If you’ve visited the Conservancy in the last year, you likely noticed the orange cones along the trail that connects the lower parking lot to the picnic area at the top of the hill. No, it’s not a drivers ed class gone awry! This particular stretch has been hard hit by erosion for quite some time, causing concern for the Friends.
This trail, known as the ‘Stone Fence Trail’, runs up and down the hill next to the stone fence. It was originally designed to visually highlight the stone fence from Old Sauk Road so that Conservancy visitors may experience history as they walk alongside its path. The iconic stone fence was built roughly between 1855 and 1870 by the land’s first settlers who used oxen to pull stones to their present location when they built it. Addressing the erosion occurring here is critical because the structural integrity of the beloved stone fence could be in jeopardy.
The Stone Fence Trail is perhaps the most traveled path in the Conservancy. It was built in 2005 and initially there weren’t any erosion problems. Eventually, however, erosion resulted due to a combination of factors: how the trail was maintained over the years, weather events, and simply the passage of time. As grass grew along the sides of the trail, water could not sheet off of it and began going down the trail instead. Over time, the occurrences of erosion became more frequent and severe.
In 2018, it became necessary to repair the upper portion of the trail adjacent to the upper parking lot. So far, it’s holding up well. However, the trail on the steepest part of hillside (pictured on next page) has remained a problem. Water has been running down it and right along the stone fence eroding soil under it.
Fortunately, FOPFC member Jim Bolitho, who also just happens to have been an engineer in another life, has long been interested in the Conservancy’s trails. He’s been particularly concerned about erosion problems along the Stone Fence trail for a while now. Recently he approached the Friends Board with ideas he has to mitigate the erosion for the longer term.
After some discussion, the Friends agreed to fund an erosion mitigation project for up to $2,500.00 with Jim overseeing the remedial work. This includes putting in some of his own sweat equity on the trail, working with a contractor on some of the more complex physical aspects of mitigation, and he is receiving assistance from the Town maintenance crew on preventing further erosion in the future. Jim presented the plan to the Town of Middleton in June and it has been approved.
As you can imagine, the pandemic has created many challenges to the Conservancy’s operations. Rethinking events, activities and expenditures has been necessary for the FOPFC and will continue into the foreseeable future. Further, the FOPFC recognizes that maintenance of the many parks, conservancies, and trails is a formidable task for the Town and even more so now. Because of our new reality, it has been possible for the FOPFC to offer funding, originally earmarked for other uses in 2020, to put towards the erosion mitigation project at this time. We are so pleased that we can create a win-win with Jim Bolitho and the Town of Middleton to address this problem to ensure the Stone Fence is well taken care of.
Kudos to Jim Bolitho for his concern, expertise, and effort in making a difference to Pope Farm Conservancy! A huge thank you to Jim is in order. If you see Jim out there working on fixing this problem, stop by, maintain your six feet and give him a big ‘Thank You!’