French River Park Opening Day Receives Funding

Funding for the opening of French River Park, now scheduled for August 20, has been received from two sources. The Janet Malser Humanities Trust has fully funded a request for $600 to support the musical portion of the day. The Webster Lake Association has donated $100 to help defray other costs of the event. We thank these and all our donors for their interest and generosity.

French River Park Opening Day will feature music by the Yankee Dogs and the Pulaski Brass Band, balloon twisting by Bella the Clown, a duck race (river flow permitting), moonwalk, children's activities by the Webster-Dudley Boys and Girls Club, informational displays by the USACE and Turtle Rescue League, and food vendors.

Earth Day 2011

The French River Connection celebrated Earth Day by cleaning up the river along Chase Avenue in Dudley. Thanks to the efforts of Judy Perrault, John Dignam, Mike Branniff, Charles Perzanoski, Kathy DiVeglia, Darin Bazinet, Jack Josti, Ken Butkiewicz, Ed Bazinet, and Ken Parker, forty bags of trash were collected, along with tires, a shopping cart, luggage, and other items which were taken to the Dudley highway barn. Items collected earlier in the week from Oxford Avenue and Lower Perryville Road were also taken in. The Webster side of the river was also cleaned earlier in the week, with the collected trash taken in by the Webster Department of Public Works.

The Chase Avenue area, located just downstream of downtown and featuring several small channels, remains a common collection point for floating trash, and its proximity to the bridge means dumping occurs there.

French River Paddle Scheduled May 21

The French River Connection will host a paddle on the French River on Saturday May 21, 2011. This leisurely paddle will begin at Agguteback Pond just below Hodges Village Dam on Howarth Road in Oxford and end at North Village in Webster, a distance of about 4 miles. Paddlers will enjoy an easy flowing river that meanders through marshlands and woodlands. There should be opportunities to see some of the wildlife that inhabit the French River, including turtles, great blue heron, geese, ducks, and beavers.

This trip is suitable for paddlers with moving water experience. PFDs are absolutely required and must be worn. There is no charge for this trip.

To register, email trip leader Jay Wade or call 860-928-5599 (work) or 508-461-9813 (home). The number of registrations accepted, and the ability of paddlers to participate, is at the discretion of the trip leader.

Meet at 9:00 AM at Hodges Village; bring your lunch and clothing appropriate for the weather. We will shuttle cars down to the takeout starting at 9:30

The paddle is listed on the French River Connection web site at http://www.frenchriverconnection.org

Here is a map

You may refer to our Shoreline Survey sections 2 though 6 to see where we’ll be paddling.

Perryville Trace Walk Scheduled May 21

The French River Connection will host a short walk on the Perryville Trace at 10 AM on Saturday May 21, 2011. A second walk is scheduled August 13. The Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism lists the Perryville Trace as one of “a thousand great places” in Massachusetts. The purpose of the walk is to familiarize the community with this resource.

The walk is one-mile round trip and follows the French River upstream from Perryville. There is some uneven terrain due to tree roots and the path is inappropriate for wheelchairs or those who have difficulty with balance. This slow paced walk through the woods will take about 45 minutes.

Meet at 10 AM at the entrance to the path located just over the railroad tracks on the Webster side of Perryville Road (at the bridge construction). Parking is available along Perryville Road and Brookside Avenue. Don’t be deterred by road closure or detour signs. There is no access from the Dudley side.

The walk is listed on the French River Connection web site at http://www.frenchriverconnection.org or you may call 508-943-2698 for information

Here is a map

2011 Water Quality Monitoring Campaign Begins

On April 2, our 2011 water quality monitoring campaign began, with the opening honors performed by two members of the Shepherd Hill Environment Club, and their adviser Judy Nawrocki. This year we're doing the same locations as we have for several years, but we are performing the work under a quality plan developed by The Last Green Valley for all users of their equipment. The main differences that volunteers from previous seasons will notice is that we record data on a more consolidated form, and the TROLL is transported from station to station in a bucket of water.

One down, seven to go.

Annual Meeting Set for April 13

The French River Connection will hold its Annual Meeting Wednesday April 13 at 7pm at the Black Tavern on Center Road in Dudley. The public is invited. The featured speaker will be Tom Ryzewski who will give a presentation on “Wildlife of the French River”. Now retired, Mr. Ryzewski taught advanced placement Biology at Bartlett High School for many years. New members joining at the meeting may do so for $10, half the annual membership fee, and receive a beautiful French River screensaver. Refreshments will be served. For information contact Ken Parker at (508) 943-2698

Agenda

7:00 Call to Order----------Ken Parker

7:05 Minutes of February Meeting------------Elaine Parker

7:10 First Quarter Financial Report-----------Sheila Veideman

7:15 Looking Ahead in 2011--------Ken Parker

7:30 Volunteer Opportunities----------Ken Parker

7:45 Presentation: Wildlife of the French River---------Tom Ryzewski

8:15 Election of Directors to terms expiring in 2014

8:30 Other Business

8:45 Adjourn for refreshments

Perryville Trace Stormwater Control Gets a Severe Test

Since it was opened in 2008, the Perryville Trace has been subjected to flooding along about 50 yards of its length by stormwater from Brookside Avenue. The runoff has created a nearly level sandy plain in the woods between the Trace and the railroad. New runoff spreads out over this area and onto the Trace at several locations. Last spring, we located the lowest of those locations and placed pipe under the Trace to direct the outflow to the river. The rain and snowmelt of the week of March 6 put our handiwork to the test. What we found was that every stick on the flat plain quickly collected a glob of wet leaves, creating small dams which directed flow away from the most natural path to our pipes. The solution was to rake out the route we wanted the water to take and turn the dams into levees. This went a long way toward getting all the water to the pipe. Perhaps it means there will need to be a maintenance task performed every fall to clear the way. Stormwater flows from Brookside Avenue for days after the rain stops. Even if the pipes don't keep the Trace dry during the heaviest rain and snowmelt, they at least give it a chance to dry soon afterward by carrying away the continual flow.

Another challenge for the Trace has been the narrow causeway between the river and a pool that forms every winter. Typically this is flooded by one or both at some time during the spring. Last year, it became something of a quagmire. Trail users put small logs across it, which seemed as likely to break an ankle as to keep one's feet dry. Last year, students from Shepherd Hill High School built up the causeway and paved it with flat stones from the site. At this point, it appears the river would have to reach flood stage to get it wet, but an inch of water comes over it from the pool. However, the stones keep the surface stable, so it is much safer to traverse.