News from the Conservation and Historic Preservation Commission

The Eastford Conservation and Historic Preservation Commission (ECHPC) is a small but energetic group of people in town dedicated to conserving our natural resources and promoting and preserving the historic character of Eastford and surrounding communities.

Some examples of our activities:

This spring, we cleared the Boston Turnpike Trail and made repairs to the footbridge off Crams Road. More recently, we cleared the George Askew Trail behind Eastford Elementary School, which included trail maintenance, invasive plant control and shoring up of the foot bridge near the mill pond. The bridge is in need of replacing and we will be working towards that in the upcoming year.

Also this year, working with the town, we prepared a management plan for the capped landfill at the Transfer Station, which includes a mowing schedule and invasive plant control to promote native plants and enhance wildlife habitat. Similarly, the pollinator garden near the Town Office Building is being maintained and we will work with teachers and students at EES to promote pollinators and native plants.

Another significant achievement this year was mapping the historic stone walls in town. Working with Ethan Berriault, a local cartographer and “GIS whiz,” we were able to complete a pilot study started by UConn to map historic stone walls in Connecticut. Did you know there are over 240 miles of stone walls in Eastford? This project is a continuation of work started by author and UConn Professor Robert Thorson, who spoke last year at EES. The completed maps will be printed and added to the GIS land use coverage found at the Town Office Building and Eastford Public Library.

The Commission also works to preserve open space in town. To that end, and working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we were able to preserve in perpetuity some beautiful farmland at the north end of town.

Finally, several members have gotten involved in the Natchaug Healthy Watershed Protection Plan. This 2-year project is funded through an US EPA Clean Water Act Sec. 319 NPS grant in partnership with the CT DEEP and is being administered through the Eastern CT Conservation District (ECCD). It includes the eight towns that are included in the Natchaug River Watershed. There are a number of work groups that will report to an Advisory Group and will work to promote and educate the public on best management practices for activities that happen in the watershed (which is about everything). Work group topics include everything from sound forest management practices, to pollinator and rain gardens, to healthy farming practices, to municipal and residential stormwater and wastewater treatment.

To find out more, please contact the ECCD District Conservationist Maura Robie at maura.robie@comcast.net. We encourage you to come to one of our monthly meetings, held the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Town Office Building (unless otherwise posted).

This past spring, members of the Eastford Conservation and Historic Preservation Commission worked to clear the George Askew Trail behind Eastford Elementary School, which included trail maintenance, invasive plant control and shoring up of the foot bridge near the mill pond.

Courtesy photos