TURNER — Part of The Bear Pond Improvement Association’s mission is accepting applications from property owners who identify erosion problems on their land.
When a problem is identified by the property owner and an application has been received, committee members along with consultant, Jeff Stern of Fiddlehead Environmental Consulting, and the property owner view the site to make a full assessment.
A plan of action with needed materials and cost are put forward. Environmental Fund grants are based on severity, cost, labor and time constraints. Should the property owner choose to go forward, then the owner would agree to pay 50 percent of the cost. Some plans are required to be approved by the towns of Hartford and Turner’s Code Enforcement Officer, have permission from abutting land owners (if needed) and approval of the Department of Environmental Protection (if needed).
The project for property owned by Donna Clark was modest in nature and completed recently. It involved a water bar installation, a drip-line trench, timber rip rap, and a rain garden. Erosion control mulch and crushed stone were used to manage ground water runoff from entering the pond.
The efforts of the protection committee, BPIA volunteers and the Clark family are expected to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Bear Pond.
PHOTO: Donna Clark, family members and volunteer Joan Kelly tackle the water collection garden. Volunteers from the Bear Pond Improvement Association worked to complete an erosion control problem on Bear Pond. (Submitted photo)
