Grants And Volunteers To Help Repair

Eroding Banks Along Deep Brook

By Kendra Bobowick

Land Use Zoning Enforcement Officer George Benson looked at the shattered banks of Deep Brook running through Dickinson Park and said, “It needs help.”

Recent storms have ripped and lifted the grass along the banks and rolled them inland away from the stream like sheets of sod. Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited chapter President James Belden, who currently has several conservation projects ongoing along Deep Brook, offered another understatement about the state of the heavily torn and eroded river banks: “This is why grass isn’t good.”

Without the roots of more substantial shrubs and trees, a flowing river will cut away at the soil where the grass ends and the stream begins. Heavy storms in May, however, peeled the grass back as if rolling a comforter off a bed.

Accompanied by Parks and Recreation Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson and department employee John Moore, Mr Benson and Mr Belden walked the banks May 30 and quickly looked forward to a restoration project made possible through a host of funding sources. The US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) has awarded the Trout Unlimited chapter $121,000 for an entire Dickinson park restoration project, including an upcoming 2008 phase to resurface the tributary stream and replace a road culvert. The WHIP grant equals 75 percent of costs for major restoration work.

In addition, Mr Belden said that $38,000 worth of trees and plants will be used to fortify the banks along with other stabilizing work to prevent additional erosion. A grant of $15,000 has been received from the Iroquois Gas Company’s Land Enhancement and Acquisition Fund (LEAF). Adding to the money are local contributions from the Newtown Tree Project and matching town funds. Another boost in funding will come from the TU chapter.

The Parks and Recreation Department will make contributions of labor, and Holmes Fine Gardens will make available plantings at wholesale costs. Mr Belden is seeking volunteers for light labor and planting beginning June 18. Already volunteering is Roots for Newtown, which is a coalition of conservation groups. Volunteers are welcome to join the bank restoration efforts in the week beginning Monday, June 18, between 9 am and 4 pm. Work will focus on a large stretch of Deep Brook running from the tennis courts at Dickinson Park all the way past FunSpace and to Brushy Hill Road.

Mr Benson looks forward to the completed work.

“This will be a great project to revitalize [Deep Brook],” he said. “We need to stabilize where we can.” Residents wishing to volunteer can contact Mr Belden through the TU website at cvtu.org, and find links for volunteer opportunities and contact information.