Restoring Inland Pine Barrens in Hardwick

This morning, I joined a small group of East Quabbin Land Trust friends and supporters at the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area, off Patrill Hollow Road in Hardwick.  We were privileged to have with us Chris Buelow, Restoration Ecologist with the Commonwealth’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, who guided us on a walk through this unique landscape.  The NHESP’s mission is to protect the state’s biodiversity, their highest priority being the native species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in our state.

At approximately 1400 acres, the Muddy Brook WMA is quite large, and its four non-contiguous parcels are all located within Hardwick.  Although these parcels were designated a WMA since the early 90s, there was not much interest in studying the area until about ten years ago, when Massachusetts ecologists began to realize that much of this area was probably a pine barrens.  Plant communities in pine barrens are adapted to frequent fire and harsh growing conditions; these plants in turn often host specific animal communities.  These pine barrens are also globally rare:  in the Northeast, from New Jersey to southern Maine, coastal plain pine barrens have been studied and conserved, but there are very few inland, or riparian, pine barrens.  These inland areas are characterized by steep valleys, sandy soil, and wetlands, such as are found in Ossipee in New Hampshire, Albany in New York, Montague in the Pioneer Valley, and here in Hardwick.

The significance of fire for these lands cannot be overstated, but this fact is not generally understood.  Until recently, it was believed that Native Americans lived lightly on the land here in the Northeast, but a deeper look at their lifestyle and culture indicates that for thousands of years prior to European settlement — for perhaps 7000 to 9000 years — Native Americans cultivated the land, and they did it with fire:  they used fire to clear land for seasonal farming, to stimulate berry production, and to manage game.  But with European colonization, the Native American lifestyle was suppressed, and the land was cleared for intensive farming.  The next phase of the settlement story is well-known: with the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the westward migration of farm families to the Ohio River Valley and the Great Plains, New England agricultural land reverted to forest, with white pines, a generalist tree, becoming dominant in many areas.

When initial fieldwork confirmed for ecologists that this landscape in Hardwick historically looked quite different, a conclusion subsequently validated by analysis of soil cores, the NHESP drew up plans for a restoration project.  Phase I consisted of entirely removing the generalist species from 120 acres; when the trees were clear-cut in the winter of 2015, the area looked pretty bleak.  However, in June of that year, it turned green due to unusual plants sprouting (these species are disturbance dependent).  These included Little Bluestem and maybe 15-20 other plants that thrive in the sand plains.  Birds and insects also returned: song sparrows, prairie warblers, towhees, American woodcock, as well as moths that depend on specific host plants.  In fact, six state-listed species have now been documented here.

Notice the stone wall at the side of the trail we’re on; this feature indicates that at one point this soil was plowed:

The trees were cut all the way to the water line of Muddy Brook:

Chris told us that this area is a frost pocket; due to its unique geology, frost can occur at any time of year, even in the summer:

In fact, this area’s geologic features were shaped by glaciation.  Glaciers carved out this drainage valley and dumped sand and gravel to create soil; the numerous lakes and ponds here, some as deep as 100 feet, were formed when the glaciers retreated.  We’re standing on a knoll here, looking at a landform created by the melting glacier:

Here is a view of Muddy Brook, with unrestored landscape in the background.  In Phase II, the forest owned by NEFF adjacent to where we are walking will also be logged, all the way to Quabbin’s Gate 43 (some pines which survived the 1938 hurricane will stay).

Although it’s hard to see in the photo, this area has been planted with lupine from the Ware River, about 3 miles away.  Lupine is a host plant for the Frosted Elfin butterfly, a state-listed species; it should flower in about a month.  In addition to Pitch Pine, other sand plain obligates include the Eastern Hognose Snake, Wild Yellow Indigo, New Jersey Tea, Bird’s-Foot Violet, Lowbush Blueberry, and Sheep Laurel.  With respect to the plants, Chris pointed out that we think of pine barrens as having poor or acidic soil, but riverine pine barrens also support species that favor mineral-rich or calcareous soils.

It’s exciting to think of this unusual landscape right in our own backyard, and I’m eager to follow this restoration project.

Warning:  Ticks abound in this area: use appropriate caution when visiting this property.

One thought on “Restoring Inland Pine Barrens in Hardwick

  1. I moved to Hardwick about a year ago but still maintain a business in Walpole, Ma. I pass by the clearing twice a week on my way to work. I must admit, when looking at the house I eventually purchased on Greenwich Rd., I noticed the clearing and my initial thought was housing development. Just the thing I yearned to escape from in Walpole. This article has allayed my fears and has been very informative. The peace and serenity that is unique to Hardwick and the Quabbin Watershed is priceless. Let’s keep it that way.

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