RFR DFW-2016-029: Biodiversity Initiative Contract for Conversion of Abandoned Agricultural Fields to Native Warm Season Grasses, Grading and Planting of Berms and Slopes, and Associated Access Road Mitigation at the Frances Crane (North and South)...Biodiversity Initiative Contract • March 11th, 2021
Portions of the Frances Crane WMA have been identified by the Action Plan for the Conservation of State-listed Obligate Grassland Birds in Massachusetts as one of the best opportunities in the Commonwealth to support the conservation of rare and declining grassland bird species, and have undergone extensive management over the past year through tree clearing, invasive plant control, hedgerow removal and prescribed fire. In addition, wooded portions of the WMA adjacent to the grasslands offer great potential for upland game bird and shrubland songbird habitat, and have also undergone extensive management over the past year through tree clearing, fire break mowing, and prescribed burning. To compliment this work, DFW is seeking proposals for: 1) mowing, harrowing, and seeding of native warm season grasses (WSG) in existing fields; 2) removal of woody shrubs and trees on berms, grading of berms, and seeding of WSG; and 3) mitigation of existing access roads through graveling and grading (
RFR DFW-2015-021: Biodiversity Initiative Contract for Establishment of Native Warm Season Grasses at the Frances Crane (North) WMA in Falmouth, MABiodiversity Initiative Contract • May 5th, 2020
The abandoned agricultural fields at Frances Crane (North) WMA presently provide significant acreage of high quality warm season grassland habitat. As a result, these fields have been identified by the Action Plan for the Conservation of State-listed Obligate Grassland Birds in Massachusetts as one of the best opportunities in the Commonwealth to support the conservation of rare and declining grassland bird species. Expansion of the grassland will increase the suitable habitat to area sensitive state listed grassland birds. The Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW) has already begun related work at Frances Crane WMA to enhance and expand the quality of the grassland through tree clearing, invasive plant control, hedgerow removal and prescribed fire. To compliment this work, DFW is seeking proposals for the seeding of native warm season grasses in areas of mostly bare soil resulting from recent woodland clearing.
