resulting in a greater distribution of the 

species. It has been observed that the knotweed densities on Camp Edwards decrease 

as native plants increase in number. 

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is relatively common in northern portion of the 

base along the gas pipeline. Although black locust may have been present on Cape Cod 

since the 18 th Century, it is still an exotic invasive species. A management strategy will 

be developed to control black locust in the event that the species dominates a particular 

area of Camp Edwards in the future. 

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) was introduced to Shawme State Forest, which 

eventually became Camp Edwards north of Wood Road, as plantations between 1925 

and 1934 (US Department of Agriculture 1932). Other planted species include Austrian 

pine, white pine, red pine, Spanish pine, Douglas fir, balsam fir, Norway spruce, and 

larch. Relatively small, isolated stands of scotch pine remain in the northern areas of 

Camp Edwards. Removal of these stands would provide land for native forest 

communities to increase in size. The scotch pine stands on Camp Edwards will be 

delineated and proposed for removal. 

Autumn olive (Eleagnus umbellata) has been documented in previously disturbed 

sites within the cantonment area and along roadsides of the training areas of Camp 

Edwards. Although autumn olive is often considered a food source for wildlife, it is 

questionable as to its value as such. Nonetheless, the species is a non-native invasive 

plant that has the potential to outcompete native plant species. The most effective 

method for control of autumn olive is likely mechanical removal. 

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a highly invasive plant that is often 

associated with the habitat of broad tinker’s weed (Triosteum perfoliatum), a state-listed 

rare plant. In order to protect the habitat of broad-tinker’s weed, Japanese honeysuckle 

are removed from areas in which they pose a threat to state-listed rare plants. All 

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known populations of state-listed rare plants are surveyed each year to assess the size 

and health of the population. 

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8.10.4 Common Pests of Camp Edwards 

Other potential pests at Camp Edwards are ubiquitous pests that have the 

potential to create problems. Examples of these can be seen in Table 8-3. 

Table 8-3. Common pests and their potential locations on Camp Edwards, MA. 

Pest Location 

German Cockroaches Housing, Food Service Facilities, Barracks, Offices 

American Cockraoches Crawl Spaces, Steam Tunnels, Sewers 

Filth Flies Food Service Facilities 

Stored Product Insects Food Handling Facilities 

Mosquitoes Training Sites - Bivouac Areas 

Ants Family Housing 

Ants (Carpenter) Wooden Buildings and Structures 

Spiders Buildings and Other Structures 

Minor Nuisance Crawling Pests Family Housing, Administrative Buildings, etc. 

Bees and Wasps Occupied Buildings 

Subterranean Termites Building and Other Structures 

Fleas Family Housing and Other Buildings 

Mites In or Around Buildings or Residences 

Tent Caterpillars Shade and Ornamental Trees 

Gypsy Moths Shade and Ornamental Trees 

Rodents Food Service and Storage Facilities 

Rodents (Mice) Housing, Offices, Barracks 

Raccoons Housing, Offices, Barracks 

Birds (Pigeons, Starlings) Warehouses, Loading Docks, Other Buildings 

Birds (Geese) Lawns, Mowed Grasslands 

Feral House Cats Cantonment Area, in Abandoned Buildings 

Incidental Vertebrate Pests In, Under, and Around Post Buildings 

Ornamental Shrub Insect Pests Common Areas 

Turf Insect Pests Lawns, Grassy Areas 

Ticks Wood and Shrub Margins, Overgrown Areas 

Common Reed (Phragmites sp .) Grasslands, disturbed areas 

Knapweed Grasslands 

Japanese Barberry Forested areas, grasslands 

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8.10.5 Integrated Pest Management Principles 

The four basic principles described below are the emphasis of Integrated Pest 

Management (IPM), and are indicative of the philosophy of the MAARNG. While any 

one of these methods may solve a pest problem, often several methods are used 

concurrently, particularly if long-term control is needed. For example, screens may be 

used to prevent mosquitoes from entering buildings, eliminating artificial breeding sites 

will control larval mosquito habitat, and pesticides may be used to kill adult 

mosquitoes. Screens will protect people inside, but do little to keep people from being 

bitten outdoors. Larval control may eliminate mosquito breeding on the installation, 

but will not prevent adult insects from flying to the installation from surrounding areas. 

Chemicals will kill most flying mosquitoes. Although chemical control is an integral 

part of IPM, non-chemical control is stressed. Chemical control is almost always a 

temporary measure and, in the long run, more expensive. Non-chemical control, which 

may initially be more expensive than chemicals, will usually be more cost effective in 

the long run. Non-chemical controls also have the added advantage of being nontoxic, 

thereby reducing potential risk to human health and the environment. 

Mechanical and Physical Control 

Mechanical and physical control alters the environment in which a pest lives, 

traps and removes pests where they are not wanted, or excludes pests. Examples of this 

type control include: harborage elimination in structures through caulking or filling 

voids, screening, mechanical traps or glue boards, and nets and other barriers to 

prevent entry into buildings. 

Cultural Control 

Strategies in this method involve manipulating environmental conditions to 

suppress or eliminate pests. For example, planting or replacing ornamental trees and 

shrubbery with native plants would be less attractive to defoliating pests and would 

therefore reduce their occurrence. 

Biological Control 

Biological control involves using predators, parasites, or disease organisms to 

control pest populations. For example, parasitic wasps and highly specific bacteria, 

viruses, and fungi have been used to control gypsy moth. Biological control may be 

effective by itself, but is often used in conjunction with other types of control. All forms 

of biological control must be reviewed by the DFW before implementation for potential 

impacts to state-listed rare species. 

Chemical Control 

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Chemicals were once considered to be the most effective control available, but 

pests have developed a resistance, rendering many pesticides ineffective. In recent 

years, the trend has been to use pesticides that have limited residual action. While this 

has reduced human exposure and lessened environmental impact, the cost of chemical 

control has risen due to requirements for more frequent application. Since personal 

protection and special handling and storage requirements are necessary with the use of 

chemicals, the overall cost of using chemicals as a sole means of control can be relatively 

expensive when compared with non-chemical control methods. When applied to 

plants, chemical control, especially when integrated with mechanical methods, may be 

the most effective and ecologically sound method of controlling invasive exotic species. 

8.11 Cultural Resources Management 

8.11.1 Cultural Resources Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Preserve and protect cultural resources on Camp Edwards in accordance with 

state and federal laws and regulations. 

Objectives: 

a. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining 

to cultural resources found on the training site. 

GOAL 2. Consult with applicable federally recognized American Indian Tribes to 

receive their guidance on preservation of cultural resources on Camp 


Objectives: 

a. Determine with which federally recognized American Indian Tribes 

consultation should occur. 

b. Encourage the creation of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between 

the MAARNG and the tribes. 

c. Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for addressing the 

protection of cultural resources during specific activities (e.g., excavation) 

that may potentially impact those resources. 

GOAL 3. Continue to develop and implement an Integrated Cultural Resources 

Management Plan (ICRMP) for all MAARNG properties. 

8.11.2 Cultural Resources Management Policies 

Activities or management practices undertaken by the MAARNG that involve 

ground disturbance of any kind have the potential to impact cultural resources on 

Camp Edwards. These activities may include brush removal, grading, revegetation, 

and excavation. Any of these activities that are federally funded are considered a 

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federal undertaking and would require consultation under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act. 

The natural resource management practices that are proposed to occur during 

the implementation of the Camp Edwards INRMP must comply with the following 

statutes: 

• NEPA- National Environmental Policy Act 

• NHPA- National Historic Preservation Act 

• AIRFA- American Indian Religious Freedom Act 

• NAGPRA- Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act 

• AIRFA- American Indian Religious Freedom Act 

• Executive Order 13007- requires the protection and preservation of American 

Indian Sacred Sites and practices. 

To ensure compliance with the aforementioned statutes, the following policies 

have been established: 

• MAARNG units and environmental personnel shall not remove or disturb, or 

cause or permit to be removed or disturbed, any historical, archaeological, 

architectural or other cultural artifacts, relics, vestiges, remains or objects of 

antiquity. In order to avoid disturbance of cultural resources, units should 

coordinate with the Camp Edwards Range Control and Natural Resource Office 

when planning training and other activities to ensure that potentially disruptive 

activities are located away from sensitive areas. 

• If buried cultural resources, such as chipped or ground stone, historic debris, 

building foundations, or human bone, are inadvertently discovered during 

ground-disturbing activities, work will stop in that area and within 100 feet of the 

find until a qualified archaeologist can assess the significance of the find and, if 

necessary, develop appropriate treatment measures in consultation with the 

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, the Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee, 

THPO(Tribal Historic Preservation Officer) and any other appropriate federally 

recognized tribes, the SHPO(State Historic Preservation Officer) and other 

appropriate agencies. 

• If human remains of Native American origin are discovered during construction 

or other activities, it is necessary to comply with state laws relating to the 

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disposition of Native American burials, which fall within the jurisdiction of the 

Native American Heritage Commission (Pub. Res. Code Sec. 5097). If any human 

remains are discovered or recognized in any location other than a dedicated 

cemetery, there will be no further excavation or disturbance of the site or any 

nearby area reasonably suspected to overlie adjacent human remains the 

procedures outlined in the ICRMP have been followed. If human remains are 

discovered during a unit activity or any other time, contact the Camp Edwards 

Natural Resource Office immediately. 

• Government-to-government consultation with federally recognized American 

Indian Tribes is required by the following Army Regulations, Federal laws, and 

Executive Orders: 

o AR 200-4 requires that an ICRMP be developed and implemented by the 

end of FY01 and revised every five years thereafter. 

o Section 106 of the NHPA requires that, in relation to properties eligible or 

listed in the National Register of Historic Places, portions of the ICRMP be 

developed from the beginning stages with the recommendations of the 

respective American Indian Tribes as well as the SHPO 

o Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 

Governments (05 Jan 01)-The Primary goal is to strengthen the unique 

legal relationships as one domestic independent government interacting 

with another. It confirms the sovereign rights of the Indian tribes. This 

impacts those federally recognized Indian tribes listed on the Federally 

recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994. 

o 14 Sept 2006, DodI4710.02-DoD Interactions with federally-recognized 

Tribes 

o NEPA requires public participation and input as well as the development 

of an EA in conjunction with the ICRMP 

• Government-to-government consultation with recognized American Indian 

Tribes is required by the following Army Regulations, laws, and Executive 

Orders: 

o DA PAM 200-4 – This pamphlet provides guidance for implementation of 

the cultural resources requirement in AR 200-4. 

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o DoDI 4715.3 – Implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and establishes 

procedures for the integrated management of cultural and natural 

resources on properties under DoD control. 

o National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) – Establishes historic 

preservation as a national policy and defines it as the protection, 

rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction of districts, sites, buildings, 

structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, 

archaeology, or engineering. 

o ARPA - Archaeological Resources Protection Act-Prohibits the removal, 

sale, receipt, and interstate transportation of archeological resources 

obtained illegally (without permits) from public or Indian lands and 

authorizes agency permit procedures for investigations of archaeological 

resources on public lands under the agency’s control. 

8.11.3 Cultural Resources Contributions to Natural Community Management 

Cultural resources investigations on Camp Edwards have the potential for 

contributing to natural community management decisions. Data that are recovered 

from archaeological site investigations on Camp Edwards pertaining to floral and 

faunal remains as well as pollen analysis can provide insight as to the historic 

composition of the surrounding natural communities. Such information would enable 

the natural resources managers to determine the native plant and animal species and 

communities and their changes throughout time and therefore which species, and 

natural communities, should be sustained. 

8.11.4 Sacred Site Protection 

Under AIRFA and EO 13007, federal agencies or agencies that receive federal 

funds are required to allow Native Americans reasonable access to lands that contain 

sacred sites. In addition, MAARNG activities should be conducted to avoid adverse 

effects to the integrity of sacred sites on Camp Edwards and to provide reasonable 

notice to American Indian Tribes when management activities might restrict future 

access or when adverse impacts to the sites may occur. 

Sacred sites may include topographical features of the natural environment, past 

occupation sites, burial sites, building ruins, plant, animal, and mineral gathering areas, 

and geologic features that may be indistinguishable from the surrounding environment. 

American Indian tribes are in no way required to divulge the location of sacred sites on 

an installation or the reason for their classification as a sacred site. 

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In the event that sacred sites are located on Camp Edwards, they will be 

protected from adverse impacts. The modification to the terrain and changes to the 

species composition of a sacred site could significantly impact the sacredness of the site 

and therefore affect Native American cultural practices. Such an occurrence would 

result in non-compliance with EO 13007 and NHPA. Management of natural 

communities that are associated with sacred sites or locations that are utilized in 

traditional Native American practices should focus on the preservation and 

enhancement of the sites or practices and their integration into the overall natural 

resources management plan. 

8.11.5 Cultural Resources Management at Camp Edwards 

Cultural resources management at Camp Edwards was initiated in 2000. Two 

federally recognized tribes exist in eastern Massachusetts- the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay 

Head (Aquinnah) and the Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee. However, in the future it 

may be determined that other tribes may claim ancestral rights to lands occupied by the 

MAARNG. Formal consultation with the Wampanoag Tribe has included site visits 

and exchanges of information (e.g., environmental assessments and cultural resources 

survey reports from Camp Edwards). A formal consultation process between the 

MAARNG and the Wampanoag Tribe has been completed for the Wampanoag Tribe of 

Gay Head (Aquinnah) and will be initiated with the Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee 

during the fall of 2007 to address the ongoing activities at Camp Edwards. Topics for 

discussion during the initial consultation meeting include, but are not necessarily 

limited to, the following: 

• Existence of any sacred places and historic sites on Camp Edwards. 

• Establishing SOPs for preserving cultural resources on Camp Edwards. 

• Future comprehensive cultural resources survey of Camp Edwards. 

