Conservation Commission: Middlesex Fells Trail Rehabilitation - 2026-10-07

AI-generated summary. Written by gemini-3.8-flash from the transcript below, which is the record. It may be incomplete or wrong; it does not report votes. Every item links to the moment it began.

The Conservation Commission approved three Certificates of Compliance for Department of Conservation and Recreation projects and voted to issue an Order of Conditions for trail and footbridge rehabilitation in the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

0:12 Certificate of Compliance: Veterans Memorial Dugout Replacement (DEP #215-0234) — Approved a full Certificate of Compliance for dugout replacement and ADA accessibility modifications at the Carmine Santoro Memorial baseball diamond in Veterans Memorial Park.
2:53 Certificate of Compliance: Flynn Rink Parking Lot Drainage and Paving (DEP #215-0237) — Approved a full Certificate of Compliance for completed drainage repairs and stormwater infiltration work at the Flynn Rink parking lot.
8:06 Certificate of Compliance: Middlesex Fells Stream Crossing (DEP #215-0195) — Approved a full Certificate of Compliance closing out previously completed 2014 stream crossing work over Straight Gully Brook in the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
10:28 Notice of Intent: Middlesex Fells Trail Rehabilitation and Bridge Replacement — Approved an Order of Conditions with special conditions regarding contour restoration and off-trail staging for Friends of the Middlesex Fells' proposed bridge replacement and erosion remediation along the Cross Fells and Skyline trails, pending receipt of a DEP file number.
28:53 Meeting Minutes and Next Meeting Scheduling — Tabled consideration of prior meeting minutes due to a lack of eligible voting members present and discussed scheduling an upcoming meeting to review local wetlands regulations.

[Denis MacDougall]: Oh, thank you. Welcome to the City of Medford Conservation Commission meeting. First item on the agenda is a request for compliance. DEP file 215-0234, Veterans Memorial dugout replacement. Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation has requested a certificate of compliance for the replacement of the dugouts associated with the Carmine v. Santoro Memorial baseball diamond at Veterans Memorial Park in Medford within jurisdictional areas bordering land subject to flooding in the 20-foot river run area. Mr. Gerber. I'm not sure if we, I don't think we have anyone here for this. I think everyone here is for the other.

[Denis MacDougall]: Thought they were going to be here, but that, I mean, it's a significant client, so I think we don't really, I can sort of, you know, talk about the project and, you know, I've gone over there while the work was being done, and then after the fact, and everything was done in alignment with the order of conditions.

[Heather]: Yeah, I've walked it this week too. I see. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Heather. Me and the geese. Oh, you and the geese. So it looks completely inappropriate based on what we decided. Yeah. The request?

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Um, is for a project that included the replacement of the concrete slabs. Within the existing dugouts, regrading of the site to restore grades to conditions generally consistent with the previous existing site conditions. Replacement and realignment of fencing, minor repairs to the athletic field. Installation of new benches, reinstallation of the existing dugout roof structures and modifications to the dugouts. To provide ADA compliant facilities. So Heather, you've been and Dennis, I presume that you've been as well? I have, yes. And we also have the statement from the PE.

[Denis MacDougall]: The next item on the agenda is that you're going to hear this a lot tonight, request for a significant compliance to EP file number 215-0237, Flynn Rink parking lot. Massachusetts Department of, this one, Recreational, why did I put Recreational Conservation? Never mind. Apologies. Oh, here it is. Wait, actually, this is Tom Keogh, who is actually the person. I'll hold off on this one. And we'll tell him that veterans has already gotten okayed. Hi, Tom, just give me a second to get on, but we kind of jumped ahead and we did the veterans Memorial dugout and we just approved that 1. so.

[SPEAKER_00]: I apologize for being late, but I was. At another hearing, we just got out at like, 632 and we started on time.

[Denis MacDougall]: Yes, so I'll read through it. So, I'll start again request or certificate of compliance file number 2, 1, 5 dash 0, 2, 3, 7, 1 rate parking lot. Massachusetts Department of conservation recreation has requested a certificate of compliance from the. construction for the proposed maintenance and repair of the existing drainage structures and overall pavement at the John W. Flynn Skating Rink at 300 Elm Street in Medford, Mass. The proposed work was within the 100-foot buffer zone and bank, bordering vegetated wetlands, land under water bodies and waterways, and bordering land subject to flooding.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Great. Thanks. I see that the completed work includes aversion sedimentation control, stormwater management facilities, associated site features. Can you recall what the stormwater management facilities were?

[Denis MacDougall]: Yes, it was a few things. It was a subsurface infiltration gallery, subsurface infiltration, and then over in the door, basically the southern edge of the parking lot where there's no parking spaces. That was where a bunch, a bit of the work was done as well.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Yeah, I do recall this 1 now. I see that that the plan. That the infiltration was behind the ranking. Yeah, pretty close to the weapon.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yes, that parking lot right on the edge where the mechanical equipment room. In the Zamboni comes in and out, it was in that part of the parking lot.

