Open Space Committee
Town of Royalston, Massachusetts

 Information

This page provides updates on activities of the Royalston Open Space Committee, announces upcoming events of interest to property owners in town, and gives links to conservation and recreation resources. 

Current highlights:

1. NEW (January 2008)! Community Preservation Act comes to Royalston. Click here for more information.

2. NEW (January 2008)! Governor's Smarth Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit. A website with modules, case studies, and slides to help communities plan for future growth. Click here for more information.

3. NEW (April 2007)! Amendments to Chapter 61 make it easier for landowners to conserve land and realize tax benefits. Click here for more information.

4. NEW (April 2007)! View the story of one local family who conserved their land: Cases in Conservation, produced by MassWoods. Click here for more information.

5. NEW (April 2007)! Information on Doane's Falls (Management Plan, swimming ban, trail guide) from The Trustees of Reservations. Click here for more information.

6. Tax incentives for landowners who conserve their land! Click here for more information.

7. Royalston Zoning Meetings. Schedule is available at
http://www.royalston-ma.gov/. 
Scope of Services for Royalston Smart Growth Grant. Click here for a PDF file with full description of job and products.

8. Massachusetts Conservation Restriction Stewardship Manual. A "how-to" handbook for land trusts and conservation commissions. Click here for a link to the handbook.

9. Interested in conservation options for your land that can assure protection of your resources and give you financial and tax benefits? Click here for the new brochure by the Open Space Committee, and for more details, click here for a useful, comprehensive guide for landowners by The Trustees for Reservations.

10. Seeking vernal pools!
Vernal pools are ponds that appear for only a few weeks to months in the early Spring. Because they are not fed by streams, they have no fish. Frogs, salamanders, clam shrimps and fairy shrimps (among other critters) therefore find vernal pools safe and excellent habitat in which to lay their eggs, free from fishy predators. A whole variety of animals are found only in the vernal pools of our area. April and May are ideal months in which to find vernal pools. Have you been hearing some mysterious "quacking" noises (without seeing any ducks; these may be woodfrogs calling) or found weird-looking jello-like egg masses popping up around a shallow pool along the road or in your woods? If so, send us an email! Vernal pools are important habitats and it would be nice to have a sense of where they are located in town.

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Minutes from previous meetings

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