HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Minutes 6/21/1993TOWN OF MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
50 West Street, Mansfield, MA 02045
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MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
AGENDA
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1993
7: C� CALL TO ORDER FOR WORK SESSION DISCUSSION RE CONSERVATION
LAND CARE, MAINTENANCE, ACQUISITION ISSUES
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1993 -- PAGE 1
Members Present: Chairman Cauldwell, Commissioners Cormier, Powers,
Sadowski, Weidner
TRAIL MAINTENANCE, CONSERVATION LAND CARE, ACQUISITION ISSUES
Comm. Cormier, chairman of trail maintenance subcommittee, raised
the issue of who will maintain the trails. Answers ranged from Boy
Scouts, to Adopt -a -Trail Program to AMC to committed town volunteers.
Comm. Powers feels willing volunteers are out there, provided that
leadership is available to coordinate efforts.
Commissioners agreed that currently existing trails should be
marked and cleaned up before new trails are cut. Discussion took
place about various routes which could be marked. Comm. Powers asked
whether National Lumber has cleaned up along the fence between its
property and the Maple Park area. Comm. Cormier will approach
National Lumber about the issue; Chairman Cauldwell will accompany
him. Comm. Powers suggested taking a letter requesting cleanup,
to be delivered on site. Comm. Sadowski raised the issue of having a
map behind plexiglass, or a bulletin board, including rules and
regulations, value of the area, etc.
MOTION: To mark trails, clean up trash, to improve existing
trails, and build new ones as commission sees fit,
beginning in the Maple Park conservation area, with
other areas to be addressed similarly and prioritized.
(Cormier - Sadowski.; all in favor) VOTED
Stephen Ouellette, who was present to discuss trail establishment
and maintenance issues, reminded the commission about a sign in the
Maple Park area forbidding access due to its being a watershed area.
This signage is inconsistent with passive recreation uses. Dick will
check on prohibition of access to Maple Park area.
Colin Cauldwell and Bill Madan were also present at this meeting.
Stephen Ouellette, who has worked with AMC and with the MDC,
brought to the commission's attention a resource book on building
trails, containing information about all aspects of trail maintenance,
tools, etc. (Rajala and Proudman - Trail Building and Maintenance,
2nd edition.
The issues for the commission, as he presented them, were as
follows:
1. Procuring the land.
2. Deciding on location of trails. There are issues of
cultural /historic considerations, avoiding certain sensitive areas,
protecting endangered species, topography, loop vs. destination
trails, etc. These issues are tied in with those of the purpose of the
trail: education, recreation (people^ bikes^ horses ?), etc.
3. Siqnage: basically line of sight, with color /shape coded
markings.
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1993 -- PAGE
4. Tools: power and ,hand tools; most useful. Chain and brush
saws. 0300 -400? Chain saw will be used for erosion structures, which
can be made of wood from the area (faster) or from stone. Shovel,
adze hoe (very important), picks, pry bars. Full bark off to
discourage insects and hence, rot. Rope carriers. There is a federal
tool matching grant program, administered by AMC, in which towns
pool resources to acquire tools; Mr. Ouellette will get,more
information:
5. Erosion control structures: (a) erosion step - log placed
perpendicular to the trail. Either wood or rock. Rock - has to be
quite large, set carefully about 3t4 into the ground (more time -
consuming) ,(b) water bar: to divert water off the trail, at a rate
(35 -45 degree angle) which will not create additional erosion off the
trail. Functions as" velocity, reducer. Doesn't take much more than a
10% slope to create a problem.
6. Maintenance: Trails that don't get a lot of use are
maintenance problems because they get narrower and narrower,
Advantages: Trails help in fire control. (Compacted soil slows
fire.)
Drawbacks: In inviting people into area, may get "undesirables_.
Additional considerations: Whether to ban smoking; whether to
allow: mountain bikes, dirt bikes, horses. Dirt bikes will destroy
trail,.according to Mr. Ouellette. Horses do more damage than a
mountain bike though mountain bikes have the potential to create
gullies. Hence, the need to plan and manage for a certain amount of
damage,- i.e., plan for maintenance.
Mr. Ouellette stressed that such maintenance will primarily rest
on one or two people to round up volunteers and see that the job gets
done. Vegetation must be cleared on an annual basis until the trail
is used and known. A new trail will grow over in a couple of years if
not used; an established trail will grow over in 5 -10 years. In this
area, Appalachian.Mountain Club will commit to day projects, if they
can be scheduled.
Other sources of volunteers: Y.M.C.A. Lions' Club. High school
students. Effective yearly maintenance will rest with committed
townspeople. He suggested setting aside a regular day every year,
such as National Trails Day (usually first weekend in June). If uses
of conservation land are to be positive, the educational component is
essential.
Comm. Cormier proposes to mark the trails in Maple Park, with
blue dots for loop trails and white for destination trails. The
process will begin at 9:00 Sunday morning. A map will be. made to show
how the trail goes.
Chairman Cauldwell thanked Steve Ouellette for.his presentation
and Commissioner Cormier for heading up the project.
Colin Caudwell volunteered to create a sponge marker with handle
for painting the blue and white dots. /
MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1993 -- PAGE 3
NEW BUSINESS:
- -ZBA meeting Tuesday night: area at end of Judy's Lane has rip
rap already in place from an old bridge structure, if the commission
wishes to cross in this area. One of the next areas to look at.
-- Identifying access road near Vickery project: Dick will be
meeting with Ralph to get information an that project. Larry doesn't
see a problem with using existing monies for surveying. Bounds should
be put in. Send letter to F.B. apprising them of the easement
situation.
MOTION: To send such letter as soon as Dick has gathered info.
(Powers - Cormier; all in favor) VOTED
The meeting adjourned at 9:30.
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