WORK PARTY - Killingly, 10/25/09, 1 p.m.
Killingly Conservation Commission members are conducting a work party to develop a trail connecting existing trails on the Sherman Memorial Forest and the adjacent 72-acre plot that is owned by the Town of Killingly. Volunteers are needed to help with this endeavor.
The Town of Killingly tract is now protected open space as it has a conservation easement. When the trail system is finished, there will be about 160 acres of forest open to the public. There will be about 5 or 6 KCC members attending this work party. We hope you can join us. Please send a reminder notice to all in the WDLT whom you believe might be interested in joining us. The weather will be good. The trail development will involve about 800 to 1000 feet of bushwhacking. Bring loppers, saws, gloves, tick spray, compass and a whistle. We will have the same equipment plus a GPS, a good topographic map and a small chain saw.
Directions:From Exit 93 of I-395 or the intersection of Route 101 and I-395, go east on Route 101 one mile. Turn left on Breakneck Hill Road. The SMF ROW is about ¾ mile up Breakneck Hill Road and on the left. We will meet at the SMF 50’ ROW on Breakneck Hill Road at 1 pm. Considering the limited parking, you can park in my yard at 20 Old Breakneck Hill Road. This is about 1/3 mile from the SMF ROW. Craig Goff's phone number is 860 774 5444.
VERNAL POOL INVENTORIES IN THE TOWNS OF CANTERBURY, POMFRET AND WOODSTOCK
See more information: Volunteer to Search for Vernal Pools
WHERE TO BUY CONIFER SEEDLINGS
The State Nursery is closed until further notice. The Eastern CT Soil & Water Conservation District has a seedling sale every year and their order forms are out now (02/07). Contact Scott Gravatt at (860) 774-0224 for more info. You can buy conifer seedlings in multiples of 25 or 50, as well a lots of other landscape plants, etc. Proceeds go to further their conservation programs.
CT TREES AND FOREST CORN MAZE
For a truly fun and educational experience this fall, Steve Broderick of UCONN recommends checking out Chris Kueffner’s Connecticut Trees and Forests corn maze on Merrow Road in Mansfield (http://merrowmaze.com/). Folks of all ages will learn and enjoy.
MAPS OF WOLF DEN LAND TRUST PROPERTIES AVAILABLE ONLINE
Maps that you can click on or download are now available online for the Gardner, Sherman and Shoemaker Properties. These three properties and several others have a trail system, and are open to the public for passive recreation such as birding and day hiking. No motorized vehicles are allowed.
INVASIVE PLANT GUIDE AVAILABLE
The U.S. Forest Service State & Private Forestry Division has just published a new, weather-resistant, color illustrated, pocket-sized “Invasive Plants Field and Reference Guide: an ecological perspective of plant invaders of forests and woodlands.” To quote the introduction, “the purpose of this particular field guide is to give a scientific synthesis of what is known about the behavior of such species in managed, disturbed, and pristine forested systems, in addition to key information for accurate identification.” The guide includes an extensive list of citations of peer-reviewed research on each species for those who wish to learn more. The pages are bound in a steel-ring loose leaf format, and the Forest Service anticipates printing additional sheets that can be added to the guide. Single copies can be obtained by contacting Tom Rawinski at the U.S. Forest Service Durham New Hampshire office: (603)868-7642 or trawinski@fs.fed.us
ECFLA DONATES BLUEBIRD BOXES TO TRAIL DEDICATED TO ROBERT V. SMITH
A bluebird trail set up at the closed Woodstock Landfill includes boxes donated by ECFLA/WDLT. The trail is dedicated to Robert Smith, who built thousands of bluebirds boxes for ECFLA. See the article in our next newsletter.
BLUEBIRD BOXES
Steve Laume, a master woodworker in Chaplin, is volunteering
to make bluebird nestboxes for sale at fairs ($8.00, including an educational brochure).
DEER MANAGEMENT GUIDE PUBLISHED
Cornell Cooperative Extension has a new publication to help communities address deer management problems: Community-Based Deer Management: A Practitioner’s Guide <http://cce.cornell.edu/store/customer/home.php>, by Daniel J. Decker, Daniela B. Raik, William F. Siemer. This guide synthesizes a growing body of research and field experience to describe specific key dimensions to consider when engaging in community-based deer management.
You can obtain a copy at the secure online bookstore: www.cce.cornell.edu/store, or call (607-255-2080) or fax (607-255-9946) your order with a valid credit card, or mail a check for $19.95 (includes shipping) to The Resource Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 3884, Ithaca, NY 17852-3884. Make your check payable to Cornell University. See list of other publications useful to forest landowners.
SUDDEN
OAK DEATH ADVISORY
Researchers and foresters are concerned that Sudden
Oak Death has the potential to have a catastrophic impact similar
to that of Dutch Elm Disease or Chestnut Blight. Sudden Oak Death
has never been found in the wild in the eastern United States.
To date, it has been found only on nursery stock in nurseries. The CT Agricultural Experiment Station has now confirmed that Sudden Oak Death has been imported into Connecticut on infected nursery stock, which was then sold and planted in the environment. For more information see a DEP Forestry advisory at http://ecfla.org/sod.htm.
LAW HELPS LANDOWNERS WITH ATV AND SNOWMOBILE
PROBLEMS
Public Act 03-276 requires that operators of
snowmobiles or all terrain vehicles, when operating such
a vehicle on any lands, fenced and/or posted or otherwise,
obtain written permission and carry such permission on
their person while operating such vehicles on such properties.
(Effective date: 7/1/03.) "NO ATV" signs will be available for sale at the ECFLA/WDLT booths at the 2004 Brooklyn and Woodstock Fairs, for $4 each, or 3 for $10 while supplies last. For more info, click here. Also see Dennis Hodgin's article: Connecticut's Worst Invasive Species - ATVs.
Photo by Cherie Layton, The BluebirdNut |