• Collection of flora and fauna for cultural use. The following have been identified 

as a sampling of species that are culturally significant to the Wampanoag Tribe of 

Gayhead Aquinnah once the consultation process is completed those significant 

to the Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee will be include in the next revision of this 

document: 

Alternate Leaf Dogwood 

American Hazelnut 

Bayberry 

Black Gum 

Black Huckleberry 

Brown-fruit Rush 

Canada St. John’s-wort 

Common Rush 

Early Goldenrod 

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Grass Leaved Goldenrod 

Hispid Swamp Dewberry 

Large Cranberry 

Pignut Hickory 

Purple St. John’s-wort 

Rough-stemmed Goldenrod 

Sassafras 

Sweet Pepper Bush 

Sweet Vernal Grass 

Wintergreen 

Witch Hazel 

Eastern box turtle 

Eastern painted turtle 

Musk turtle 

Redtailed Hawk 

Snapping turtle 

Spotted turtle 

• Activities occurring on Camp Edwards that have the potential for impacting 

cultural resources, including, but not limited to, training, the Upper Cape Water 

Supply Project and the Impact Area Groundwater Study. 

As a result of formal consultation, the MAARNG has fostered a secure and 

friendly cooperative working relationship with the Wampanoag Tribe. Through this 

relationship, the MAARNG developed an Integrated Cultural Resources Management 

Plan (ICRMP) for Camp Edwards and all other MAARNG properties that will serve to 

identify the cultural resources on Camp Edwards, address the potential impacts to the 

resources, and protect all cultural resources from degradation or loss. 

8.12 Outdoor Recreation Management 

8.12.1 Outdoor Recreation Introduction 

DoD Directive 4700.4, Natural Resources Management Program (24 January 

1989), states, “DoD lands shall be available to the public and DoD employees for 

enjoyment and use of natural resources, except when a specific determination has been 

made that a military mission prevents such access for safety or security reasons or that 

the natural resources will not support such usage.” 

8.12.2 Outdoor Recreation Goals and Objectives 

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GOAL 1. Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation to members of the public and 

the military while maintaining ecosystem integrity and function as well as no 

net loss to military training on Camp Edwards. 

Objectives: 

a. Continue the hunting programs on Camp Edwards. 

b. Maintain sports fields within the cantonment area. 

c. Provide public access upon request when consistent with the military 

mission. 

d. Continue the collection of flora and fauna for cultural use 

8.12.3 Outdoor Recreation Opportunities on Camp Edwards 

Camp Edwards has been a limited access facility since September 11, 2001. 

Persons interested in utilizing Camp Edwards for recreational or other purposes must 

request access from Camp Edwards Headquarters, Range Control, and the 

Environmental and Readiness Center. Consistent with this, an SOP for hunting on 

Camp Edwards was created by the Natural Resource Office in conjunction with Camp 

Edwards HQ, Facilities Engineers, Range Control, MADFW, The Senior Environmental 

Corps., and the Otis Rod and Gun Club. The basis of this SOP, is to plan each hunt in 

an open format with all interested parties present to avoid confusion as to dates, off 

limit areas and staffing. 

Camp Edwards has extensive outdoor recreation opportunities such as: 

• Hunting 

• Wildlife viewing (e.g., grassland birds) 

• Sports fields (e.g., baseball, soccer, lacrosse) 

• Camping and training opportunities for scouting groups (e.g., Boy Scouts, 

Sea Cadets) 

• Running races, triathlons, and bicycle races 

• Collection of flora and fauna for cultural use 

The following limitations on public access have been set in certain areas and for 

certain activities: 

Due to the presence of hazards related to training activities, the Impact Area is 

always closed to public access. Some possible threats to public safety related to training 

activities include: live firing, training residue (e.g., unexploded ordnance, training 

“fox” holes), and training mechanisms (for example, moving targets). All of these are 

potential hazards within and surrounding the Impact Area. For this reason, public 

access to the Impact Area is strictly prohibited, without exception. 

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Certain recreational activities are prohibited on Camp Edwards, due to potential 

risks and conflicts with military training activities and potential damage to natural 

resources. These activities may include, but not necessarily be limited to, motorcycle, 

ATV, mountain bike, and horseback riding, camping, and building fires. Any person 

entering the training site for any purpose prohibited by law or lawful regulation is 

trespassing. It may endanger the life of the person entering the training site as well as 

potentially endangering lives of the MAARNG and interfering with training. 

8.13 Natural Resources Law Enforcement 

8.13.1 Natural Resource Law Enforcement Introduction 

To ensure the success of natural resources management, effective enforcement is 

essential. Hunting harvest controls, wetlands protection, water pollution prevention, 

and rare species protection, for example, are dependant upon law enforcement. Range 

Control and Natural Resource Office personnel conduct patrols on a regular basis to 

assess the condition of the natural resources and to monitor all activities at the Camp 

Edwards Training Site. Camp Edwards Range Control personnel patrol sites that are 

used for training purposes before, during, and after each activity to ensure that neither 

range safety nor environmental regulations have been violated. If a violation has 

occurred, the users are held responsible and required to correct the violation. For 

instance, if a MAARNG unit uses a bivouac site for training purposes, Camp Edwards 

Range Control inspects it prior to their departure to ensure compliance with applicable 

regulations (e.g., garbage is picked up, foxholes are filled in, vegetation has not been 

damaged). 

During the hunting season, Environmental Police Officers enforce state hunting 

regulations on Camp Edwards. For purposes of enforcing state hunting regulations, 

Camp Edwards falls under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah and Mashpee, once cosulation is 

completed (initiated fall 2007), as well as other appropriate federally recognized tribes 

are allowed cultural-hunting and gathering rights year round. Range Control and 

Natural Resource Office personnel must be notified and proper tribal identification 

carried and displayed. 

Illegal ATV use in and around Camp Edwards has been on the rise. Natural 

resources (wetlands), cultural resources (certain kettle deprerssions), and military 

resources (range complexes) are being affected as more, and larger, vehicles illegally 

utilize Camp Edwards. As a result of this, a task force has been set up consisting of 

Army National Guard, Coast Guard, Environmental police, and State and local police. 

The purpose of this force is to monitor and conduct “sting” operations to ticket illegal 

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users, and seize unregistered vehicles. It is hoped that if conducted seasonally, illegal 

use will be reduced. 

8.13.2 Natural Resource Law Enforcement Goals and Objectives 

GOAL 1. Minimize illegal ATV, motorcycle, and mountain bike use in the training area 

of Camp Edwards 

Objectives: 

a. Identify and report to Range Control illegal access points 

b. Request Facilities Engineers to sign and block off identified illegal access 

points 

c. Coordinate law enforcement efforts for ATV, motorcycle, and mountain 

bike illegal use with the state and surrounding communities. 

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9.1 Introduction 

CHAPTER 9. CONSERVATION OF LISTED RARE SPECIES 

An objective of the Camp Edwards INRMP is to protect and conserve listed rare 

species while continually achieving the training requirements of the MAARNG. 

Identifying the distribution, abundance, and requirements of these species is essential in 

conservation. The general requirements of the state-listed rare species on Camp 

Edwards will be determined from field investigations as well as from consultation with 

experts, Massachusetts NHESP Fact Sheets found at 

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhfact.htm, and other scientific literature. 

Any management activities that are proposed for conserving listed rare species 

will be coordinated with recommendations and advice from the appropriate federal 

and/or state environmental agencies, including, but not necessarily limited to, the 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Massachusetts NHESP of DFW. Maps will 

be created to display the general vicinity of state-listed rare species and distributed only 

to Camp Edwards Range Control and Natural Resource Office personnel to aid in the 

protection of the species. 

Federally listed species are protected under the Endagered Species Act of 1973 as 

amended through the 108 th Congress, while State listed rare species are protected under 

the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) (G.L. c. 131A) and its implementing 

regulations (321 CMR 10.00). MESA prohibits a “take” of state-listed rare species. 

“Take,” in reference to animals means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, hound, kill, 

trap, capture, collect, process, disrupt, the nesting, breeding, feeding, or migratory 

activity, or attempt to engage in any such conduct, or to assist such conduct, and in 

reference to plants means to collect, pick, kill, transplant, cut, or process or attempt to 

engage or assist in any such conduct. Management activities proposed for Camp 

Edwards that have the potential to affect rare species will follow regulations set forth 

within 321 CMR 10.00 and the agreement stated on Appendix F of this document. 

9.2 Plants 

Five state-listed rare species of plants have been documented on Camp Edwards- 

northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), ovate Spike Sedge (Eleocharis ovata), Torrey’s 

beak rush (Rhynchospora torreyana), broad tinker’s weed (Triosteum perfoliatum), and 

Adder’s tongue fern (Ophioglossum pusillum). In most cases, the state-listed rare plant 

species exist in relatively small, localized populations on Camp Edwards. Each of these 

species was first documented during the initial floristic survey, site inspections, or 

annual RTLA plant surveys. 

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The sites at which these species were observed are revisited each year to reassess 

the size and relative health of the populations. Rare plant observation forms are 

completed and submitted to the MA NHESP at the end of each field season. The 

successional state of the habitat in which the plants occur and prefer will also be 

documented to benefit the long-term management of the species. If the habitat in which 

a state-listed rare plant species occurs is gradually succeeding toward a less desirable 

state, then management strategies will be implemented to benefit the species. Prior to 

being conducted, all activities within the vicinity of these species must be reviewed and 

approved by Camp Edwards Range Control Officer and the Natural Resource Office. 

9.3 Odonates 

Five species of state-listed rare odonates, 2 dragonflies (i.e., comet darner – Anax 

longipes, spatterdock darner – Aeshna mutata) and 3 damselflies (i.e., New England bluet 

– Enallagma laterale, Pine Barrens bluet – Enallagma recurvatum, and tule bluet – 

Enallagma carunculatum) have been documented on Camp Edwards. The conservation 

of these species is complex in that the habitat requirements of the species include not 

only wetland communities, but also upland forest communities for roosting, 

reproductive development, and traveling between aquatic habitats. Threats to odonate 

survival include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: 

Aquatic larvae 

• Lowering of water level by draining, extraction, or diversion. 

• Destruction of habitat by filling, removal of substrate, construction work, 

or earth moving. 

• Direct effects of insecticides used in mosquito control. 

• Water acidification by monotypic forestation with conifers. 

• Increase of predation on larvae by stocking or propagation of fish, or by 

introduction of domestic ducks. 

Adults 

• Destruction of uplands, forests, and meadows in which adults feed and 

finish reproductive development before returning to the aquatic habitat to 

mate and lay eggs. 

• Degradation of egg laying sites within the emergent vegetation along the 

wetland margins. 

• Direct and indirect effects of insecticide application. 

• Road mortality of adult dragonflies and damselflies. 

The conservation of state-listed rare odonates on Camp Edwards depends upon 

reducing or eliminating these threats within the habitats used by these species. 

Wetlands restrictions prevent any of the threats to aquatic larvae from occurring, 

however, activities within the upland habitats beyond the regulated 100-foot wetland 

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buffer are somewhat less restricted. Surveys have documented the existence of the four 

state-listed rare odonates on Camp Edwards as occurring in the Rod and Gun Club 

Ponds, Donnely Pond, and Deep Bottom Pond. Adult dragonflies and damselflies often 

utilize upland forest habitat up to 1000 meters and 250 meters, respectively, from the 

aquatic habitats (J. Hull, pers. comm.). Furthermore, the powerlines that run north to 

south along the western edge of Camp Edwards most likely serve as a travel corridor 

between the ponds for adult odonates, since they often travel between ponds along 

forested roads (J. Hull, pers. comm.). 

Land uses within the areas encompassed by the 1000 and 250 meter distances 

from the Rod and Gun Club Ponds, Donnely Pond, and Deep Bottom Pond should 

accommodate the likely presence of adult odonates between May and August, the 

general flight periods for these species. Activities that could, but may not necessarily 

occur within these flight areas on Camp Edwards include, land clearing and vehicle 

traffic. It is not necessarily proposed that these two activities should never occur within 

the flight areas between May and August, but rather that vehicle traffic should occur 

with caution and that any land clearing be approved by the Camp Edwards Natural 

Resource Office and reviewed by the Massachusetts NHESP. By reducing or 

eliminating threats to larval and adult state-listed rare odonates, the MAARNG can 

provide essential habitat for these species while resulting in no net loss of training land. 

9.4 Moths 

At least 10 of the 16 state-listed rare moth species on Camp Edwards are 

dependent upon the scrub oak shrubland for part or all of their life cycle (Table 6-8). 

The conservation of these species will be achieved primarily through the maintenance 

and enlargement of the scrub oak shrubland on Camp Edwards. Prescribed burning 

will be the preferred management technique within the scrub oak barrens (see Chapter 

8.5). Although prescribed burning may result in short-term negative impacts to a 

portion of the populations, the populations as a whole will benefit through the 

maintenance of their required natural community. If it is determined that the 

prescribed burn units are too large, they may be reduced so that more smaller units 

spaced apart from each other are burned each year to minimize the local impacts to a 

population. 

Two species that do not directly depend upon the scrub oak barrens are the 

water-willow stem borer and the pink streak. Wetlands and grassland management 

encompass the conservation of these two species, respectively. 

9.5 Birds 

More than half of the 6 state-listed rare bird species on Camp Edwards, the 

upland sandpiper, vesper sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and northern harrier, inhabit 

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the grasslands of the cantonment area. The conservation of these species was the 

primary objective in designing management goals for the grassland community on 

Camp Edwards. The management recommendations discussed in Chapter 8.6 not only 

accommodates the requirements of the state-listed rare grassland birds, but also 

preserves and enhances the habitat for the species. 

State-listed rare bird species that inhabit the grasslands of Camp Edwards will be 

surveyed on an annual basis on EM plots and by spot mapping. Surveys will be 

conducted during June and July at the height of the breeding season. The populations 

will be monitored to determine the effectiveness of the restoration and management 

practices that are applied to the grasslands. 

The sharp-shinned hawk and northern parula are forest dwelling state-listed rare 

bird species. The conservation of these species on Camp Edwards will include the 

maintenance of large contiguous tracts of forest, with an emphasis on minimizing 

habitat loss due to fragmentation. 