[Jeremy Martin]: Dennis and Heidi. Go ahead, sorry. Go ahead, Jeremy. Sorry. I have just a question if you can refresh my memory. Were there any special conditions on this that required establishment of plants over a certain number of growing seasons or management of invasive plants, prevention of invasive plants?

[SPEAKER_00]: We only proposed seeding, I believe, in that basin. In all the, about 95%, give or take, probably even higher, of the work occurred within parking surfaces already. And we did not propose any invasive species control because we were not working in any wooded areas.

[Denis MacDougall]: And actually, Journey, to answer your question, no, we did not include anything. you know, for maintenance, anything along those lines.

[Denis MacDougall]: I have. A number of times over the past few years and everything seems to be working well. I've even been there in the rain, not by choice, but I just happened to go up there to look at something else and decided to go over and check it out. Great.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: And we have the statement in the same book that he reviewed the work. Are there any other questions on this one? No. Do I have a motion to issue a full certificate of compliance for this file?

[Denis MacDougall]: All right. Thank you very much for your time. You got it, and I'll get those off to you in the next few days. All right, thanks, Dennis. You got it. Take care, Chairman Davis.

[Denis MacDougall]: A request for a strict compliance, DEP file number 215-0195, Fells Trail Work. Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation has requested a strict compliance for the replacement of an existing stream crossing in the addition of a second stream crossing with Bog Bridge over Strait Gully Brook in the Middlesex Falls Reservation. The project falls within 200 feet of riverfront area in a bordering vegetated wetland.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Great, so we'll, so this is closing out 195 so that there can be a new filing.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: So, the work was never started under what the existing file number 195. Is that correct?

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Yeah, it was. I see. I'm sorry. It was it was right in front of me. It was completed during the summer of 2014. Yes, it was done with some.

[Denis MacDougall]: I don't know if they were college students or high school students. They were up there that summer. Working on it to get it done a number of times, although it was being done and also afterwards.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I believe it was the student conservation association, which DCR often contracts with to do work like this.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: And Dennis, have you reviewed the work under that final number?

[Denis MacDougall]: I have, to be honest, not for a little bit, but it's been done for quite a number of years. So I would say, you know, I have, I did view it upon completion a number of times. I feel comfortable that the work was done to reflect the order.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Does anybody on the commission have any questions regarding that filing? Great. And do I have a motion to issue a full certificate of compliance for DEP file 215-0195? So moved. Second. Great. Jeff? Aye. Heather? Aye. Eric?

[Denis MacDougall]: Now we have a notice of intent, DEP file number. Last I checked, there wasn't a file number.

[Denis MacDougall]: Okay. Yeah. So for Middlesex Fells Reservation, Friends of the Middlesex Fells has filed a notice of intent for the replacement of previously authorized stream crossing as well as the rehabilitation of portions of the Cross Fells Trail and Skyline Trail in the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The work will be conducted within the 100-foot buffer zone to bank and or Bordering H. J. Welland and the Medford Wetlands Ordinance within the jurisdictional adjacent upland resource area.

[SPEAKER_04]: And I'll give a brief introduction and introduce my colleagues. My name is Charlie McCabe. I'm a board member of Friends of the Fells. I'm also a volunteer field project manager. With me is Megan Shave, who is the inland ecologist for DCR, and Maddie Morgan, who is our field programs manager for Friends of the Fells. We have been working with DCR, knowing that this bridge previously mentioned bridge has partially failed in the area, and we were looking at replacement of the bridge as well as some rehabilitation of trails surrounding the bridge. This area is a very scenic area of the fells. It's where two of our very popular trails intersect, and it has seen some erosion, some pretty major erosion. Um, so essentially what we're proposing is to replace, um, the bridge, uh, with a full, um, constructed bridge versus the kind of split or service bridge design and split log design that has been there up until now. Uh, then we would do a lot of remediation of the trail surface, um, uh, to try to, uh, both narrow the trail and also to, uh, uh, improve, uh, the drainage of the trail. Um, we would do this all with volunteers and with DCR assisting us, especially in the transport of some of the materials in and out of the area. But largely, this would be done with volunteers working on monthly trail workdays for the next few years. So that's a quick overview. Happy to launch into specifics, anything that we've covered in the application. And Megan can also answer questions about the work that she did in terms of looking at where we sit in the site.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Thank you. I see that from your application, you'll be altering 104 square feet, temporarily altering 104 square feet of wetland. And I'm sorry, I read this very quickly a little while ago. Proposing to do any seating or how will you. How will that be restored to?

