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Mary's Wall Vegetation Removal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Mary's Wall Vegetation Removal » Document List
The National Park Service plans to remove vegetation from the area known as Mary's Wall, mile 13.85 of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The work will be undertaken in two phases. The first phase, during the summer of 2007, will address the high wall portion of Mary's Wall. Phase two, during 2008, will address remaining portions of the wall. This compliance review will evaluate both of the planned phases. The encroaching vegetation has grown between the stone of this historic stone masonry wall, causing the lifting and movement of the stones and the degradation of the structural integrity. Work will be in compliance with NPS 28 "Cultural Resources Management."
Mary's Wall is a historic stone wall built to retain the earthwork of the canal along a bend in the Potomac River. Its structural integrity is paramount to the preservation and safety of the canal structure at that location. The work area is approximately 900 linear feet. The height of the wall varies with the terrain. In addition to compliance with NPS-28, all work will be in compliance with current arboricultural standards, federal and state safety standards, and National Park Service standards for natural resources and chemical applications. All work will have oversight of a certified arborist.
There are approximately 65 trees of 6 inch diameter or greater that will be removed under this project. Of these, approximately 30 trees are at the 6 inches in diameter range and 30 are larger than 6 inches. The vegetation will be cut back to stump level. The stumps will need to remain as removal of the root systems will cause additional damage to the masonry structure. The stumps are to be treated with an herbicide that will halt growth yet is safe to use near water. All herbicides will have pre approval from park's natural resource project manager. All tree components, to be cut and removed, will be lifted to towpath. The cuttings will be processed through a chipper and hauled from park property. Work will be undertaken by a National Capital Region contract. Herbicide application will be performed by a licensed applicator.
The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.4 – Routine maintenance and repairs to cultural resources sites, structures, utilities, and grounds if the action falls under an approved Historic Structures Preservation Guide or Cyclic Maintenance Guide, or if the action would not adversely affect the cultural resource.
The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Exclusions #IV.B 1 – preservation maintenance (housekeeping, routine and cyclic maintenance, and stabilization) as defined in DO-28.
Mary's Wall is a historic stone wall built to retain the earthwork of the canal along a bend in the Potomac River. Its structural integrity is paramount to the preservation and safety of the canal structure at that location. The work area is approximately 900 linear feet. The height of the wall varies with the terrain. In addition to compliance with NPS-28, all work will be in compliance with current arboricultural standards, federal and state safety standards, and National Park Service standards for natural resources and chemical applications. All work will have oversight of a certified arborist.
There are approximately 65 trees of 6 inch diameter or greater that will be removed under this project. Of these, approximately 30 trees are at the 6 inches in diameter range and 30 are larger than 6 inches. The vegetation will be cut back to stump level. The stumps will need to remain as removal of the root systems will cause additional damage to the masonry structure. The stumps are to be treated with an herbicide that will halt growth yet is safe to use near water. All herbicides will have pre approval from park's natural resource project manager. All tree components, to be cut and removed, will be lifted to towpath. The cuttings will be processed through a chipper and hauled from park property. Work will be undertaken by a National Capital Region contract. Herbicide application will be performed by a licensed applicator.
The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.4 – Routine maintenance and repairs to cultural resources sites, structures, utilities, and grounds if the action falls under an approved Historic Structures Preservation Guide or Cyclic Maintenance Guide, or if the action would not adversely affect the cultural resource.
The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Exclusions #IV.B 1 – preservation maintenance (housekeeping, routine and cyclic maintenance, and stabilization) as defined in DO-28.