9.6 Turtles 

One state-listed rare turtle species, the eastern box turtle, has been documented 


The eastern box turtle has been observed in every natural community on Camp 

Edwards. The species is common to the forests and scrub oak barrens, but has also been 

observed in grasslands and disturbed areas. Sightings of the species have occurred 

throughout the entire installation. Radio telemetry data have indicated that eastern box 

turtles on Camp Edwards often travel in relatively small home ranges within a 

particular natural community. However, individuals have been documented traveling 

in excess of 1 km across more than one natural community. Therefore, the distribution 

of eastern box turtles extends throughout all of Camp Edwards. 

Conservation of the eastern box turtle on Camp Edwards will include 

minimizing the fragmentation of forest and scrub oak barrens habitat and education of 

troops and other land users as to the presence of the species throughout the installation. 

A major threat to the eastern box turtle is habitat loss due to fragmentation. Therefore, 

it is imperative to consider the impact of land clearing, even as a result of remediation, 

to the species on Camp Edwards. Approximately 90% of the sightings of eastern box 

turtles on Camp Edwards are from soldiers and personnel training on the installation. 

Increased awareness of the species on Camp Edwards will contribute to the survival of 

the species. 

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9.7 Mammals 

One federal candidate species occurs on Camp Edwards-the New England 

cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). 

With the introduction of the Eastern Cottontail in 1930’s, fragmentation of habitat 

as the human population grows, and higher predation and hunting rates as the habitat 

is more and more fragmented, have all contributed to the decline of this species. It has 

been found that large patches of habitat, like that of Camp Edwards, are essential for 

sustaining populations of this species. The early successional pitch pine scrub oak and 

scrub oak shrublands is thought to hold a sizable population of the New England 

cottontail. One fragmented skull has been collected in the training area of Camp 

Edwards. Studies on habitat requirements and population status will be conducted (see 

8.8.3). 

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CHAPTER 10. ADDITIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES 

Several issues surround the management of natural resources and therefore the 

implementation of the INRMP on Camp Edwards. Internal issues include the impacts 

of drilling groundwater monitoring wells and unexploded ordnance (UXO) excavation 

on the natural resources of Camp Edwards. Under Administrative Order 3 issued by 

the EPA, the MAARNG is required to define and remediate any groundwater or soil 

pollution that has resulted from past training activities on Camp Edwards. As a result, 

the Impact Area Groundwater Study (IAGWS) was created. During the course of the 

IAGWS, which is still operating, approximately 600 groundwater-monitoring wells 

have been installed on the MMR and in the surrounding areas. During the installation 

of each well, land must be cleared to create a pad on which drill rigs may operate. Each 

well pad is not usually of substantial size, but cumulatively, the well drilling results in a 

relatively large amount of land disturbance. Many of the well pads have resulted in soil 

erosion. However, restoration plans have been developed to revisit each of the well 

sites and re-establish vegetation to maintain soil stability. Furthermore, restoration 

procedures are currently included in all contracts for well drilling on the MMR. 

The Impact Area Groundwater Study Progeram currently employs a natural 

resource specialist whos focus is to ensure the protection of natural and cultural 

resources in realation to this programs activities. These duties also include the 

monitoring of disturbed sites for recovery of Camp Edwards’ natural communities. 

The excavation of UXO in the Impact Area of Camp Edwards has the potential to 

dramatically impact the natural resources of the area, in particular the scrub oak 

shrublands, critical habitat for at least 11 state-listed rare species. The complete removal 

of UXO would require digging to a depth of 15 feet, potentially throughout the entire 

2161-acre Impact Area. Although it is necessary to remove UXO from the ground, it 

may be done in such a fashion (e.g., in relatively small patches spaced far apart) that 

minimizes the immediate impact to the scrub oak barrens, 2100 acres of which exists 

within the Impact Area, as a whole on Camp Edwards. However, this option would 

most likely require a longer amount of time to complete than it would to excavate larger 

more contiguous tracts of land. The removal of UXO from the Camp Edwards Impact 

Area could, if performed hastily, result in removal of scrub oak root stock, thereby 

resulting in the long-term destruction of critical habitat and would therefore contradict 

the management recommendations described in Chapter 8.5 of this document. 

The issues of land disturbance from drilling monitoring wells and removing 

UXO can be resolved by developing methods that minimize the negative impacts to the 

natural resources. For instance, instead of removing all vegetation and topsoil when 

preparing a well pad, vegetation could simply be cut flush with the ground to maintain 

soil stability. 

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SECTION V. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAMP EDWARDS INRMP 

CHAPTER 11. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 

11.1 Organization, Roles, and Responsibilities 

Implementing the Camp Edwards INRMP is ultimately the responsibility of the 

Adjutant General of the MAARNG. The cooperation and participation of the 

MAARNG Training Site Commander, the Construction and Facilities Management 

Officer (CFMO), the Plans, Operations, and Training Officer (POTO), and Camp 

Edwards Range Control with the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office is essential 

throughout the development and implementation process (See Chapter 5.1). However, 

the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the management proposed in the 

INRMP will be the responsibility of the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office. Table 

11-1 will act as an aid in monitoring implementation. It lists all goals and objectives of 

the INRMP and serves as a checklist to aid in tracking implementation. 

11.2 Staffing 

11.2.1 MAARNG Personnel 

The Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office requires a staff of 6 full-time and 7 

part-time personnel to conduct the ITAM Program and manage the natural resources on 

Camp Edwards. The present full-time staffing of the office includes a Natural 

Resources Manager, a Natural Resources Planner, a GIS Manager, and a GIS Technician. 

The part-time personnel will include 7 seasonal RTLA/Research field crew 

members. The responsibilities of the field crew will include, but not necessarily be 

limited to, conducting annual RTLA surveys, collect field data for research projects 

(e.g., Whip-poor-will and New England Cottontail), and assist with LRAM projects. 

11.2.2 Soldier Man-Days 

Troop labor is also employed during annual or drill training, primarily for 

implementing an LRAM project. Requests for troop assistance are submitted to the 

Camp Edwards Facilities Engineers (FE) through the Camp Edwards Commander. 

Once the request is received, FE invites any MAARNG unit to perform a project during 

their training on Camp Edwards. Fuel for vehicles is supplied by Camp Edwards and 

materials are provided by the Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office. (e.g., erosion on 

Wood Road) 

11.2.3 Contractors 

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Contractors are often employed for larger projects such as bivouac restoration 

and fire break maintenance. If a proposed project is too large for a MAARNG unit or 

FE to conduct, then it is made available for contractors to bid. (e.g., Donnelly Pond and 

Deep Bottom Pond restoration) 

11.2.4 Environmental Agencies 

State environmental agencies have, in some states, partnered with the ARNG to 

conduct natural resources management on a training site. Personnel from these 

agencies may often provide expertise to guide natural resources management projects. 

Since the 1950s, and more frequently in the last 20 years, the MAARNG has received 

input and adopted management practices from several agencies and non-profit 

organizations in Massachusetts, including the National Park Service- Cape Cod 

National Seashore, The Environmental Management Commission, The Department of 

Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Environmental Protection, the 

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah and Mashpee, the Division of Fisheries and 

Wildlife, the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, The Nature 

Conservancy, the Cape Cod Commission, and the University of Massachusetts at 

Amherst. Further and future cooperation is encouraged for Camp Edwards. 

11.3 Funding Sources 

Funding for implementing the Camp Edwards INRMP is available from several 

sources. National Guard Bureau offers three major avenues by which INRMP 

implementation may be funded on Camp Edwards: 

• National Guard Bureau Environmental Programs Division (NGB-ARE) is the 

primary source of funding that supports the management of natural resources at 

the Camp Edwards Training Site through a master cooperative agreement (NGR 

5-1, MCA) with the MAARNG. This budget is managed by the MAARNG Office 

of Environmental Affairs. This source provides funding for natural resource 

surveys, projects, and any compliance-related projects. 

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National Guard Bureau Army Training Division (NGB-ART) is the primary source 

of funding to support the components of ITAM/RTLP at Camp Edwards. Army 

Operations Division (NGB-ARO) will provide funding of man-days at Camp 

Edwards to support troop labor projects. 

• National Guard Bureau Army Installations Division (NGB-ARI) provides 

funding for the personnel, equipment and supplies in support of the Camp 

Edwards Training Site Manager Office. This office is involved in pest 

management, vegetation management, LRAM, maintenance of roads and trails, 

all of which are critical to the training site’s natural resources management 

program. 

Compliance with the Sikes Act provides for funding natural resources programs 

on Camp Edwards. Cooperative agreements may be entered with States, local 

governments, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals for the improvement of 

natural resources or to benefit natural and historical research on state-owned training 

sites. Funding and services may be contributed on a matching basis to defray the cost 

of programs, projects, and activities under the agreement (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.). When 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 

become signatory cooperators of this plan, an avenue for matching funds and services 

with those provided by the agencies will be created. Naturally, funding and services by 

both parties will be subject to the availability of funds and personnel. 

Funding is available for natural or cultural resources projects through several 

programs. The DoD Legacy Resource Management Program provides funds to people 

or organizations that are interested in working in a partnership with natural and 

cultural resource managers within the DoD. Congress appropriates approximately $10 

million each year to protect, enhance, and restore natural and cultural resources on 

military owned or occupied land. To gain eligibility for funding through the program, 

projects should focus on ecosystem management, invasive species control, or research 

related to the migratory patterns of wildlife. 

The DoD Forestry Reserve Fund is designed to assist military installations in 

sustaining, managing, and restoring forest ecosystems. The fund also provides an 

opportunity for military personnel to highlight the Defense Department's commitment 

to sustainable forest management, and to illustrate that military training and 

environmental protection are mutually beneficial. Up to $50,000 is available to an 

installation to purchase and plant native species, remove invasive pest plants, and to 

test new sustainable forest management techniques. 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provide the challenge matching 

Pulling It All Together Invasive Species Grant. The grant provides funds that match 

those from any non-federal organization for projects managing invasive species. Grants 

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range from $8,000 to over $100,000. The deadline for grant proposals is November. 

Further information is available on the website 

https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES- 

Programs/Conservation/Legacy/legacy.html. 

The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation provides a 

partnership grant of $6,000 for public recreation projects that take place on Public Lands 

Day on the last Saturday of September. In order to qualify for a grant, the MAARNG 

must partner with a volunteer organization (e.g., Boy Scouts of America) on projects 

such as building nature trails or restoring bridges. The deadline for this grant is April. 

The Department of Interior’s Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units program 

fosters partnerships between the federal government and participating universities to 

provide resource managers with high-quality scientific research, technical assistance, 

and education. Universities provide space, basic administrative support, and access to 

university faculty, students, staff, and resources, whereas federal agencies contribute 

research scientists, administrative support funds, and project funds for specific research 

projects and technical assistance. Projects can be coordinated through participating 

universities and colleges for approximately 15% of the normal cost. Any agency taking 

advantage of this program will be required to provide services in return such as 

teaching a graduate class or allowing college students to assist with research. Further 

information is available at the website www.cesu.org/cesu. 

11.4 Command Support 

The support of the Camp Edwards and MAARNG command staff is essential in 

implementing this INRMP. By becoming signatories of this document, the commanders 

and training officers on Camp Edwards pledge their support throughout the 

implementation process. 

This document will be renewed or revised at least every 5 years to incorporate 

changes in staffing, funding, responsibilities, etc. An annual review process will be 

established, beginning one year after the approval date of this INRMP. 

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11.5 Implementation of INRMP Goals and Objectives 2001-2006 

The Sikes Act specifically directs that the INRMPs be reviewed “as to operation 

and effect,” emphasizing the review is intended to determine whether existing INRMPs 

are being implemented to meet the requirements of the Sikes Act and contribute to the 

conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources on military installations (See 16 

USC §670a (b) (2). The following is the status summary of projects listed in the INRMP 

for years 2001-2006: 

Chapter 7 

RTLA plots monitored all years 

All data entered into Database-all years 

Development of soldier’s field card-updated 2001, 2006 

Deep Bottom Pond restoration-2005 

Donnelly Pond/Tank Trail restoration-2006 

Erosion surveys-2003, 2006 

Road closure for amphibian migration-all years 

Round Swamp boulder shoulder on Jefferson Rd.-2006 

Landing Zone restoration-ongoing 

Annual commanders brief participation-all years 

“Wanted” box turtle posters posted campwide-all years 

Presented at Cape Cod Natural History Conference-all years 

Development of Camp Edwards Trainers Guide-2002 

Whip-poor-will thesis completed for UMASS student Ross Garlapow-2006 

Frosted elfin survey through UMASS student Gene Albanese-2004 

New England Wildflower Society seed collections from the training area 

Lymes disease, Rabies, and rare species posters for Range Control 

“Armored Personnel Carrier Disturbance and Recovery in a Pitch-Pine/Scrub 

Oak Community at Camp Edwards” published in The Bridge issue 29, 

March 2006 

Chapter 8 

RTLA plots monitored all years 

All data entered into Database-all years 

Erosion surveys-2003, 2006 

Fire management Plan completed 2006 

1245 acres treated, 72 miles of firebreak maintenance-total all years 

7,000+ invasive plants eradicated-total all years 

IPMP Plan revised 2003 

Invasives species inventory-2004, 2005 

ICRMP Plan completed 2002 

Chapter 9 

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Plots monitored-all years 

All data entered into a database-all years 

Road closure for amphibian migration-all years 

Round Swamp boulder shoulder on Jefferson Rd.-2006 

Eastern Box Turtle study-completed, rare species reports to MA Natural Heritage 

all years 

Whip-poor-will study-ongoing, 25 birds banded and radio-tagged-total all years 

Amphibian Survey-12 vernal pools certified 

Reptile survey-ongoing 

Grassland bird survey-rare species reports to MA Natural Heritage all years 

Odonate survey-rare species reports to MA Natural Heritage all years 

American Burying Beetle survey-ongoing 

Moth Survey- rare species reports turned in to MA Natural Heritage all years 

11.6 Tracking and Implementation Matrix of INRMP Goals and Objectives 

The matrix below will act as an aid in monitoring implementation. It lists all goals and 

objectives of the INRMP and serves as a checklist to aid in tracking implementation. It 

will be a useful tool in implementing the INRMP and conducting annual or any other 

review of this document. 

