As part of Yankee’s decommissioning efforts, Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. conducted a comprehensive natural resource assessment of the property to inform and aid Yankee Atomic Electric Company’s future resource management plans and activities. To achieve this goal, Woodlot conducted an initial landscape analysis followed by field investigations to document natural community characteristics, wildlife assemblages, and forest resources on the property. Following assessment activities, Woodlot developed a Natural Resources Inventory and Management Plan to delineate the ecological resources associated with the entire site, and give recommendation for their future stewardship. A final report was submitted in April 2004 and copies of this document are available on Yankee’s site closure website as well as in the Information Repository.

The site’s environmental framework harbors natural features of interested that are characterized in the Plan. The industrial portion of the Yankee Rowe site - about 12 acres - lies on the eastern shore of the Deerfield River. It is adjacent to Sherman Dam, one of several hydroelectric dams on the Deerfield River. The dam forms Sherman Reservoir, which is about two miles long, one-quarter of a mile wide and up to 75 feet in depth. Near the plant, the surrounding hills rise more than 1,000 feet above the river, creating a deep, narrow valley about two miles long. This topography, a product of alpine-type glacial erosion, is unique to this area of Massachusetts.

Since publication of Revision 3.0 of the SCPP, Yankee Atomic discovered the presence of a small population of pale green orchid (Platanthera flava var herbiola) on TransCanada property. The pale green orchid is considered to be a threatened plant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The area of the plant population was flagged to prevent any decommission-related work in the area. In addition, meetings were held with TransCanada staff members who reported that no work is anticipated in the vicinity of the plants. Field forms documenting the presence of the plant have been forwarded to the Natural Heritage Program. No further action is anticipated concerning the presence of this species at the site.

Unique findings from the resource inventory include:

• 6 natural communities identified
• 210 total wildlife species that typically use the property
• Rare species known to occur on the property include bald eagles, bristly black currant, a small woodland shrub, the spring salamander, and the pale green orchid.