Perryville Trace is One in a Thousand

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has announced a list of "1000 Greatest Places in Massachusetts", as determined by an appointed commission. Among their selections is our own Perryville Trace, located at the French River bridge on Perryville Road in Webster. The bridge is currently closed for construction, but the Trace is open. Visitors may have to make their way around construction vehicles.

Dam Trail Race Welcomes Sponsors

This year for the first time we have sought sponsors for the Dam Trail Race to be held August 7 at Hodges Village in Oxford. Hometown Bank, North Oxford Mills, Wilson Language Training, Industrial Packaging Supply, and Central Massachusetts Podiatry have joined Polar Beverages as sponsors. We are very grateful for their contributions, and hope to make this the best Dam Trail Race yet.

This year an 11.5 and a 5 mile course will be run simultaneously. There will be cash prizes for the overall male and female winners of each race, and special prizes for the top finishers from the French River watershed. Age group and random draw prizes will consist of baked goods, Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificates, and other items.

The starting gun goes off at 9am sharp. Runners may preregister, or enter on race day beginning at 7:30.

More information

Leovich Landing Clears Permitting Hurdles

On June 19, Leovich Landing cleared the last permitting hurdle, with receipt of a determination from the Department of Environmental Protection's Waterways Regulation Program that no permit is needed for the boat launch. Earlier in the week, the The State Historical Commission determined that work on the site was unlikely to affect historical or archaeological resources. This clears the way for The Last Green Valley to give us the go-ahead to incur costs and count in-kind contributions specified in the grant we received. Time to get moving!

Beavers Beware

On June 16 the French River Connection received a $500 donation from Wal-Mart to purchase wire to protect trees threatened by beavers. So far in 2010, we have already protected 100 trees with wire mostly donated by Home Depot. This will allow us to continue the program, which has proven to be a good way to introduce youth groups to the river.

Perryville Trace Gets an Upgrade

On May 15, these members of the Shepherd Hill Environment Committee pitched in to make the Perryville Trace better for walkers and less attractive to beavers. Club members addressed a long-standing problem by constructing a causeway over a narrow strip between the river and an uncertified vernal pool, adding flat stones found on-site to make dry stable footing at high water. They also protected approximately 40 trees from beavers by wrapping them with welded wire.

We are always eager to work with young people; it was an enjoyable and productive day, and we are grateful for their help.

Earlier in the Spring, French River Connection members installed pipe under a section of the Trace that gets wet from Brookside Avenue runoff to carry the water away, and cleaned up trash from the riverbanks on both sides of the River above Perryville.

Last Green Valley Grant Received

On May 14, we received a grant award from The Last Green Valley for development of Leovich Landing, in the amount of $6000. This will be matched by donations of material, equipment and labor. Work cannot start until we sign a contract with the grantor, which we hope will not be long. We also are awaiting a determination that we do not need a Chapter 91 Waterways permit for the launch, which is expected before the end of the month.

We're grateful to The Last Green Valley for selecting us; approximately one in four requests were funded. We couldn't have gotten to this point without J&D Civil Engineers doing the work (at a significant discount) to make us "shovel ready". We're also grateful to all who helped estimate the work and who have offered in-kind donations, and to those who wrote letters of support: The town of Oxford, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and state Senator Richard T. Moore.

Leovich Landing gets funds

Wal-mart has awarded $1000 to the Dudley Conservation Land Trust for the Leovich Landing stewardship account, which will be used for development of the site. Thanks to Carol Colena for making this happen.