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Table 11-1 Implementation of INRMP Goals and Objectives 

Goal Objective Y/N Notes 

7.2.3 RTLA Goals and Objectives 

1. Maintain the RTLA monitoring system 

on Camp Edwards that will serve as a 

measure of the integrity of the training 

site’s ecosystem and defend mission 

activities. This system also provides for 

the early detection of any adverse 

environmental impacts by the yearly 

monitoring of RTLA study plots. 

a. Document existing conditions through 

standardized inventories to evaluate the 

capability of the land to meet multiple-use 

objectives on a sustained basis and to match 

land capabilities with land use. 

b. Conduct inventories of vegetation, 

wildlife, and effects of training on the 

landscape by monitoring EM plots.. 

c. Establish additional plots as necessary on 


d. Monitor change and detect trends, 

thereby providing a basis for altering land 

use and amending land management plans 

to ensure long-term resource availability. 

2. Maintain a comprehensive RTLA 

database with sufficient completeness, 

consistency, and accuracy, so that reliable 

and useful analysis can be achieved. 

a. Establish consistent data entry protocols 

for use by all RTLA database users and field 

crews. 

b. Train Camp Edwards Natural Resource 

Office staff in RTLA database development 

and maintenance. 

3. Maintain a Geographic Information 

System (GIS) that will provide efficient 

data storage, retrieval, and presentation 

to facilitate fully informed and integrated 

management decisions on Camp 


a. Support environmental, facilities, and 

training GIS needs. 

b. Develop and implement written 

standards and procedures for GIS 

administration. 

c. Define how GIS should be used within 

Camp Edwards Natural Resource Office, 

Facilities, and Training staffs. 

d. Use the Federal Geographic Data 

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7.3.2 TRI Goals and Objectives 

1. Ensure that there is no net loss in the 

capability of training site lands to support 

existing and projected military missions 

on Camp Edwards 

2. Maintain quality training lands by 

minimizing, rehabilitating, and 

mitigating damage. 

3. Provide guidance to users of Camp 

Edwards regarding their conduct while 

on the installation. 

4. Aid in establishing consistent RFMSS 

data entry protocols for use by Range 

Control. 

7.4.2 LRAM Goals and Objectives 

1. Protect, maintain, and improve soil 

integrity, water quality, and air quality by 

providing adequate vegetative cover on 

all soils and maintaining appropriate 

drainage structures. Provide improved 

troop training environments that can 

sustain training indefinitely. 

Committee Metadata Standard to document 

geo-spatial data sets as required by 

Executive Order 12906. 

a. Maximize training opportunities while 

minimizing impacts to training lands. 

b. Distribute activities and minimize 

conflicts. 

a. Site military missions (and other land 

uses) in the areas best capable of supporting 

them. 

b. Provide command elements with the 

information needed to make decisions that 

include natural resource-related values. 

c. Aid in coordinating development of the 

five-year Range Training Land Program 

(RTLP) Development Plan 

a. Update the Camp Edwards Regulation 

385-63 as needed. 

b. Provide adequate boundary signage and 

boundary fencing to deter trespassing 

a. Continue RFMSS coordination between 

Range Control and Natural Resource Office. 

a. Comply with all federal, state, and local 

laws and regulations pertaining to soil 

stabilization and water/air quality. 

b. Provide protection of natural resources 

(i.e. native communities and species) by 

implementing best management practices 

(BMP’s) for routine maintenance/repair 

179


7.5.2 SRA Goals and Objectives 

1. Create a conservation ethic in those 

who use Camp Edwards’ lands to 

minimize damage to lands and natural 

resources. 

2. Develop and implement a public 

education program to increase public 

awareness and acceptance of natural 

resource management. 

8.1.2 Natural Resource Management 

Goals and Objectives 

1. Follow DOD guidelines on Ecosystem 

Management to enhance ecosystem 

integrity and MAARNG training on a 

sustainable basis. 

projects and LRAM projects. 

c. Improve surface water quality by 

reducing sediment loading in drainages on 


d. Rehabilitate damaged training areas with 

native species. 

e. Protect soil integrity and enhance soil 

productivity. 

a. Design, produce and update soldier 

education materials that identify 

environmental considerations and 

guidelines for military tenants utilizing the 

facilities and resources on Camp Edwards 

(posters, ITAM video, trainer’s handbook, 

educational displays, signs, and a website 

regarding natural resources on Camp 

Edwards) 

b. Provide decision makers with 

information needed to make sound natural 

resources judgments 

c. Enhance the professional skills of the 

Camp Edwards Environmental staff. 

a. Provide an understanding of the Camp 

Edwards natural resources program to 

training site and surrounding communities. 

b. Provide general conservation education 

to the Camp Edwards community. 

c. Support community and youth groups 

with educational tours. 

d. Use available media effectively in public 

education. 

a. Implement an adaptive management 

strategy through updating management 

recommendations in the Camp Edwards 

INRMP along with the change or succession 

of natural resources, best management 

180


2. Maintain the ecosystem of Camp 

Edwards with variation in vegetation 

structure resulting from disturbance and 

recovery, not only to benefit the natural 

communities, but also to provide training 

opportunities in terrain with a variety of 

landscape structure. 

3. Prevent conflicts between training 

operations and rare species management. 

4. Restore and maintain native wildlife 

populations and habitats through the use 

of integrated ecosystem management 

principles when compatible with the 

military mission. 

5. Prevent the spread and further 

introduction of invasive exotic plant and 

animal species to the training site. 

practices, or scientific knowledge. 

b. Emphasize protection, restoration, and 

management of state-listed rare species, 

native plants and animals, and sensitive 

natural communities, such as wetlands and 

grasslands. 

c. Monitor and manage soils, vegetation, 

and wildlife on Camp Edwards considering 

all biological communities and the human 

values associated with these resources. 

d. Take a proactive approach to managing 

sensitive species before federal or state 

listing. 

e. Maintain natural communities in such a 

way that does not result in a net loss of 

training area. 

a. Meet with MADFW yearly to coordinate 

ecosystem maintainenance 

b. Meet with Camp Edwards Training staff 

to determine needed landscape structure for 

training 

a. Research rare species to minimize 

potential impacts on training 

b. Research training to reduce potential 

impacts on rare species 

a. Improve the quality of wildlife habitat for 

game and nongame species. 

b. Protect and conserve natural 

communities. 

a. Inventory invasive and exotic plants on 

an ongoing basis 

b. Reduce numbers of exotics and invasive 

species through accepted best management 

practices 

181


6. Provide research, special projects, and 

other studies to support natural resources 

management on Camp Edwards 

7. Inventory the natural resources of 

Camp Edwards and monitor resources 

that are important indicators of 

ecosystem integrity, water quality, 

capability of lands to support military 

missions, renewable product surpluses, 

imperiled species or communities, and 

other special interests. 

8. Provide continuing education for 

Environmental staff. 

9. Continually monitor and inventory 

existing natural communities to identify 

previously unclassified subsystems (e.g., 

hemlock stands within the mixed woods 

forest, red maple swamps within the 

wetlands). 

8.2.2 Pitch Pine Scrub Oak Community 


1. Maintain the pitch pine-scrub oak 

community of Camp Edwards in multiple 

states of succession for the purposes of 

protection of sensitive species, soil 

stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and 

military training. 

a. Reach out to appropriate state agencies, 

local universities, and non-profits to provide 

natural resource research and management 

opportunities on Camp Edwards 

b. Acquire funding to conduct research, 

special projects, and other studies to support 

natural resources management through 

seasonal staff or out side agencies on Camp 

Edwards 

a. Conduct RTLA surveys every year 

a. Natural Resource staff will attend at least 

one professional workshop per year 

b. Natural Resource staff to renew INRMP 

every five years 

a. Monitor and inventory natural 

communities by using environmental 

monitoring plots. 

b. Acquire funding to hire seasonal crews to 

conduct monitoring and inventorying of 

environmental monitoring plots. 

182


8.3.2 Pitch Pine-Oak Forest Woodland 


1. Maintain the pitch pine-oak forest 

woodland community on Camp 

Edwards for the purposes of natural 

community protection, soil stabilization, 

wildlife food and cover, and military 

training. 

8.4.2 Black Oak Scarlet Oak Forest Goals 

and Objectives 

1. Maintain the black oak scarlet oak 

a. Monitor the effects of training on pitch 

pine-scrub oak communities and their 

characteristic species using RTLA methods. 

b. Use prescribed burning to maintain pitch 

pine-scrub oak communities in a variety of 

age classes and structure. 

c. Prevent the spread and further 

introduction of invasive exotic plant and 

animal species to the pitch pine scrub oak 

communities. 

d. Preserve snags and dead logs as wildlife 

habitat. 

e. Provide management that leads to 

recovery of rare species and protects other 

sensitive species through maintenance of 

their required habitat. 

f. Maintain or improve wildlife species 

richness, productivity, and survivorship. 

g. Inventory and manage game wildlife (i.e., 

white-tailed deer and wild turkey) 

populations through surveys and annual 

hunts. 

a. Monitor the pitch pine-oak forest 

woodland community using RTLA 

methods. 

b. Decrease the presence of aggressive 

exotic plants (e.g., Japanese barberry). 

c. Preserve snags and logs as wildlife 

habitat 

d. Provide special protection to state-listed 

rare species and their habitats. 

e. Maintain or improve wildlife species 


f. Manage game wildlife (i.e., white tailed 

deer and wild turkey) populations with 

annual hunts. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain pitch 

pine-oak forest woodland in a variety of age 

classes and structure. 

183


forest community on Camp Edwards for 

the purposes of sensitive species and 

natural community protection, soil 

stabilization, wildlife food and cover, and 

military training. 

2. Increase the amount of black oak 

scarlet oak forest on Camp Edwards by 

converting pitch pine-oak forest 

woodland to black oak scarlet oak forest 

to create a larger, more contiguous tract 

of black oak scarlet oak forest on the 

Camp Edwards Training Site. 

8.5.2 Scrub Oak Shrubland Goals and 

Objectives 

1. Maintain and increase the amount of 

scrub oak shrubland on Camp Edwards 

for the purposes of state-listed rare 

species and natural community 

protection, soil stabilization, wildlife food 

and cover, and military training. 

a. Monitor the black oak scarlet oak forest 

community using RTLA methods. 




habitat 

d. Provide special protection to state-listed 

rare species and their habitats. 



f. Manage game wildlife (i.e., white tailed 

deer and wild turkey) populations with 

annual hunts. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain black 

oak scarlet oak forests in a variety of age 

classes and structure. 

a. Delineate area in which black oak scarlet 

oak forest succession will be promoted. 

b. Promote succession to black oak scarlet 

oak forest by selectively cutting coniferous 

trees. 

c. Enhance wildlife habitat by leaving cut 

trees. 

a. Monitor the scrub oak shrubland using 

RTLA methods, where feasible (i.e., outside 

of the Impact Area). 




habitat. 

d. Provide protection to state-listed rare 

184


8.6.2 Grasslands Goals and Objectives 

1. Maintain and restore grassland 

communities on Camp Edwards for the 

purposes of rare species protection, 

wildlife habitat, and, at times, military 

training. 

2. Use prescribed fire and at times 

mowing as the primary means of 

grassland management while protecting 

and conserving natural and cultural 

resources, soils, water quality, flora and 

fauna. 

species and their habitats. 



f. Delineate other areas in which scrub oak 

shrubland will be maintained and 

promoted. 

g. Use prescribed burning to maintain scrub 

oak shrubland in a variety of age classes and 

structure. 

h. Enhance wildlife habitat by leaving dead 

snags and logs where they lie. 

a. Monitor grassland communities using 

RTLA methods. 

b. Provide special protection and habitat 

management that leads to the recovery of 

state-listed rare species including upland 

sandpiper and grasshopper sparrows. 

c. Decrease the presence of aggressive exotic 

plants (e.g., knapweed, Phragmites sp.) 

using mowing, prescribed burning, or 

mechanical removal. 

d. Increase the presence of native grassland 

vegetation. 

e. Prevent conflicts between training site 

operations and rare species management. 

f. Monitor effects of training activities on 

animal and plant populations dependent on 

the grassland natural community. 

g. Maintain or improve grassland bird 

species richness, productivity, and 

survivorship. 

a. Apply the Camp Edwards Training Site, 

Integrated Fire Management Plan (2006) to 

maintain certain areas of the grasslands on 

Camp Edwards, remove accumulated litter, 

and control exotic invasive species 

b. Using mowing regimes when appropriate 

to create short grass areas needed for some 

grassland bird species (e.g. upland 

185


3. Increase the acreage of grasslands on 

Camp Edwards as existing structures and 

facilities are demolished. 

8.7.2 Wetland Resources Management 


1. Protect and maintain wetland natural 

communities on Camp Edwards for the 

purposes of rare species protection, water 

quality, and wildlife habitat. 

2. Restore disturbed wetland natural 

communities to their historic conditions 

to enhance rare species habitat, water 

quality, and biodiversity. 

sandpipers) 

c. Minimize the threat to human safety 

when conducting prescribed burns in the 

grasslands within the cantonment area of 


d. Set a precedent for grassland 

management to provide guidance to other 

branches of the military that manage 

grasslands on the MMR. 

a. Remove all structures associated with the 

facility. 

b. Plant only native grass and tree species. 

c. Maintain grasslands using prescribed fire 

and mowing regimes. 

a. Prohibit activities except those associated 

with natural community management or 

restoration and travel along existing roads 

within the wetlands and their buffers. 

b. Monitor wetland communities using 

RTLA methods. 

c. Prevent the introduction of or 

colonization by invasive exotic species (e.g., 

Phragmites sp., purple loosestrife) within 

the wetlands natural communities. 

d. Prevent the removal or draw-down of 

water from wetlands as a result of any 

activity, including the Upper Cape Water 

Supply Cooperative. 

e. Identify vernal pools on Camp Edwards 

and submit completed applications to 

NHESP for vernal pool certification. 

a. Survey wetlands for visible signs of 

disturbance (e.g., erosion). 

b. Review historic aerial photographs of 

Camp Edwards to determine the changes, if 

any, to the size, shape, or condition of each 

wetland and its buffer 

186


3. Preserve and maintain groundwater 

quality and quantity and recharge areas 

to existing water supply wells. 

