Opinion: Disruption to Lynnfield's rare wildlife will be harmful

A Letter to the Editor from Chris Martone:

A No vote for Tuesday's rail trail question in town vote is the best way to protect Reedy Meadow's endangered birds, salamanders and other creatures within the last undisturbed area of this National Natural Landmark. Environmental mitigation measures will not fully prevent the
displacement and disruption of rare breeding and wintering wildlife that inhabits the marsh.

The northern end of Reedy Meadow (Lynnfield Marsh), including the rail bed, is the last remaining undisturbed part of the marsh. Human and pet disturbance with a constant stream of people and dogs on nearly one mile of rail trail will be particularly harmful. For example,
according to a March 20, 2019 article of "Mountain Journal" (https://mountainjournal.org/mo... ) a hiker with a dog on leash can have an enormous effect on the displacement of wildlife. In fact, a hiker with dog on leash displaces wildlife within a nearly 600-foot diameter, causing it stress and
expending energy to flee. If the disturbance is constant, wildlife may not return. Often the disturbance cannot be seen, leading many to think there is no displacement nor stress. Many of Reedy Meadow's threatened species are secretive and rarely seen – it is easy to underestimate the diversity of the ecosystem and our impact on it. The article also advises, "Different species have different thresholds beyond which they not only flee but completely avoid that terrain altogether. Think of being in your own home where you feel safe but the presence of unruly visitors means you can no longer use the kitchen and results in spaces where you no longer want to go because you don't feel secure."

If a rail trail bisects the marsh, there will be human disturbance through the center of the marsh as well as around most of the perimeter which was developed for retail, commercial, golfing, and residential activity. This leaves very few large contiguous undisturbed areas required by breeding marsh birds found in Reedy Meadow. The diameter of disturbance likely extends out much farther than 600 feet for certain infractions such as very loud noise (fireworks and flares, as witnessed on the railbed and Partridge Island in the past two years) and uncontrolled fire (such as the 65-acre fire set at nearby Partridge Island in 2015).

Unleashed dog disturbance, dog feces, fire, litter and other risks are described in more detail in my team's prior letter (https://patch.com/massachusett... ). And the impacts to wildlife from habitat fragmentation, possible artificial lighting, unforeseen changes to the food chain, and an inadvertent increase of importing invasive plant species are other potential threats to the ecosystem.

The importance of Reedy Meadow's rare wildlife breeding habitat was reaffirmed by the state's
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) in 2017 and by Mass Audubon as an "Important Bird Area" in 2008. Reedy Meadow is one of only 11 National Natural Landmarks in Massachusetts. Natural landmarks are selected because they are the "best" examples of a type of biological community in the country and sometimes in the world, according to the National Park Service. Reedy Meadow is the largest emergent freshwater cattail marsh in Massachusetts, has not been overrun by invasive phragmites, and has a mix of habitats including rivers and brooks, shrub swamp, and wet meadow Humans with leashed dogs and cyclists will inadvertently be disturbing wildlife to a far greater degree than they suspect. And rules typically afforded a wildlife sanctuary (no dogs, no bikes) will not be possible at Reedy Meadow with a high traffic cycling and walking trail. No amount of video surveillance, monitoring, interpretive signs, and trash cans can stop the infringements by careless people.

I don't disagree that a rail trail is a local asset for recreation, but when a trail must run through
the middle of priority habitat for endangered species, the plan is unfortunate. Sacrificing endangered and other creatures relying on the marsh for breeding and refueling on migration is a loss for our community. Our recreation can be found elsewhere. Protecting the endangered species that inhabit Reedy Meadow will leave our children a legacy of preservation, instead of degradation.

Lynnfield residents have the opportunity to ask our town officials to limit further development
and disturbance of this rare wildlife area by voting "No" to the rail trail question Tuesday.

Thanks, Chris Martone (Lynnfield)