Damaged Trails Slated for Repairs

A hiking trail at the Rounseville II Preserve located off Mary’s Pond Road that was damaged by illegal ATV use will be enhanced with a series of bog bridges that will stretch across some of the affected areas, making them passable again by foot.

Eric Boyer of the Wildlands Trust, Inc., custodians of the preserve, told the Rochester Conservation Commission on March 15 that even though there were always some damp areas scattered throughout the trail areas, at one point it was at least possible to “hop island to island” to traverse the trail through muddy sections. But now, ATV wheels have exacerbated those areas and water has begun to pool.

“The ground is all ripped up … maybe a couple inches deep and water is collecting in there,” said Boyer. “I’m looking to remedy that.”

The Wildlands Trust filed a Request for Determination of Applicability with the Conservation Commission to install a series of simple foot bridges called bog bridges that are constructed of wooden planks.

Each bridge will consist of 4 inch x 4 inch x 8 foot legs and a 2 inch x 8 inch x 8 foot top. One section will have two such bog bridges attached side by side for wider access. The damaged stretch where the bog bridges will be placed is an un-continuous 150-foot section. All materials will be hand-carried in.

“They can easily be adjusted or moved,” said Boyer. “It’s not like a boardwalk.”

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said it would do more harm to leave the land as it is and allow people to continue to walk through the muddy areas, worsening it further over time.

The commission issued a Negative determination, meaning the project will not adversely affect the resource area and no Notice of Intent is required.

Farinon said illegal ATV use on Rochester trails is an ongoing problem, especially at the Doggett’s Brook property. She said ATV use on protected lands is a regional problem, as well as a local one.

Also during the meeting, the commission granted a Negative determination for Clean Energy Collective’s RDA for the trimming of tree branches and the removal of some trees along Perry’s Lane as the project to construct a solar farm on adjacent land in the Town of Marion begins.

The Fire Department requested enhancing the access road for emergency vehicles and Tree Warden Jeffrey Eldrige pre-marked the limbs and trees to be removed.

The commission’s only concern was swift removal of any cut trees and limbs, placing a condition that none of the materials will be stored or thrown into the surrounding wetlands.

Before adjourning, the commission addressed some concerns over a recently constructed boat ramp access enhancement, which was also intended for erosion control, a project of a local Eagle Scout. Some residents have complained about the aesthetics of the paved way that slopes to Mary’s Pond for handicap accessibility to the water and boat launching.

Farinon told the commission that the work done was the plan that the commission approved, but the site will be monitored for erosion and possibly enhanced.

“It’s a subjective thing,” said Farinon. “Some people look at bank stabilization projects and don’t like them because it doesn’t look as natural.”

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for April 5 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

 

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