8.8.2 Research and Monitoring Goals and 

Objectives 

1. Conduct long-term monitoring to 

determine the effects of training and 

management practices on the natural 

resources of Camp Edwards to preserve 

training. 

2. Design and implement research 

projects to address specific resource or 

natural community concerns or interests 


c. Control and eliminate runoff and 

sedimentation within wetlands and their 

buffers using sound vegetative and land 

management practices. 

d. Conduct restoration activities, when 

practical and feasible, during periods of 

hibernation or inactivity (i.e., late fall and 

winter months). 

e. Abide by laws and regulations governing 

water resources, including, but not 

necessarily limited to the Massachusetts 

Wetland Protection Act, Massachusetts 

Endangered Species Act, and those 

pertaining to local conservation 

commissions. 

f. Monitor the success of restoration and 

rehabilitation of wetlands on at least an 

annual basis. 

a. Abide by and accommodate existing state 

and federal laws and regulations pertaining 

to water supply, the MMR Groundwater 

Protection Policy Plan, the CCC Regional 

Policy Plan’s Water Quality Improvement 

sections, the Camp Edwards Spill 

Prevention Control and Countermeasures 

Plan, and MMR groundwater remediation 

and restoration programs. 

b. Allow only activities that are associated 

with the Upper Cape Water Supply 

Cooperative and the Camp Edwards 

Training Site within established wellhead 

protection zones. 

a. Continue the Camp Edwards RTLA 

monitoring program on an annual basis. 

b. Implement other monitoring programs in 

conjunction with the RTLA Program when 

additional information is required. 

187


8.9.2 Fire Management Goals and 

Objectives 

1. Prevent wildfires from resulting in a 

threat to life and property on Camp 

Edwards and to surrounding towns. 

2. Restore and maintain the ecological 

processes that have occurred historically 

across the Camp Edwards landscape in 

such a manner so as to promote viable 

plant and animal populations and 

communities. 

a. Determine a purpose or need for 

conducting each research project. 

b. Research projects funded by the 

MAARNG should focus on continuing 

inventories of flora and fauna as well as 

projects addressing the status and 

requirements of rare species that inhabit 


c. Describe the results of each project in a 

final report including the benefits to training 

and readiness. 

a. Restore and maintain existing and 

historical firebreaks that would be beneficial 

and enhance the effectiveness of wildfire 

suppression and wildland fuel reduction 

activities. 

b. Reduce wildland fuel loads with the use 

of prescribed fire and other fuel treatment 

techniques. 

c. Provide wildland fire prevention 

education to the users of Camp Edwards. 

a. Revert and restore plant and animal 

communities to varied stages of early 

ecological succession with the use of 

prescribed fire and other vegetation 


b. Maintain these varied stages of ecological 

succession on the Camp Edwards landscape 

with the use of prescribed fire and other 

vegetation management techniques. 

c. Ensure that specific plant and animal 

community targets compliment the overall 

ecological health and diversity of the 

southeastern Massachusetts region. 

d. Ensure that prescribed fire and 

vegetation management techniques are 

conducted in such a manner that a healthy 

and varied suite of plant and animal 

population is maintained. 

e. When possible conduct large scale 

188


3. Establish an informed and effective 

fire management program that will 

facilitate the accomplishment of Fire 

Management Goals 1 and 2. 

8.10.2 Integrated Pest Management Goals 

and Objectives 

1. Ensure that the Camp Edwards 

INRMP is consistent with and supports 

the principles of the MAARNG 

Integrated Pest Management Plan to 

maximize safety and minimize pesticide 

use. 

8.11.1 Cultural Resources Goals and 

landscape level treatments (greater than 300 

acres in size) in such a manner that the 

ecological results of historical large scale 

natural disturbances are reintroduced to the 

southeastern Massachusetts’ region. 

a. Establish and maintain a cadre of staff 

that has experience and training in fire 

management techniques and practices. 

b. Conduct fire management planning that 

uses best available information to refine fire 

management goals and objectives over time. 

c. Monitor the success of fire management 

activities using the Land Condition Trend 

Analysis Method in addition to other 

methods as needed. 

d. Ensure that the users of Camp Edwards 

and surrounding towns are kept informed 

on the fire management activities at Camp 

Edwards and of the benefits associated with 

these activities. 

e. Ensure that the capacity to execute fire 

management goals and objectives is 

established and maintained through a 

combination of direct action and partnering 

with other organizations. 

a. Control invasive exotic plants and pest 

animals in a manner that supports the 

military mission, promotes sustained natural 

community functionality and favors native 

species. 

b. Update the MAARNG Integrated Pest 

Management Plan on a regular basis. 

c. Conduct a comprehensive pest plant 

inventory and supply information regarding 

areas on Camp Edwards needing invasive 

pest plant removal. 

d. Apply the most effective strategies when 

managing pest populations. 

189


Objectives 

1. Preserve and protect cultural resources 

on Camp Edwards in accordance with 

state and federal laws and regulations. 

2. Consult with applicable federally 

recognized American Indian Tribes to 

receive their guidance on preservation of 

cultural resources on Camp Edwards. 

3. Continue to develop and implement 

an Integrated Cultural Resources 

Management Plan (ICRMP) for all 

MAARNG properties. 

8.12.2 Outdoor Recreation Goals and 

Objectives 

1. Provide opportunities for outdoor 

recreation to members of the public and 

the military while maintaining natural 

community integrity and function as well 

as no net loss to military training on 


8.13.2 Natural Resources Law 

Enforcement Goals and Objectives 

1. Minimize illegal ATV, motorcycle, and 

mountain bike use in the training area of 

Camp Edwards 

a. Comply with all federal, state, and local 

laws and regulations pertaining to cultural 

resources found on the training site. 

a. Determine with which federally 

recognized American Indian Tribes 

consultation should occur. 

b. Encourage the creation of a 

memorandum of agreement (MOA) between 

the MAARNG and the tribes. 

c. Develop standard operating procedures 

(SOPs) for addressing the protection of 

cultural resources during specific activities 

(e.g., excavation) that may potentially 

impact those resources. 

a. Continue the hunting programs on Camp 


b. Maintain sports fields within the 

cantonment area. 

c. Provide public access upon request when 

consistent with the military mission. 

d. Continue the collection of flora and fauna 

for cultural use 

a. Identify and report to Range Control 

illegal access points 

b. Request Facilities Engineers to sign and 

block off identified illegal access points 

190


c. Coordinate law enforcement efforts for 

ATV, motorcycle, and mountain bike illegal 

use with the state and surrounding 

communities. 

191


GLOSSARY 

Animal: any member of the animal kingdom; any part, product, egg, or offspring, or 

the dead body or any part thereof 

Aquatic: of the water as opposed to land or air 

Bivouac: field-lodging area for troops 

Cantonment: built-up area of a military (ARMY) installation 

Common: ubiquitous throughout the habitat 

Community: A naturally occurring group of different species of organisms that live 

together and interact as a self contained unit 

Cultural resource: Historic properties, cultural items, archeological resources, sacred 

sites, and collections found on a installation 

Disturbed: habitat that has been altered either naturally or anthropogenically 

Dormancy: A state in which an organism reduces their metabolic activities to a 

minimum level during unfavorable conditions, so as to survive until conditions 

improve 

Ecoregion: regions of relative homogeneity with respect to ecological composition, 

structure, and function 

Ecosystem: a dynamic complex of plant, animal, fungal, and microorganism 

communities and their associated nonliving environment, interacting as an 

ecological unit 

Endangered: (E) species are native species which are in danger of extinction throughout 

all or part of their range, or which are in danger of extirpation from 

Massachusetts, as documented by biological research and inventory. 

Erosion: the process whereby wind and water remove sediment from the land surface 

Exotic species: an organism introduced, intentionally or accidentally, from its native 

range into an area where the species did not previously occur. 

Fauna: the animals of a region or period 

Federally listed species: any species on the federal list 

192


Flora: the plants of a region or period 

Forb: Any herbaceous plant other than grass 

Habitat: an area that provides important elements for the growth and survival of 

plants or animals such as food, shelter of living space, and includes without 

limitation breeding, feeding, resting, migratory, or overwintering areas 

Home Range: the area in which an animal normally restricts its movements in search of 

food or a mate, and in which it cares for its young 

Invasive species: a non-native species that negatively affects other species 

Kettlehole: depression left during glacial recession by melting buried blocks of ice 

Lense: a body of a sediment type thick in the center and thinning toward the edges 

Lepidoptera: Ordinal name given to the insects commonly referred to as butterflies and 

moths 

Moraine: A mound of hill made up of glacial till 

Native: a species which either occurs, or has occurred, within Massachusetts; provided 

that the original occurrence of such species is not the result of a deliberate or 

accidental introduction by humans into Massachusetts nor an introduction 

elsewhere which spread into Massachusetts 

Natural Community: Assemblages of species that occur together in space and time. 

These groups of plants and animals are found in recurring patterns that can be 

classified and described by their dominant physical and biological features. 

Natural resource: The viable and/or renewable products of nature and their 

environments of soil, air, and water. Included are the plants and animals 

occurring on grasslands, rangelands, croplands, forests, ;lakes, and streams. 

Odonate: Ordinal name given to the insects commonly referred to as dragonflies and 

damselflies 

Ordinance: ammunition or explosives 

Outwash plain: areas of sand and gravel deposited by glacial melt water streams 

Qualitative: of, relating to, or involving quality 

Quantitative: of, relating to, or involving quality 

193


P-value: “probability value” relating to the probability that the groups being measured 

are statistically different from one another. 

Palustrine: marshy 

Plant: any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds, roots or other parts 

Riparian: having to do with in any way with the banks of a river or lake 

Snag: The upright trunk of a dead or dying tree: important as feeding, perching, 

and/or nesting sites for many species. 

Special concern: (SC) species are native species which have been documented by 

biological research or inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the 

species if allowed to continue unchecked, or which occur in such small numbers 

or with such restricted distribution or specialized habitat requirements that they 

could easily become threatened within Massachusetts. 

Species: a classification of related organisms that can freely interbreed 

Succession: the progression from initial colonization of an area by organisms to the 

climax population. The term usually refers to plants. 

Take: in reference to animals, means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, hound, kill, 

trap, capture, collect, process, disrupt the nesting, breeding, feeding, or 

migratory activity or attempt to engage in any such conduct, or to assist such 

conduct, and in reference to plants, means to collect, pick, kill, transplant, cut, or 

process, or attempt to engage or assist in any such conduct. 

Telemetry: employment of equipment for the reception and transmission of radio 

signals for tracking animal movements 

Terrestrial: of the land as opposed to water or air 

Threatened: (T) species are native species, which are likely to become endangered in 

the foreseeable future, or which are declining or rare as determined by biological 

research and inventory. 

194


Topography: the outline of the form of a place showing its relief and the position of 

features (rivers, roads, cites, etc.) 

195


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Methods. Tech Rep. N-92/03. Champaign, Illinois. 

198


US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. 1995. Price, D. L., A.B 

Anderson, W.R. Whitworth, and P.J. Guertin. Land Condition Trend Analysis 

Summaries. Tech. Rep. 95/39. Champaign, Illinois. 

US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. 1999. Hale, T., S. White, D. 

Bruns, D. Palmer, D. Jones, M. Skoglund, and K. Michaels. Tactical Concealment 

Area Planning and Design Guidance Document. Tech. Rep. 99031. Champaign, 

Illinois. 

US Army National Guard Bureau. 2000. All States Memo (Log Number P00-0039) 

Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, Encl 4. Arlington, Virginia. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1932. Shawme State Forest Map. National Forest 

Service, State Forestry Conservation Work. Bourne and Sandwich, 


U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. 1993. Soil Survey of 

Barnstable County, Massachusetts. In cooperation with Massachusetts 

Agricultural Experiment Station. 

Veit, R. R., and W. R. Petersen. 1993. Birds of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Audubon 

Society. Lincoln, MA. 

White, R. P., and S. M Melvin. 1985. Rare grassland birds and management 

recommendations for Camp Edwards/Otis Air National Guard Base. Report 

prepared for the Massachusetts National Guard. 

Whitmore, R. C. 1979. Short-term changes in vegetation structure and its effect on 

grasshopper sparrows in West Virginia. Auk 96:621-625. 

______. 1981. Structural characteristics of grasshopper sparrow habitat. J. Wildl. 

Manage. 45:811-814. 

Wilson, K. A., and P. M. Cavanagh. 1996. Call-response surveys for monitoring 

secretive waterbirds on Camp Edwards Army National Guard Training Site, 

Spring 1995. Report EDW-LCTA-96-1. 

Wojtowicz, J. A. 2000. Preliminary report on the identification of macroinvertebrates 

from samples from Bourne and Sandwich, Massachusetts. JAYCOR. 

