Mapping and Monitoring
Cape Cod: Land Cover and Ecology
Landcover Acquisition
What lands should be purchased to accommodate not only our current needs (recreation and water protection) but also our needs in a future that promises to have both a larger resident population and an increased tourist and seasonal population as well? How should communities decide which lands to buy? What are the priorities for purchases? How do we weigh the relative values of the lands that are available? Are there situations in which we must consider the application of eminent domain?
The Town of Falmouth currently looks at 16 characteristics for determining land acquisition priorities. These include water supply, recreation potential, agricultural uses, wild life habitat, scenic value, unique historic value, and development potential. As of the spring of 1999 this database includes about 200 parcels being given consideration. The map below shows priorities with a particular emphasis on suitability for water supply development.
Maps such as the one above were made as part of the Priority Land Acquisition and Assessment Project, which attempts to assess, on a regional basis, suitable property 'tracts' for their potential to supply drinking water. Tract prioritization, based upon specific natural resource and environmental hazard criteria, was conducted cooperatively with the Cape Cod Commission and with each of the eleven municipalities involved with the project. The Cape Cod Commission geographic information systems department generated the tract data layers from a variety of data sources. A complete list of these sources is currently available at the Commission's offices.
