Open
Space Committee 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 8.
Massachusetts Conservation Restriction Stewardship Manual. A
"how-to" handbook for land trusts and conservation commissions.
Click here
for a link to the handbook. 10.
Seeking vernal pools!
Town of Royalston, Massachusetts
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.
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.
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.

The
natural and recreational resources of Royalston