199


APPENDIX A – SOILS OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA 

Soil Type Description 

BcC Barnstable-Plymouth complex, rolling 

BgC Barnstable-Plymouth-Nantucket complex, rolling, very bouldery 

BlB Belgrade silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

CdA Carver coarse sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes 

CdB Carver coarse sand, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

CdC Carver coarse sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

CdD Carver coarse sand, 15 to 35 percent slopes 

CoB Carver-Hinesburg loamy coarse sand, undulating 

EaC Eastchop loamy fine sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

EnA Enfield silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes 

EnB Enfield silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

EnC Enfield silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

Fm Freetown mucky peat, 0 to 1 percent slopes, ponded 

Fs Freetown and Swansea mucks, 0 to 1 percent slopes 

Ft Freetown coarse sand, 0 to 1 percent slopes 

HeA Hinckley sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes 

HeB Hinckley sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

HkC Hinckley gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

HkD Hinckley gravelly sandy loam, 15 to 35 percent slopes 

MeA Merrimac sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes 

MeB Merrimac sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

MeC Merrimac sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

MeD Merrimac sandy loam, 15 to 35 percent slopes 

Mg Merrimac-Udipsamments-Urban land complex 

Pg Pits, sand and gravel 

PmB Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 3 to 8 percent slopes 

PmC Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes 

PmD Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 15 to 35 percent slopes 

PsB Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 3 to 8 percent slopes, very stony 

PsC Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very stony 

PsD Plymouth loamy coarse sand, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very stony 

PvC Plymouth-Barnstable complex, rolling, very bouldery 

PvD Plymouth-Barnstable complex, hilly, very bouldery 

PxC Plymouth-Barnstable complex, rolling, extremely bouldery 

PxD Plymouth-Barnstable complex, hilly, extremely bouldery 

UD Udipsamments, smoothed 

Ur Urban land 

200


APPENDIX B – PLANT SPECIES OF 

CAMP EDWARDS, MA 

Common Name (N=556) Scientific Name 

Adder's-tounge fern Ophioglossum vulgatum 

Alfalfa Medicago sativa 

Alternnate leaved dogwood Cornus alternifolia 

American beech Fagus grandifolia 

American cow wheat Melampyrum lineare 

American hazel Corylus americana 

American holly Ilex opaca 

American starflower Trientalis borealis 

American willow-herb Epilobium ciliatum 

Apple Malus sylvestris 

Arrow-leaved tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum 

Arrow-wood Viburnum recognitum 

Asparagus Asparagus officinalis 

Aster Aster spp. 

Autumn bentgrass Agrostis perennans 

Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata 

Awl-aster Aster pilosus 

Bachelor's buttons Centaurea cyanus 

Barnyard-grass Echinochloa crusgalli 

Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica 

Bayonet rush Juncus militaris 

Beach pinweed Lechea maritima 

Bead-grass Paspalum setaceum 

Beaked hazel-nut Corylus cornuta 

Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 

Bedstraw Galium pilosum 

Beggar ticks Bidens fondosa 

Bellwort; Merrybells Uvularia sessilifolia 

Bentgrass Agrostris sp. 

Big-toothed aspen Populus grandidentata 

Bird-foot violet Viola pedata 

Birdsfoot-trefoil Lotus corniculata 

Bittersweet nightshade Solanum dulcamara 

Black bindweed Polygonum convolvulus 

Black cherry; Wild cherry Prunus serotina 

Black gum Nyssa sylvatica 

Black highbush blueberry Vaccinium atrococcum 

Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata 

Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia 

Black medick Medicago lupulina 

Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum 

Black oak Quercus velutina 

Black raspberry Rubus occidentalis 

Black snakeroot Sanicula marilandica 

Black swallowwort Cynachum nigrum 

Black willow Salix nigra 

Blackberry Rubus alleghaniensis 

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 


Blue toadflax Linaria canadensis 

201 

Blueberry; cranberry Vaccinium sp. 

Bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum 

Bluegrass Poa sp. 

Bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis 

Blue-stemmed goldenrod Solidago caesia 

Bluets Houstonia caerula 

Blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa 

Blunt-leaved sandwort Moehringia lateriflora 

Bluntscale-bulrush Scirpus smithii 

Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum 

Bracted plantain Plantago aristata 

Bright-green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea 

Bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida 

Broad-leaf cattail Typha latifolia 

Broad-leaf meadowsweet Spiraea alba var. latifolia 

Brown knapweed Centaurea jacea 

Brown-fruit rush Juncus pelocarpus 

Brownish beakrush Rhynchospora capitellata 

Brownish sedge Carex brunnescens 

Bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus 

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 

Bur-reed Sparganium americanum 

Bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus 

Butter-and-eggs Linaria vulgaris 

Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa 

Buttonweed; Poorjoe Dioda teres 

Canada bluegrass Poa compressa 

Canada bunchberry Cornus canadensis 

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis 

Canada hawkweed Hieracium canadense 

Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense 

Canada rush Juncus canadensis 

Canada St. John's-wort Hypericum canadense 

Carey's knotweed Polygonum careyi 

Carolina lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea 

Carpetweed Mollugo verticillata 

Cat brier Smilax glauca 

Catnip Nepeta cataria 

Cat's ear Hypochoeris radicata 

Cherries Prunus spp. 

Chicory Cichorium intybus 

Choke cherry Prunus virginiana 

Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides 

Churchmouse three-awn Aristida dichotoma 

Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea 

Clasping dogbane Apocynum sibiricum 

Cleavers Galium aparine 

Climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens 

Coastal mannagrass Glyceria obtusa 

Colt's-foot Tussilago farfara 

Common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum 

Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica 

Common burdock Arcticum minus 

Common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex


Common dandelion Taraxacum officinale 

Common dodder Cuscuta gronovii 

Common elder Sambucus canadensis 

Common greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia 

Common ground-nut Apios americana 

Common horsetail Equisetum arvense 

Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca 

Common mouse-ear 

chickweed Cerastium vulgatum 

Common mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common pinweed Lechea intermedia 

Common plantain Plantago major 

Common quickweed Galinsoga quadriradiata 

Common reed Phragmites australis 

Common rush Juncus effusus 

Common snailseed-pondweed Potamogeton bicupulatus 

Common velvet grass Holcus lanatus 

Common vetch Vicia sativa 

Common winter cress Barbarea vulgaris 

Common wood rush Luzula multiflora 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Common yellow flax Linum medium 

Common yellow wood-sorrel Oxalis stricta 

Common yellow-cress Rorripa palustris 

Corn speedwell Veronica arvensis 

Corn spurry Spergula arvensis 

Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii 

Crown vetch Coronilla varia 

Curled dock Rumex crispus 

Cypress witchgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum 

Dangleberry Gaylussacia frondosa 

Dark green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens 

Day-lily Hemerocallis fulva 

Deertongue grass Dichanthelium clandestinum 

Dense-tuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris 

Deptford pink Dianthus armeria 

Doorweed; Common knotgrass Polygonum aviculare 

Dooryard Violet Viola sororia 

Dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum 

Downy chess Bromus tectorum 

Downy goldenrod Solidago puberula 

Downy Juneberry Amelenchier arborea 

Dwarf Chinkapin oak Quercus prinoides 

Dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis 

Dwarf dandelion Krigia virginica 

Dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa 

Dwarf St. John's-wort Hypericum boreale 

Early goldenrod Solidago juncea 

Early lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium 

Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 

Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum 

Enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana 

Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana 

202 

English plantain Plantago lanceolata 

European mountain-ash Sorbus aucuparia 

European silvery cinquefoil Potentilla inclinata 

Evening primrose Oenothera biennis 

Evergreen wood fern Dryopteris intermedia 

Fall panic grass Panicum dichotomiflorum 

Fall-dandelion Leontodon autumnalis 

False heather Hudsonia ericoides 

False nutsedge Cyperus strigosus 

False Pimpernel Lindernia dubia 

False Solomon's seal Smilacina racemosa 

Feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum 

Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense 

Field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta 

Field-cress Lepidium campestre 

Filiform fescue Festuca tenuifolia 

Fireweed; Great willow-herb Epilobium angustifolium 

Flat topped goldenrods Euthamia sp. 

Floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata 

Flowering dogwood Cornus florida 

Foam-flower Tiarella cordifolia 

Forked rush Juncus dichotomus 

Fox grape Vitis labrusca 

Fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum 

Fragrant cudweed Gnaphalium obtusifolium 

Frostweed Helianthemum propinquum 

Gall-of-the-earth Prenanthes trifoliolata 

Glossy buckthorn Rhamnus frangula 

Goat's rue Tephrosia virginica 

Goblet-aster Aster lateriflorus 

Golden ragwort Senecio aureus 

Goldenrod Solidago spp. 

Grass leaved goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia 

Gray birch Betula populifolia 

Gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis 

Gray-stemmed dogwood Cornus foemina 

Greater coreopsis Coreopsis major 

Green foxtail-grass Setaria viridis 

Greene's rush Juncus greenei 

Ground cedar Lycopodium tristachyum 

Ground pine Lycopodium obscurum 

Groundsel tree Baccharis halimifolia 

Hairgrass Aira praecox 

Hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa 

Hairy bush clover Lespedeza hirta 

Hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida 

Hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata 

Hairy small-leaved tick treefoil Desmodium ciliare 

Hairy thorough-wort Eupatorium pilosum 

Hardhack Spiraea tomentosa 

Hawkweed Hieracium sp. 

Hawthorne Crataegus spp. 

Hay-scented fern Dennestaedtia punctilobula 

Hemlock witchgrass Dichanthelium sabulorum


Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum 

Hispid swamp dewberry Rubus hispidus 

Hoary bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta 

Hoary mountain mint Pycnanthemum incanum 

Hoary sedge Carex canescens 

Hog peanut Amphicarpaea bracteata 

Horse Gentian Triosteum aurantiacum 

Horse nettle Solanum carolinese 

Horseweed Conyza canadensis 

Hyssop hedge nettle Stachys hyssopifolia 

Indian Cucumber Root Medeola virginiana 

Indian pipe Monotropa uniflora 

Indian-hemp Apocynum cannabinum 

Inkberry Ilex glabra 

Interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana 

Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii 

Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica 

Japanese wisteria Wisteria floribunda 

Jimson-weed Datura stramonium 

Johny-jump-up Viola tricolor 

Juneberry; Serviceberry; 

Shadbush Amelanchier sp. 

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis 

Kentucky fescue Festuca arundinacea 

Kidney Leaf Buttercup Ranunculus abortivus 

King-devil Hieracium caespitosum 

Knawel Schleranthus annuus 

Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina 

Lady's Thumb Polygonum persicaria 

Lance-leaved coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata 

Lance-leaved violet Viola lanceolata 

Large cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon 

Large purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea 

Late lowbush blueberry Vaccinium pallidum 

Least hop clover Trifolium dubium 

Least pinweed Lechea minor 

Leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata 

Leathery grape fern Botrychium multifidum 

Lesser daisy fleabane Erigeron strigosus 

Lesser stitchwort Stellaria graminea 

Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 

Locust-weed Chamaecrista fasciculata 

Long brached frostweed Helianthemum canadense 

Long-stalked aster Aster dumosus 

Low cudweed Filaginella uliginosa 

Low hop clover Trifolium campestre 

Low showy aster Aster spectabilis 

Lupine Lupinus perennis 

Maple leaved viburnum Viburnum acerifolium 

Marsh fern Thelypteris palustris 

Marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata 

Maryland tick-trefoil Desmodium marilandicum 

Meadow beauty Rhexia virginica 

Mermaid weed Proserpinaca palustris 

203 

Mild water pepper Polygonum hydropiperoides 

Mixed bladderwort Utricularia geminiscapa 

Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa 

Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii 

Moss pink Phlox subulata 

Moth mullein Verbascum blattaria 

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 

Mountain-holly Nemopanthus mucronatus 

Mouseear hawkweed Hieracium pilosella 

Muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa 

Muhly Muhlenbergia uniflora 

Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora 

Narrow leaved mountain mint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium 

Narrow-leaf goldenrod Euthamia galetorum 

Narrow-leaved bush clover 

Narrow-leaved white-topped 

Lespedeza angustifolia 

aster Aster solidagineus 

Needle grass; Black oatgrass Piptochaetium avenaceum 

New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis 

Nodding bur marigold Bidens cernua 

Nodding fescue Festuca obtusa 

Nodding foxtail-grass Setaria faberi 

Nodding ladies' tresses Spiranthes cernua 

Nodding smartweed Polygonum lapathifolium 

Northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus 

Northern Catalpa Catalpa speciosa 

Northern crab-grass Digitaris sanguinalis 

Northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris 

Northern downy violet Viola sagittata 

Northern white cedar Thuja occidentalis 

Norway spruce Picea abies 

Nutall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii 

Oakes' pondweed Potamogeton oakesianus 

Oblong-leaf Juneberry Amelanchier canadensis 

Orange grass Hypericum gentianoides 

Orchard grass Dactylis glomerata 

Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculata 

Ovate spike-rush Eleocharis ovata 

Chrysanthemum 

Ox-eye daisy 

leucanthemum 

Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare 

Pale manna grass Puccinellia pallida 

Panic grass Dichanthelium acuminatum 

Panic-grass Panicum sp. 

Partridgeberry Mitchella repens 

Pasture rose Rosa carolina 

Pasture-thistle Cirsium pumilum 

Path rush Juncus tenuis 

Pear tree Pyrus communis 

Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea 

Pennsylvania blackberry Rubus pensilvanicus 

Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica 

Perennial pea Lathyrus latifolius 

Petticoat climber, Purple Eragrostis spectabilis


Lovegrass 

Pickerel weed; Tuckahoe Pontederia cordata 

Pignut hickory Carya glabra 

Pilewort; Fireweed Erechtites hieracifolia 

Pin Cherry Prunus pensylvanica 

Pinesap; False beechdrops Monotropa hypopithys 

Pink knotweed Polygonum pensylvanicum 

Pink ladies' slipper Cypripedium acaule 

Pink tickseed Coreopsis rosea 

Pinweed Lechea spp. 

