BEAR HILL HABITATS
Bear hill overlooks Spot Pond, so named by Governor Winthrop in 1631, and is the tallest hill in the Fells at 317 feet. It was the site of the forming of the Middlesex Fells Association in 1880. There are several priority habitats on Bear Hill. These habitats are rare in the state of Massachusetts and even rarer in the local Boston Basin Ecoregion.
Access is from parking on Fallon Road, Stoneham through gate 21. To help learn more about the habitats that occur on Bear Hill, botanist Walter Kittredge, has produced a pictorial guide, Bear Hill Habitats, available by clicking this link.
Please note: the Dark Hollow Pond Nature Trail is no longer available, because DCR intends to close this trail in favor of creating 1-3 bike trails through this sensitive area.
 | ||||
| ||||
FELLS PROTECTION CAMPAIGN
DCR PARKWAYS CHANGES REQUIRE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Department of Conservation and Recreation recently filed an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) in connection with plans to modify historic parkways later this year in the vicinity of the Langwood Commons redevelopment project.
This parkway modification plan is the subject of litigation commenced in 2009 in Superior Court. The case was sent back to the Superior Court in 2011 after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the appeal filed by a group of citizens, the Friends of Fells, and the City of Medford properly stated a claim that the collaboration between DCR and the Langwood Commons developers may be an improper plan to segment the work so the developers could avoid environmental (MEPA) review for their redevelopment project.
In its ENF filing DCR now acknowledges the connection between its planned parkway work and additional traffic expected from the development project, but then asks the state to waive all its prior decisions which required a full public review of all potential development related impacts.
DCR parkway alterations include • removal of seventeen trees, • adding traffic signals in two locations, and • removing the entire length of one of the two Woodland Road southbound traffic lanes. Despite thousands of additional daily traffic trips from the development project, DCR’s ENF states that the parkway changes will not add to the roadway carrying capacity.
If this attempt to narrow MEPA review is successful, DCR and the developers will have prevented the public from commenting on how the parkway work relates to impacts from the additional 4,500 daily traffic trips generated when the Langwood Commons housing and office project is completed.
In addition, DCR has not addressed concerns raised by the Massachusetts Historical Commission that the parkway alterations would adversely affect the historic character of the historic parkways. A letter sent in September 2012 by the MHC to DCR stated that the proposed parkway changes would compromise the “integrity of the design, setting, materials, and feeling of the historic parkway.”
DCR appears to want to fast track its Fells parkway alteration scheme by urging the state’s environmental secretary to provide only the minimum time for review and comment. DCR is attempting to prevent public comments beyond the current March 26 deadline. The only public meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 18, during the daytime at 1:30 pm when few persons would be able to attend.
By taking this action, DCR is attempting to circumvent the pending litigation to start the parkway work before the Court rules on whether a more comprehensive MEPA environmental review is required for the redevelopment project.
The plaintiffs in the litigation have filed a motion asking the court to issue an injunction to prevent DCR from proceeding with the plan until the appeal is decided.
Ferns are found in many shady moist areas of Bear Hill's habitats.
Con
AMC Reservoir Trail restoration crew, 2004
Stop Bike Racing in the Fells!
DCR must ensure safety of Fells visitors on all trails by:
•Stopping bike racing on all Fells trails,
Stopping bike racing on all Fells trails, •Enforcing regulations against illegal bike riding throughout the Fells,
Enforcing regulations against illegal bike riding throughout the Fells, •Reporting to the public on citations and fines issued (if any) for bike riding infractions,
Reporting to the public on citations and fines issued (if any) for bike riding infractions, •Reversing its policy of expanding bike access to Fells hiking trails.
Reversing its policy of expanding bike access to Fells hiking trails.The Fells needs your help! Here’s how you can make a difference:
√ Contact Friends of the Fells - help us build Fells Protection Campaign; your ideas are important to us: www.fells.org or 781-662-2340.
√ Join Friends of the Fells - become a member, for your convenience here is a membership form:
√ Donate to Friends of the Fells— your contribution will help our campaign to ensure a safe and natural Fells. Use the easy to use Donate button found on our website.
√ Contact elected officials ask them to stop conversion of Fells into bike recreation center [see contact links below].
Write DCR commissioner Edward Lambert ed.lambert@state.ma.us — demand protection for visitors and natural resources, monitoring and enforcement to stop illegal and harmful bike activity.
√ Contact other environmental organizations, and Fells district conservation commissions to ask for their support to protect safety of Fells visitors and natural resources.
√ Spread the word — share the video with others, contact local and Boston newspapers asking them to cover this issue.
Senator Katherine Clark Katherine.Clark@masenate.gov
Senator Patricia D. Jehlen Patricia.Jehlen@masenate.gov
Senator Thomas M. McGee Thomas.McGee@masenate.gov
Representative Paul Brodeur Paul.Brodeur@mahouse.gov
Representative Paul Donato RepDonato38@aol.com
Representative Chris Fallon Christopher.Fallon@mahouse.gov
Representative Sean Garballey Sean.Garballey@mahouse.gov
Representative Carl Sciortino, Jr. Carl.Sciortino@mahouse.gov
Representative Jason Lewis Rep.JasonLewis@Hou.State.MA.US
