Breivogel Ponds Conservation Area

On Wednesday April 27th I took an impromptu trip over to Breivogel Ponds Conservation Area here in Falmouth. This 67 acre conservation area is a former sand and gravel mine that is unfortunately heavily used by ATVs, dirt bikes and other ORVs. After 16 years under the ownership of the town, work has FINALLY begun on restoration of the property. Though the battle with ATVs will go on for a long time, measures are being taken to begin to combat it.

Parking for this area is off of Blacksmith Shop Road at the access to the town's leaf and compost facility.

 Newly created parking area for Breivogel.

 Kiosk created by our local junior high school engineering class (we used to call it wood shop). We installed this a couple months ago. Soon there will be information about the area added to it.

 New walking path from the parking area created by our public works department to keep walkers off the roadway into the

Former access road into the former pit.

 As I understand it, a majority of the area in this view will eventually be converted to a sand plain grassland habitat. To the right and out of view in this image is an area where an attempt to create five vernal pools is underway.

 A large bulldozer was used here to create the vernal pools by skimming down to pre-determined depths into the water table.

 There are many species that will benefit from this should the creation of the pools be successful. The "target species" for this area is a critter called eastern spade-foot toad which are rare on the Cape.

 Sedges and grasses were planted along the edge of the pools.

Logs and other natural materials added to them for cover and basking area for turtles.

Prior to the purchase by the town, the former owner created two deep ponds on the property and stocked them with fish. There area behind this is also part of the conservation area which is heavily wooded. The 300 Committee is very close to purchasing an adjoining wooded property which is the largest piece of undeveloped land left in town. It all looks good for this to occur. Fingers crossed all goes as planned.

Here is a time-lapse video of the creation of the vernal pools.



And here is a more descriptive video of what's going on and planned here with info on what vernal pools are.