2017 CPA Annual Report - #100REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
REHABILITATION OF A PORTION OF THE
BEAVER BROOK GREENWAY (CONTRACT 270-17)
DECEMBER 2017
Goals: The objective of this project is to convert a disused and neglected tract of land within the
Beaver Brook Greenway, important both for its history and its wildlife habitat, into an area that
can be enjoyed by the citizens of Northampton. The project, a collaboration between the Leeds
Civic Association and the Broad Brook Coalition, will focus on the 6-acre tract between
Haydenville Road and the Beaver Brook that was once part of a farm. Our plans include
arranging for visitor parking at the City's Corrosion Control Facility, construction of an
informational kiosk at the entrance to the area, installation of picnic tables and interpretive
signboards describing the cultural and natural history of the site, establishment of low-impact
trails to provide access to the project site, construction of a wildlife viewing blind near the
Beaver Brook, clearing the area of woody shrubs and other debris, and the control of invasive,
non-native plants.
Background: The City of Northampton acquired the Beaver Brook Greenway in 2010, but no
organization stepped forward to take responsibility for its upkeep and management at the time.
In 2015, an ad hoc group of LCA and BBC members met on several occasions to evaluate the
potential for turning the tract between Haydenville Road and Beaver Brook into an attractive and
interesting site for visitors which, coincidentally, is located at the northern Gateway to the City.
There remain vestiges of the Starkus farm which occupied the property in the past, including the
foundations of two houses and several outbuildings, as well as a few pieces of old farm
equipment. Vegetation is diverse, including a number of mature sugar maple, black walnut and
black locust trees, several giant yews, a variety of native shrubs, beds of garden flowers planted
by the former residents, and a heavy burden of invasive plants.
Parking: Agreement was reached with Water Department Superintendent Andrew Dunn to
allow visitors to the conservation area to park at the Corrosion Control Facility on Haydenville
Road. There will be spaces for 4-5 cars on the south side of the lot.
Kiosk: A kiosk for posting information about the conservation area was installed on the north
side of the Corrosion Control Facility lot (Figs. 1-6). The kiosk was made by the Wood Shop at
the Hampshire County Jail over the past summer according to a design that has been used at
several other Northampton conservation areas. The sections were transported to the site and
assembled by a crew from the Beaver Brook Working Group* in October. After digging holes for
the main support posts, the posts were set in position, the roof was attached to the main frame
and the entire structure was lifted into place by a volunteer crew with the aid of a block-and-
tackle attached to a nearby tree. The frame was then bolted to the support posts to finish the job.
The kiosk marks the main entrance to the conservation area, which is reached by a short,
recently cleared trail.
Wildlife Blind: In constructing a wildlife-viewing blind on the Beaver Brook, we decided to use
lumber from trees on the site and to build it as a timber-framed structure. Accordingly, a number
of black locust, black walnut and cherry trees were felled by Tom Jenkins of Blue Dog Forestry
in April and hauled by his oxen to a landing near Haydenville Road (Figs. 7-9). In August, the
trees were sawn to lumber by timber-framer Neil Godden using a portable sawmill (Figs. 10-12)
and later transported to his shop for precise milling into the members needed for construction of
the blind. The milled lumber was brought back to the site in October, and the blind was
assembled by a volunteer crew (Figs. 13-18). The base of the structure consisted of a 8'x12'
rectangular sill of 7"x7" beams that was set on stone plinths; no in-ground foundation was
necessary. The frame for the front of the blind was lifted into place with the aid of crane
provided by Underground Supply, Inc., the rest of the structure was then fitted and pegged
together, and the rafters and roof boards put in place. Over the next couple of weeks, the
flooring was installed and the roof completed with steel sheeting. The next steps will be
sheathing the blind and installing steps, which should be completed in early spring 2018.
Trails: Trails have been laid out and some sections were mowed in spring 2017. Shrubs,
saplings and fallen tree limbs remain to cleared from other sections. We will organize teams of
volunteers to carry out this work once the wildlife blind is completed. We expect that we can
keep the trails open in the future using a string trimmer, lawnmower and hand clippers. We will
also make an effort to restore some of the flower beds that once adorned the Starkus farm.
