Plans for Cross River Preserve underway
In a few short weeks, visitors to the Cross River Preserve will finally have easy, walkable access to the water. Courtesy of Boothbay Region Land Trust
In a few short weeks, visitors to the Cross River Preserve will finally have easy, walkable access to the water. Courtesy of Boothbay Region Land Trust
Now that the events of the summer and early fall are passed, those of us at Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) are turning our primary focus towards the improvements of the Cross River Preserve. The property was officially transferred from the town of Boothbay to the land trust in May of 2014.
As promised, BRLT is exploring how to make the property appropriately accessible to recreational and working waterfront users of the 19-acre preserve.
Though trail and kiosk construction, as well as parking lot upgrades, are guaranteed, where and how these things occur require careful consideration to ensure the best long-term use of this property.
This process must first begin with an environmental assessment.
Environmental consultant Lauren Stockwell has been walking the 19-acres to identify vernal pools, rare plant species or any other sensitive natural resources that require circumvention.
Once BRLT has the report in hand, Land Steward Michael Warren can move forward with constructing the trail he has already flagged out on the property.
Within just a few weeks, hikers will have a well-marked path down to the shoreline of the Cross River and local clammers will finally have walkable access to the river without slashing through dense brush to complete a day’s work.
Also in the next couple of weeks, longtime volunteer and newly elected Boothbay Region Land Trust President Jack Fulmer will be putting the finishing touches on the recognizable BRLT kiosk which he built.
The kiosk will be mounted at the trailhead and a new Cross River Preserve sign will be erected by Route 27. These initial developments will be made to the preserve in order to enhance public access as soon as possible, with parking lot improvements to follow.
The coming winter months will be used for further consideration and planning of future land use at Cross River.
The land trust will explore all opportunities this property may lend to the organization and the community. A management plan has already been created to ensure best practices of property maintenance.
It also will help to guide the future of this newest Boothbay Region Land Trust property, the Cross River Preserve.
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