Summer is busy at WLCT, as the growing season overlaps with summer projects, seasonal interns and volunteers. This summer we also welcomed a permanent, part-time Stewardship Assistant, Alec Mauk. Alec was an intern in 2025 and brings with him a background in coastal birds and their habitats, as well as a curiousity about the world around him.

Snell Creek Berries and Bridges

This spring, Trail Team volunteers planted 800 raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry plants, along with 12 pear trees on the ag field at Snell Creek Conservation Area. In spite of high heat early in the summer and long periods without rain, the plants are thriving.

The Trail Team carpentry crew were busy at Snell Creek, building a 40′ raised bridge to span the tributary that gives the Conservation Area its name. Built on granite blocks, the bridge is designed to safeguard fragile wetland habitat. It also keeps visitors out of the high water.

More Bridges!

Water flows across Westport and is a common feature on many of our properties. Trail Team and staff worked on the Westport Woods expansion, in preparation of opening this long loop in 2027. One of the challenges of this property is the (surprisingly deep) seasonal stream that crosses our trail. In between rain storms, the Trail Team carpenters pulled on tall boots and laid bog bridging.

Land conservation and Technology

Effective conservation depends on understanding the land and knowing how to communicate that knowledge efficiently. WLCT uses a variety of tools, including GIS-based technology that helps Stewardship track conservation values on properties over time and enables sharing of information. Early in the summer, the volunteers who make up the Stewardship Committee got hands-on training in using the technology WLCT uses to monitor Conservation Restrictions.