Pitch pine Pinus rigida 

Plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana 

Pointed broom sedge Carex scoparia 

Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans 

Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 

Poor-man's pepper Lepidium virginicum 

Poverty grass Danthonia spicata 

Poverty-grass Sporobolus vaginiflorus 

Prairie cord-grass Spartina pectinata 

Prairie three-awn Aristata oligantha 

Prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica 

Primrose-leaf violet Viola primulifolia 

Prince's pine Chimaphila umbellata 

Purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea 

Purple chokeberry Aronia x prunifolia 

Purple St. Johns-wort Triandenum virginicum 

Purpletop Tridens flavus 

Pussy-willow Salix discolor 

Quaking aspen Populus tremula 

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota 

Rabbit-foot clover Trifolium arvense 

Racemed milkwort Polygala polygama 

Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia 

Rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis 

Rattlesnake weed Hieracium venosum 

Red baneberry Actaea rubra 

Red cedar Juniperus virginiana 

Red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia 

Red clover Trifolium pratense 

Red fescue Festuca rubra 

Red hickory Carya ovalis 

Red maple Acer rubrum 

Red pine Pinus resinosa 

Red raspberry Rubus idaeus 

Red spruce Picea rubens 

Red-stemmed dogwood Cornus stolonifera 

Red-stemmed plantain Plantago rugelii 

Reed-grass Calamagrostis cinnoides 

Rhode Island bent Agrostis capillaris 

Rhodora Rhododendron canadense 

Rice cut-grass Leersia oryzoides 

Ricegrass Oryzopsis pungens 

Robbin's spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii 

Robin's plaintain Erigeron pulchellus 

204 

Rock polypody Polypodium virginianum 

Rough barnyard-grass Echinochloa muricata 

Rough cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica 

Rough-fruited cinquefoil Potentilla recta 

Rough-stemmed goldenrod Solidago rugosa 

Round leaved sundew Drosera rotundifolia 

Round-headed bush clover Lespedeza capitata 

Roundleaf Juneberry Amelanchier sanguinea 

Round-leafed pyrola Pyrola rotundifolia 

Roundseed panic grass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon 

Royal fern Osmunda regalis 

Rugosa rose Rosa rugosa 

Running pine Lycopodium clavatum 

Ryegrass Lolium perenne 

Sage Salvia officinalis 

Sand cherry Prunus pumila 

Sand jointweed Polygonella articulata 

Sand spurrey Spergularia rubra 

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 

Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea 

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius 

Scotch pine Pinus sylvestris 

Scrub-oak Quercus ilicifolia 

Sedge Carex spp. 

Selfheal; Heal-all Prunella vulgaris 

Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis 

Sessile-leaved horehound Lycopus amplectens 

Shallow sedge Carex lurida 

Sheep fescue Festuca ovina 

Sheep sorrel Rumex acetosella 

Sheep-laurel Kalmia angustifolia 

Shining sumac; Winged sumac Rhus copallina 

Shinleaf Pyrola elliptica 

Sickle-leaved golden aster Heterotheca falcata 

Silky dogwood Cornus amomum 

Silvery cinquefoil Potentilla argentea 

Siver-hairgrass Aira carophyllea 

Skunk cabbage Symplocarpos foetidus 

Slender bush clover Lespedeza virginica 

Slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis 

Slender ladies' tresses Spiranthes lacera 

Slender pondweed Potamogeton pusillus 

Slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus 

Small-headed aster Aster vimineus 

Small-leaved Linden Tilia cordata 

Smooth brome-grass Bromus inermis 

Smooth Winterberry Ilex laevigata 

Soapwort; Bouncing bet Saponaria officinalis 

Southern sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum 

Southern three-lobed bedstraw Galium tinctorium 

Southern yellow wood-sorrel Oxalis dillenii 

Speargrass Poa annua 

Spike-rush Eleocharis acicularis 

Spotted spurge; Milk-purslane Euphorbia maculata


Spotted St. John's-wort Hypericum punctatum 

Spotted Touch-me-not Impatiens capensis 

Spotted wintergreen Chimaphila maculata 

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium 

Squarrose white aster Aster ericoides 

St. John's-wort Hypericum perforatum 

St. John's-wort Hypericum spp. 

Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina 

Star-thistle; Knapweed Centaurea maculosa 

Starved panic grass Dichanthelium depauperatum 

Sticky hawkweed Hieracium scabrum 

Stiff aster Aster linariifolius 

Swamp beggar ticks Bidens connata 

Swamp candles Lysimachia terrestris 

Swamp rose Rosa palustris 

Swamp-azalea Rhododendron viscosum 

Swan's sedge Carex swannii 

Sweet fern Myrica asplenifolia 

Sweet gale Myrica gale 

Sweet goldenrod Solidago odora 

Sweet pepper-bush Clethra alnifolia 

Sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum 

Sweet William silene Silene armeria 

Sweetgrass Hierochloe odorata 

Sweet-scented water-lily Nymphaea odorata 

Swith-grass Panicum virgatum 

Tall beakrush Rhyncospora macrostachya 

Tall lettuce Lactuca canadensis 

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare 

Taper-tip rush Juncus acuminatus 

Tawny cotton-grass Eriophorum virginicum 

Thimble Weed Anemone virginiana 

Three-toothed cinquefoil Potentilla tridentata 

Three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum 

Thyme-leaved sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia 

Ticklegrass Agrostis hyemalis 

Timothy Phleum pratense 

Tiny vetch Vicia hirsuta 

Toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus 

Toothed white-topped aster Aster paternus 

Torrey's beakrush Rhyncospora torreyana 

Trailing arbutus; Mayflower Epigaea repens 

Trailing Bushclover Lespedeza procumbens 

Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima 

Tumble mustard Sisymbrium altissimum 

Umbrella-grass Fuirena pumila 

Upland willow; Gray willow Salix humilis 

Upright scorpion grass Myosotis micrantha 

Velvety sedge Carex vestita 

Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata 

Vetch Vicia sp. 

Viper's bugloss Echium vulgare 

Virginia chain fern Woodwardia virginica 

Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia 

205 

Virginia mountain mint Pycnanthemum virginianum 

Virginia rose Rosa virginiana 

Virginia yellow flax Linum virginianum 

Wand-like bush clover Lespedeza intermedia 

Water horehound Lycopus americanus 

Water pepper Polygonum hydropiper 

Water purslane Ludwigia palustris 

Water-bulrush Scirpus subterminalis 

Water-milfoil Myriophyllum humile 

Watershield Brasenia shreberi 

Water-willow Decodon verticillatus 

Wavy Leaf Aster Aster undulatus 

Waxy meadow rue Thalictrum revolutum 

White ash Fraxinus americana 

White avens Geum canadense 

White buttons Eriocaulon septangulare 

White campion Silene pratensis 

White clover Trifolium repens 

White colicroot, Stargrass Aletris farinosa 

White goosefoot Chenopodium album 

White oak Quercus alba 

White pine Pinus strobus 

White poplar Populus alba 

White sweet clover Melilotus alba 

White wood aster Aster divaricatus 

Whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum 

Whitlow-grass Draba verna 

Whorled loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia 

Wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata 

Wild garlic Allium canadense 

Wild geranium; Purple crane's 

bill Geranuim maculatum 

Wild indigo Baptisia tinctoria 

Wild oat grass Danthonia compressa 

Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum 

Wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis 

Wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana 

Wilow Salix spp. 

Winged burningbush Euonymus alatus 

Winterberry Ilex verticillata 

Wintergreen; Teaberry Gaultheria procumbens 

Witch grass Panicum capillare 

Withe-rod Viburnum cassinoides 

Wolly hudsonia Hudsonia tomentosa 

Wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia 

Wool grass Scirpus cyperinus 

Woolly-fruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa 

Wormseed; Mexican tea Chenopodium ambrosioides 

Wormseed-mustard Erysimum cheiranthoides 

Yellow bartonia Bartonia virginica 

Yellow foxtail-grass Setaria glauca 

Yellow hedge-hyssop Gratiola aurea 

Yellow nutsedge Cyperus esculentus 

Yellow stargrass Hypoxis hirsuta


Yellow water-lily Nuphar lutea 

Yellow-eyed grass Xyris difformis 

Yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens 

Agropyron trachycaulum 

Carex emmonsii 

Carex longii 

Carex rosea 

Carex rugosperma 

Cyperus filiculmis 

Cyperus grayii 

Dichanthelium linearifolium 

Eupatorium hyssopifolium 

Lespedeza nuttallii 

Panicum verrucosum 

Populus nigra var. italica 

Viburnum sp. 

206


APPENDIX C – 

MACROLEPIDOPTERA (MOTH AND 

BUTTERFLY) SPECIES OF CAMP 

EDWARDS, MA. 

Abagrotis alternata 

Abagrotis brunneipennis 

Abagrotis cupida 

Abagrotis nefascia 

Achatodes zeae 

Acronicta afflicta 

Acronicta albarufa 

Acronicta americana 

Acronicta haesitata 

Acronicta hasta 

Acronicta increta (="inclara") 

Acronicta lithospila 

Acronicta lobeliae 

Acronicta longa 

Acronicta modica 

Acronicta noctivaga 

Acronicta oblinita 

Acronicta ovata 

Acronicta retardata (="caesarea") 

Acronicta sperata 

Acronicta superans 

Acronicta tristis 

Acronicta tritona 

Aethalura intertexta 

Agnorisma badinodis 

Agriopodes fallax 

Agrotis gladiaria 

Agrotis ipsilon 

Agrotis manifesta 

Agrotis stigmosa 

Agrotis venerabilis 

Agrotis vetusta 

Agrotis volubilis 

Allotria elonympha 

Amolita fessa 

Amolita roseola 

Amphipoea americana 

Amphipyra pyramidoides 

207 

Anacamptodes ephyraria 

Anacamptodes humara 

Anacamptodes vellivolata 

Anagoga occiduaria 

Anagrapha falcifera 

Anaplectoides prasina 

Anavitrinelia pampinaria 

Anisota stigma 

Anisota virginiensis 

Anomis commoda 

Anorthodes tarda 

Antepione thiosaria 

Antheraea polyphemus 

Anticarsia gemmatalis 

Apamea amputatrix 

Apamea burgessi 

Apamea devastator 

Apamea dubitans 

Apamea finitima 

Apamea helva 

Apamea inordinata 

Apamea lignicolora 

Apamea verbascoides 

Apantesis nais 

Apantesis phalerata 

Apatelodes torrefacta 

Apharetra dentata 

Aplectoides condita 

Argyrostrotis anilis 

Autographa ampla 

Autographa precationis 

Automeris io 

Bagisara rectifascia 

Baileya ophthalmica 

Balsa labecula 

Balsa tristrigella 

Besma endropiaria 

Besma quercivoraria 

Biston cognataria 

Bleptina caradrinalis 

Bomolocha baltimoralis 

Bomolocha palparia 

Cabera erythemaria


Caenurgina crassiuscula 

Caenurgina erechtea 

Callopistria cordata 

Callopistria mollissima 

Callosamia promethea 

Campaea perlata 

Caripeta sp. Nr. Piniata 

Catocala sp. Nr. Lineella 

Catocala amica 

Catocala andromedae 

Catocala antinympha 

Catocala badia 

Catocala coccinata 

Catocala gracilis 

Catocala grynea 

Catocala herodias 

Catocala ilia 

Catocala lineella 

Catocala micronympha 

Catocala paleogama 

Catocala praeclara 

Catocala relicta 

Catocala similis 

Catocala sordida 

Catocala ultronia 

Catocala unijuga 

Cepphis armataria 

Cerma cerintha 

Cerura multiscripta 

Chaetaglaea cerata 

Chaetaglaea sericea 

Chaetaglaea tremula 

Charadra deridens 

Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria 

Chloroclystis rectangulata 

Chrysanympha formosa 

Chytolita morbidalis 

Chytonix palliatricula 

Chytonix sensilis 

Cicinnus melsheimeri 

Cingilia catenaria 

Cisseps fulvicollis 

Cisthene packardi 

208 

Clostera albosigma 

Clostera strigosa 

Colobochyla interpuncta 

Colocasia propinquilinea 

Cosmia calami 

Crambidia pallida 

Crocigrapha normani 

Cucullia convexipennis 

Cyclophora packardi 

Cyclophora pendulinaria 

Cycnia oregonensis 

Cycnia tenera 

Darapsa myron 

Darapsa pholus 

Dasychira basiflava 

Dasychira cinnamomea 

Dasylophia anguina 

Dasyshira obliquata 

Dasyshira pinicola 

Datana drexelii 

Datana ministra 

Derrima stellata 

Diacrisia aeroides 

Dichorda iridaria 

Dolba hyloeus 

Drasteria graphica 

Drasteria occulta 

Drepana arcuata 

Dryocampa rubicunda 

Dypterygia rozmani 

Dyspyralis illocata 

Dyspyralis nigella 

Dyspyralis puncticosta 

Ecpantheria scribonia 

Ectropis crepuscularia 

Egira alternans 

Elaphria festivoides 

Elaphria versicolor 

Ennomos magnaria 

Ennomos subsignaria 

Epiglaea apiata 

Epiglaea decliva 

Epimecis hortaria


Estigmene acrea 

Euagrotis (lubricans) 