Picnic Tables: Two picnic tables with attached benches will be placed in the central, wooded
section of the conservation area for those who wish to enjoy a leisurely snack or lunch during
their visit. The Hampshire County Jail has agreed to make the tables for us in spring 2018. Our
only cost will be for the lumber and hardware to be used in their construction.
Interpretive Panels: We plan to put up two laminated, weather-resistant panels describing the
cultural and natural history of the old Starkus farm and its surroundings. Smaller panels will
mark the old sawmill at the site as well as a horse-drawn hay tedder which is now located in the
woods at the south end of the tract and will be reachable by one of the new trails we are
planning to clear in the coming year. We hope to complete design work on the panels by
summer. They will then be printed and laminated by Fossil Industries and put in place in late
summer or fall.
Clearing and Invasive Plant Control: We are presently discussing the best approach to
controlling the growth of grass, small shrubs and other vegetation from the more open areas of
the site, and cutting up or shredding woody debris under the trees. Initially, we will likely brush
hog the northern and southern ends of the area and hire a landscaper or arborist to chip limbs
and slash in the wooded portions. This work will be done before the end of April or, failing that,
in November in order to avoid interfering with use of the area by wood turtles in the spring and
summer months. We have not yet decided on a detailed plan for invasive plant control.
Goals for 2018:
1. The wildlife blind will be completed by adding sheathing and steps in early spring 2018.
2. Trails will be cleared and mowed to a width of six feet; flower beds will be cleaned up.
3. Two picnic tables with attached benches will be constructed by the Wood Shop at the
Hampshire County Jail.
4. Interpretive panels will be designed and sent to Fossil Industries for printing and laminating;
installation is targeted for late summer or fall.
5. The southern and northern ends of the site will be brush-hogged, and woody debris in the
central section will be chipped or shredded, in spring or fall 2018.
6. A plan will be developed for the control of invasive plants.
Expenditures in 2017:
Budgeted Expended
Construction and Installation of Kiosk
Lumber $ 523 $ 973.78
Hardware 206 64.34
Transportation from Jail to site 0 100.00
Subtotal 729 1,138.12
Construction of Wildlife Blind
Lumber 1,640 554.50
Fell and haul trees 0 520.00
Diamond piers 1,600 0.00
Hardware and supplies 500 123.27
Roofing 300 0.00
Labor: saw and mill timbers, design 4,000 4,570.00
and construct blind
Subtotal 8,040 5,767.77
Total: $ 8,769 $ 6,905.89
2016-2018 Budget Summary: Initial Award $16,947.00
Expended in 2017 6,905.89
Balance, 12/31/17 $10,041.11
Value of volunteer time contributed to project in 2017: $3,227
(108 hours @ $29.88 for Massachusetts in 2016 according to Independent Sector; value of
volunteer labor for 2017 not yet available.)
In addition, we acknowledge with appreciation the following for the contribution of time and
materials for construction of the blind: Gary Warner for donating stone plinths; Tom Hathaway
for supplying gravel; Skip Goodridge for providing crane services; Bob Marvel for planing the
floorboards; R.K. Miles for donating roofing materials; and Jack Morse for installing the roof.
;
Robert A. Zimmermann
for the Beaver Brook Working Group
*Members if the Beaver Brook Working Group: Peter Flinker, Bruce Hart, Deb Jacobs, Jason
Johnson, David Pritchard, Laurie Sanders, Heidi Stevens, Matt Verson and Bob Zimmermann
Figure 1
The kiosk arrives on site
Figure 2
Unloading the kiosk
Figure 3
Matt prepares to saw off top of post
Figure 4
Peter sets screw in roof
Figure 5
Kiosk ready to lift in place
Figure 6
Kiosk in place
Figure 7
Tom fells a cherry tree to be used for blind Figure 8
Tom and his team haul log to landing
Figure 9
Tom with felled tree trunks at landing
Figure 10
Neil operates his portable saw mill
Figure 11
Neil, Jason and Matt position log
Figure 12
Neil checks the cut
Figure 13
Bruce and John position stone plinth
Figure 14
Main frame lying on rectangular sill
Figure 15
Crew sets rear post on sill
Figure 16
Fitting beam to front and rear of blind
Figure 18
That's all for now
Figure 17
Neil nails roof boards to rafters