NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The mayor has killed a controversial plan to remove invasive plants and log parts of the Notch Reservoir watershed.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey on Thursday evening released a statement saying  the city would not be implementing the forest management plan.

 

"The plan was laid out by our knowledgeable and dedicated partners to address key threats to this property and would have helped the city proactively manage our watershed's forest," she said the mayor. "However, given the public outcry regarding the impact the project could have on the Bellows Pipe Trail, I have decided not to move forward with the plan."

 

Her email said she would make no further comments at this time.

 

The city was in line for a federal grant that would fund a stewardship plan through the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts, of which the city is a member. The goal was to preserve the watershed, root out invasive species, promote sustainable growth in a changing climate by removing blighted trees and planting natives, and bring in some revenue as a "demonstration forest." 

 

The initiative is part of Mass Audubon's Forest Climate Resilience Program. Two demonstration forests in the partnership were eligible for three-year U.S. Forestry Service grants.

 

The planning had been underway prior to Macksey's administration but became more public when it was presented to the Conservation Commission in July. It only came to the commission because of the use of herbicides near the waterways. 

 

But the commissioners also discussed the creation of trails to bring in logging equipment and the impact on streams, potential erosion and their removal at the end of the process. 

 

Their concerns sparked a larger outcry from area residents and neighboring property owners who feared water contamination, runoff and erosion, and especially damage to the popular hiking trail. 

 

A public forum on the plan drew a crowd mostly opposed to the proposition of harvesting hardwoods in 70 of the 1,000-acre parcel north and west of the city's main reservoir on Pattison Road. 

 

City officials stressed that the plan had been approved by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as the Department of Environmental Protection. The proposal also included the replacement and installation of culverts to reduce flooding and erosion. 

 

The mayor said she met with several professionals in relevant fields who did not have a hand in designing the project. 

 

"While the folks I met with had differing perspectives on the topic of climate-smart forestry, they still saw the merits of this project and did not feel the project would be detrimental to the city's water supply," she said. "In fact, they said that best practices were used throughout the plan, while acknowledging that there were ecological and social tradeoffs."

 

Opponents also brought in professionals and experts who supported a "hands off" management of the forest by just letting it be. They held several walks and forums and wrote letters to the editor. 

 

According to Mass Audubon, its partners recommended using proven best practices that would have preserved the long-term integrity of the community's drinking water, similar to forest management plans that protect watersheds for Boston and New York City. 

 

"We're disappointed the project at Notch Reservoir isn't moving forward and we stand by the proven best practices used by reputable organizations doing this vital work," Mass Audubon's Chief Conservation Officer Jocelyn Forbush stated in the release. "But we're heartened to see so many members of the public passionate about the environment and the crucial role forests play in our lives, which dovetails with our 128-year history of protecting the nature of Massachusetts. We wish the city good luck going forward."

 

Dicken Crane, board chair of the Woodlands Partnership said stewardship relies on "robust public acceptance." 

 

"We're grateful to have engaged North Adams in thinking about forest health over the long-term and look forward to what's to come," he said.

 

Macksey said the city is still committed to developing a climate-informed Open Space and Recreation Plan that will include public input.

 

"The city will still have to address ongoing safety issues at Notch Reservoir such as hazardous falling trees, wildfire risk, invasive species, and drainage," she said.

 

"People's attachment to this particular section of the forest made for some passionate advocacy. I hope they will stay involved and answer the call for their input when asked in the future."