Euagrotis illapsa 

Eubaphe mendica 

Euchaetes egle 

Euchlaena effecta 

Euchlaena irraria 

Euchlaena johnsonaria 

Euchlaena madusaria 

Euchlaena marginaria 

Euchlaena muzaria 

Euchlaena serrata 

Eucirroedia pampina 

Euclidea cuspidea 

Eucoptocnemis fimbriaris 

Eudryas unio 

Eueretagrotis attenta 

Eufidonia convergaria 

Eufidonia discospilata 

Eufidonia nototaria 

Eugonobapta nivosaria 

Eulithis diversilineata 

Eulithis explanata 

Eumacaria latiferrugata 

Eumorpha pandorus 

Euparthenos nubilis 

Euphyia unangulata 

Euplexia benesimilis 

Eurois occulta 

Eusarca confusaria 

Eutrapela clemataria 

Euxoa bostoniensis 

Euxoa obeliscoides 

Euxoa perpolita 

Euxoa pleuritica 

Euxoa tessellata 

Euxoa vellerpennis 

Euxoa violaris 

Faronta diffusa 

Feltia geniculata 

Feltia herilis 

Feltia jaculifera 

Feltia subgothica 

209 

Furcula borealis 

Furcula modesta 

Gabara subnivosella 

Galgula partita 

Glena cognataria 

Glena cribrataria 

Gluphisia septentrionis 

Grammia figurata 

Grammia parthenice 

Grammia virgo 

Gueneria similaria 

Halysidota tessellaris 

Haploa clymene 

Harrisimemna trisignata 

Helicoverpa zea 

Heliomata cycladata 

Heterocampa biundata 

Heterocampa guttivitta 

Heterocampa obliqua 

Heterocampa umbrata 

Hethemia pistasciaria 

Holomelina aurantiaca 

Holomelina ferruginosa 

Holomelina laeta 

Holomelina opella 

Homochlodes fritillaria 

Homorthodes furfurata 

Hyalophora cecropia 

Hydrelia condensata 

Hydria prunivorata 

Hypagyrtis esther 

Hypagyrtis piniata 

Hypagyrtis unipunctata 

Hyparpax aurora 

Hypenodes fractilinea 

Hyperaeschra georgica 

Hyperstrotia flaviguttata 

Hyperstrotia villificans 

Hyphantria cunea 

Hypomecis umbrosaria 

Hypoprepia fucosa 

Hyppa xylinoides 

Idia aemula


Idia americalis 

Idia diminuendis 

Idia forbesi 

Idia julia 

Idia lubricalis 

Idia rotundalis 

Idia scobalis 

Idia sp. Nr. "concisa" 

Ipimorpha pleonectuosa 

Iridopsis larvaria 

Itame argillacearia 

Itame pustularia 

Itame sp. 1 

Itame sulphurea 

Lacanobia atlantica 

Lacinipolia anguina 

Lacinipolia meditata 

Lacinipolia renigera 

Lacosoma chiridota 

Lambdina fervidaria 

Lambdina fiscellaria 

Lambdina pellucidaria 

Lapara bombycoides 

Lapara coniferarum 

Leucania commoides 

Leucania extincta 

Leucania inermis 

Leucania insueta 

Leucania lapidaria 

Leucania linita 

Leucania phragmatidicola 

Leucania pseudargyria 

Leucania ursula 

Leuconycta diphtheroides 

Lithacodia albidula 

Lithacodia bellicula 

Lithacodia carneola 

Lithacodia muscosula 

Lithacodia synochitis 

Lobocleta ossularia 

Lobophora nivigerata 

Lochmaeus manteo 

Lomographa semiclarata 

210 

Lomographa vestaliata 

Lophocampa caryae 

Lycophotia phyllophora 

Lymantria dispar 

Lytrosis unitaria 

Macrochilo absorptalis 

Macrochilo litophora 

Macrochilo orciferalis 

Macruocampa marthesia 

Magusa orbifera 

Malacosoma americanum 

Malacosoma disstria 

Marathyssa inficita 

Meganola minuscula 

Meganola phylla 

Meganola spodia 

Melanolophia canadaria 

Melanolophia signataria 

Metalectra discalis 

Metalectra quadrisignata 

Metalectra richardsi 

Metanema inatomaria 

Metarranthis amyrisaria 

Metarranthis angularia 

Metarranthis broweri 

Metarranthis duaria 

Metarranthis hypocharia 

Metarranthis indeclinata 

Metarranthis obfirmaria 

Metarranthis pilosaria 

Metarranthis sp. Nr. Lateritiaria 

Metaxaglaea inulta 

Metaxaglaea semitaria 

Morrisonia confusa 

Morrisonia evicta 

Morrisonia mucens 

Nacophora quernaria 

Nadata gibbosa 

Nedra ramosula 

Nematocampa resistaria 

Nemoria bistriaria 

(=rubromarginaria) 

Nemoria mimosaria


Nemoria rubrifrontaria 

Nephelodes minians 

Noctua pronuba 

Nola clethrae 

Nola pustulata 

Notodonta scitipennis 

Nycteola frigidana 

Ochropleura plecta 

Oligia illocata 

Oligia mactata 

Oligia modica 

Oligocentra lignicolor 

Oligocentra semirufescens 

Oncocnemis riparia 

Oreta rosea (="irrorata") 

Orgyia definita 

Orgyia leucostigma 

Orthodes crenulata 

Orthodes cynica 

Orthofidonia tinctaria 

Orthonama centrostrigaria 

Orthonama obstipata 

Orthosia revicta 

Oruza albocostaliata 

Paectes abrostoloides 

Paectes pygmaea 

Palthis angulalis 

Pangrapta decoralis 

Panopoda carneicosta 

Panopoda rufimargo 

Panthea pallescens 

Paonias astylus 

Paonias excaecatus 

Paonias myops 

Papaipema baptisiae 

Papaipema pterisii 

Papaipema sp. 1 

Parallelia bistriaris 

Patalene olyzonaria 

Peridea angulosa 

Peridea ferruginea 

Peridroma saucia 

Pero honestaria 

211 

Pero hubneraria 

Pero morrisonaria 

Petrophora subaequaria 

Phalaenophana pyramusalis 

Phalaenostola larentioides 

Phalaenostola metonalis 

Pheosia rimosa 

Phlogophora iris 

Phlogophora periculosa 

Phosphila miseloides 

Phosphila turbulenta 

Phragmatobia assimilans 

Phragmatobia fuliginosa 

Phragmatobia lineata 

Phyllodesma americana 

Phyprosopus callitrichoides 

Plagodis alcoolaria 

Plagodis fervidaria 

Plagodis phlogosaria 

Plagodis serinaria 

Plathypena scabra 

Platyperigea meralis 

Platysenta vecors 

Platysenta videns 

Pleuroprucha insulsaria 

Polia detracta 

Polia latex 

Polygrammate hebraeicum 

Polypogon sp. 1 

Polypogon cruralis 

Polypogon jacchusalis 

Polypogon laevigata 

Polypogon lituralis 

Polypogon obscuripennis 

Polypogon ochreipennis 

Polypogon protumnusalis 

Polypogon theralis 

Probole alienaria 

Probole amicaria 

Probole nepiasaria 

Prochoerodes transversata 

Proitame virginalis 

Protoboarmia porcelaria


Protolampra brunneicollis 

Protorthodes oviduca 

Proxenus miranda 

Psectraglaea carnosa 

Pseudaletia unipuncta 

Pseudohermonassa bicarnea 

Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides 

Pyrrharctia isabella 

Raphia frater 

Redectis vitrea 

Renia "adspergillus" 

Renia discoloralis 

Renia factiosalis 

Renia flavipunctalis 

Renia nemoralis 

Renia salusalis 

Renia sobrialis 

Rheumaptera hastata 

Rhizedra lutosa 

Schinia arcigera 

Schinia septentrionalis 

Schinia spinosae 

Schizura apicalis 

Schizura badia 

Schizura ipomoeae 

Schizura leptinoides 

Schizura unicornis 

Scoliopteryx libatrix 

Scopula cacuminaria 

Scopula inductata 

Scopula limboundata 

Semiothisa aemulitaria 

Semiothisa bicolorata 

Semiothisa bisignata 

Semiothisa continuata 

Semiothisa granitata 

Semiothisa minorata 

Semiothisa multilineata 

Semiothisa pinistrobata 

Semiothisa sexmaculata 

Semiothisa transitaria 

Semiothisa ulsterata 

Sideridis congermana 

212 

Sideridis maryx 

Sideridis rosea 

Smerinthus jamaicensis 

Spaelotis clandestina 

Spargaloma sexpunctata 

Sphinx drupiferarum 

Sphinx gordius 

Sphinx poecilla 

Spilosoma congrua 

Spilosoma dubia 

Spilosoma latipennis 

Spilosoma virginica 

Spiramater grandis 

Spiramater lutra 

Spodoptera frugiperda 

Spodoptera ornithogalli 

Sunira bicolorago 

Sutnya privata 

Symmerista albifrons 

Syngrapha octoscripta 

Tacparia atropunctata 

Tacparia detersata 

Tarachidia candefacta 

Tetracis cachexiata 

Tetracis crocallata 

Tolype laricis 

Tolype velleda 

Tricholita signata 

Ulolonche culea 

Ulolonche modesta 

Xanthia togata 

Xanthorhoe lacustrata 

Xanthotype sospeta 

Xanthotype urticaria 

Xestia c-nigrum 

Xestia c-nigrum/dolosa 

Xestia dilucida 

Xestia dolosa 

Xestia elimata/praevia 

Xestia normaniana 

Xestia smithii 

Xylomoia chagnoni 

Xylotype capax


Xystopeplus rufago 

Zale aeruginosa 

Zale curema 

Zale helata 

Zale horrida 

Zale lunata 

Zale metatoides 

Zale minerea 

Zale obliqua 

Zale submediana 

Zale unilineata 

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APPENDIX D – ODONATE 

Ruby Meadowhawk Sympetrum rubicundulum 

(DRAGONFLY and DAMSELFLY) 

Scarlet Bluet Enallagma pictum 

SPECIES OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA. Seaside Dragonlet Erythrodiplax berenice 

Common Name (N=68) Scientific name Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene 

Amber-winged Spreadwing Lestes eurinus 

Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa 

Atlantic Bluet Enallagma doubledayi Skimming Bluet Enallagma geminatum 

Azure Bluet Enallagma aspersum Skimming Bluet Enallagma signatum 

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta 

Black-tipped Darner Aeshna tuberculifera Slender Spreadwing Lestes rectangularis 

Blue Corporal Libellula deplanata Spangled Skimmer Libellula cyanea 

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis Spatterdock Darner Aeshna mutata 

Calico Pennant Celithemis elisa Sphagnum sprite Nehalennia gracilis 

Carolina Saddlebags Tramea carolina Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener 

Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea 

Comet Darner Anax longipes 

Stream Cruiser Didymops transversa 

Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura Swamp Spreadwing Lestes vigilax 

Common Green Darner Anax junius 

Sweetflag Spreadwing Lestes forcipatus 

Common or Sweetflag 

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Lebellula pulchella 

Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus/forcipatus Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella 

Common Sanddragon Progomphus obscurus Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis 

Common Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus Vesper Bluet Enallagma vesperum 

Common Whitetail Libellula lydia 

Wandering Glider Pantala flavexcens 

Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta White Corporal Libelula exusta 

Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa 

Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis Yellow-legged Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum 

Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis 

Elegant Spreadwing Lestes inaequalis 

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata 

Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita 

Fragile Forktail Ishnura posita 

Frosted Whiteface Leucorrhinia frigida 

Golden-winged Skimmer Libellula auripennis 

Libellula 

Goldenwings 

auripennis/needhami 

Great Blue Skimmer Libellula vibrans 

Green-striped Darner Aeshna verticalis 

Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina 

Lancet Clubtail Gomphis exilis 

Lilypad Forktail Ischnura kellicotti 

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus 

Martha's Pennant Celithemis martha 

Mottled Darner Aeshna clepsydra 

New England Bluet Enallagma laterale 

Northern Bluet Enallagma cyathigerum 

Common Name (N=68) Scientific name 

Painted Skimmer Libellula semifasciata 

Petite Emerald Dorocordulia lepida 

Pond Damsel Coenagrionidae species 

214


APPENDIX E – BIRD SPECIES OF 

CAMP EDWARDS, MA 

Common Name 

(N=105) Scientific name 

Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax veriscens 

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis 

American Kestrel Falco sparverius 

American Robin Turdus migratorius 

American Woodcock Scolopax minor 

Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 

Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon 

Black-and-white 

Warbler Mniotilta varia 

Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus 

Black-capped 

Chickadee Parus atricapillus 

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata 

Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 

Brown Creeper Certhia americana 

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum 

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 

Canada Goose Branta canadensis 

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 

Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica 

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 

Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida 

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula 

Common Loon Gavia immer 

Common Tern Sterna hirundo 

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 

Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 

Double-crested 

Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 

Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus 

Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna 

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe 

Eastern Wood-pewee Contopus virens 

Empidonax Flycatchers Empidonax spp. 

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 

Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla 

215 

Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus 

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum 

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinesis 

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 

Great Crested 

Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus 

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 

Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus 

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus 

Herring Gull Larus argentatus 

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris 

House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 

House Sparrow Passer domesticus 

House Wren Troglodytes aedon 

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 

Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia 

Mute Swan Cygnus olor 

Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus 

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 

Northern Oriole Icterus galbula 

N. Rough-winged 

Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 

Osprey Pandion haliaetus 

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus 

Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus 

Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus 

Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor 

Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus 

Red Knot Calidris canutus 

Red-bellied 

Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus 

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis 

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus 

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 

Rock Dove Columba livia 

Ruby-throated 

Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 

Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus


Rufous-sided Towhee Pipilo erythropthalmus 

Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea 

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 

Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana 

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 

Tufted Titmouse Parus bicolor 

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda 

Veery Catharus fuscescens 

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus 

Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferous 

White-breasted 

Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 

White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 

Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 

Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina 

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus 

216


APPENDIX F – MAMMAL SPECIES 

OF CAMP EDWARDS, MA. 


Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus 

Coyote Canis latrans 

Domestic cat Felis domesticus 

Domestic dog 

Canis familiaris 

Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus 

Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus 

Eastern mole Scalopus aquaticus 

Eastern pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus 

Fisher Martes pennanti 

Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus 

Gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 

Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata 

Masked shrew Sorex cinereus 

Meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius 

Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus 

Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus 

New England cottontail Sylvialgus floridanus 

Northern myotis Myotis septentrionalis 

Opossum Didelphis virginiana 

Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum 

Raccoon Procyon lotor 

Red bat Lasiurus borealis 

Red fox Vulpes vulpes 

Red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus 

Short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda 

Southern flying squirrel Glaucomys volans 

Southern red-backed vole Cleithrionomys gapperi 

Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis 

White-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus 

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus 

Woodchuck Marmota monax 

217


APPENDIX G – MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENT and MEMORANDUMS OF 

UNDERSTANDING 

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221


222


223


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227


228


229


230


231


232


233


234


235


236


237


238


239


240


241


242


APPENDIX H – COMMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE 

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250


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Camp Edwards Training Site Integrated Natural Resources

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