At WLCT we build a lot of bridges. This fall we’re installing two new crossings over Angeline Brook at the Herb Hadfield Conservation Area.
If you’ve taken a walk at Herb Hadfield after a rainstorm, you’ll know that the old bridges were inundated and over washed with every storm. New bridges are designed to sit above the flood zone, extending their usability while also preserving the delicate ecosystems along the streambed.
Over the last several weeks, a team of Trail Team volunteers have been building the first of the two bridges. Long before the footings were set, this has been a community project:
- WLCT worked with the Town Conservation Commission to ensure our new bridges would be in compliance with local and state wetland regulations.
- A Trail Team volunteer who is a retired engineer designed a bridge we could use for both crossings.
- Chris Fortier, of Serious Business, was contracted to place the granite footings.
- The bridges are built with lumber from Gurney’s in Acushnet. We used non-pressure treated lumber to lessen the impact on the wetland habitat.
More bridge Building
Even when we are not building physical bridges, WLCT is reaching out to the community of Westport and the SouthCoast at large.
Education: By collaborating with local schools and homeschool groups, we are building bridges to younger generations. Land preserved in perpetuity will need stewards to care for it in the years to come!
Public Programming: Our free programming for adults and families helps strengthen the connection to our work and how it impacts our community.
Land Stewardship: By building actual bridges, we help create safer access for visitors while conserving the wetland habitat by decreasing foot traffic.
Internships: Each year we build bridges to our young adults through our internship program. Internships provide high school and college-age students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field.
Community Conversations: Town and other non-profits reach out to WLCT staff to better understand land preservation and usage, deepening community understanding of conservation.