[SPEAKER_04]: I believe it's largely, the bridge is going to be extended a little further on either side of the banks. So we would do remediation as needed. We didn't feel there was much because we're going to stay within the footprint of the existing trail. The bridge will be slightly wider to make sure we accommodate access. So it'll be three feet wide versus about, it's about 30 to 32 inches wide currently. it'll also be a little higher up because we'll be reaching a little further on either side. So where we need to, we can do replacement of plants and that sort of thing, but we're largely staying within the footprint of what is already there.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: And I think you say that there's no vegetation being removed.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: And disturbed herbaceous vegetation is expected to be restored in place following construction.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I mean, most of our work, I mean, the bridge is one specific thing that will kind of replace what is there. A lot of our work will be focused on really narrowing the trail surface and making sure the trail can shed water. So we'll use a number of different techniques to narrow the trail surface. The largest is strategic placings of stones and riprap in areas to make sure we can convey water correctly. In one section of the trail, it's very, very wide, and we're going to have to do switchbacks and loops to try to get up the hill and hopefully make it more sustainable.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Right, and you're also taking measures to keep water from running directly down it.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's the goal. Yeah, we, Tim Craig, who is our trail planner for DCR, worked with us fairly extensively to look at alternatives for doing trail reroutes. And we were We couldn't find another way to do that due to the fact that we have a fair amount of cultural artifacts and cultural resources from DCR looked at in different areas with us. And we couldn't find different paths to make the trails more sustainable by design, just because we had to avoid those areas, essentially, is what we're looking at.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: I see. I'll open it up to the other commission members for any questions.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_07]: I was going to ask, I'm looking at the compliance with the stream crossing standards. And so it looks like you're increasing the capacity there compared to existing conditions. Is that correct?

[SPEAKER_05]: That is correct because we are extending the length on either side to get the ending sills out of the BBW entirely. As a result, that's going to increase the span and elevate the entire structure because the sills will be farther up gradient. So as a result of raising the bridge, we will have greater clearance Then currently exists over over the 2 branches of the stream crossing. So, yes, it'll be an improvement of clearance. Compared to the previously approved bridge that's there.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_07]: Okay, thank you. I also saw the figure with where you're proposing water bars. I was just curious what the, um. are what the makeup of those water bars is?

[SPEAKER_04]: It's largely usually a large stone that we locate from elsewhere on the trail, organized and basically buried about six inches into the trail at an angle to shed water off the trail as quickly as possible. Essentially, that's what it is. Sometimes they're made of different things, but I think we propose stone in this sense, in this case.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_07]: Oh, yeah, I see. Here's one to two stone water bars. Okay. Do you find that those with that, like setting it embedded with a small lip is a tripping hazard?

[SPEAKER_04]: No more than the current nature of the trail there. The trail is fairly eroded in several areas and we have exposed stone and roots in other areas. This usually improves the condition. I did include several photos of other projects that we have rehabilitated elsewhere in the fells that had water bars or stone steps and essentially what we do is we try to make sure that they're well secured in the area. And as we narrow the trail with riprap that tends to kind of keep them in place.

This type of approach always requires regular maintenance. which is a piece of what we do in terms of volunteering. We have a group of volunteers, trail adopters that regularly monitor trails and look for issues and concerns and report them and repair them.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_00]: No questions for me. Thank you. Dennis, if you would, would you please look at the file number may have been issued? And you can check that because that would allow us to actually issue an order of conditions.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: I did look around five o'clock, Eric. I did not see it. There is a 215-250, but that was filed on August 10th. Would that be the same one?

[SPEAKER_05]: I believe 250 is the 90 millimeter Whitmore Brook invasive plant management project also being led by our friends. So that may be why it has the August date. It's that issued or not.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: We also already issued an order for it. So clearly it's not the right one. So we can close the hearing and just not issue it or we can vote. we can vote on it, but not issue until the file numbers is issued. Looking at the narrative, it does state that there'll be no grading or contour elevation changes, but I would request that we have a condition that just, I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job, I have no doubt, but I would feel more comfortable just with the condition saying that any changes in grade will be hand raked or, yeah, the ground surface will be returned to preexisting contours through hand raking.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I mean, we use all hand tools and it's largely volunteered with some DCR help.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Yeah, there's no machinery. I'm sure, yeah. And there's no invasive species in the area to be concerned about in this area?

[SPEAKER_04]: Not in this area, yeah. As Maddie and Megan will tell you, we have many other challenges in many other areas that we're dealing with, including 90 millimeter.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_00]: Yeah. I apologize if I breezed over it in your narrative, but removal of the old bridge, what's happening with the debris.

[SPEAKER_04]: We're going to haul the debris out. So essentially, obviously, we're going to have to wait until a period of time, probably summer, early fall, when everything is dry, and we can bring the new material in, construct the bridge, and remove the old material. The good news is DCR has access via a fairly wide trail, the middle road, uh, that gets us almost all the way there. And then we'll have to carry the materials in and out by hand over the last third of a mile.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_00]: And I presume from the photographs that none of the materials are, are treated timbers, anything of that nature, uh, existing materials.

[SPEAKER_04]: Uh, The, the split log bridge is what I was believe I was harvested on site. And and and has 1 of the timbers has collapsed into the fells, but I don't believe it was treated. The other portion of the bridge. Is isn't is isn't okay shape that none of it has fallen off, but I would assume that was using pressure treated lumber. It is out of the. out of the water and sits on both a stone piling in the middle and a timber piling on the end.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_00]: Nothing, just so long as those materials are removed from the site and disposed of in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, I'm happy. Thank you. You bet. Absolutely.

[Jeremy Martin]: If I may, I'd just like to, sorry. I know I'm jumping in out of the darkness, but first of all, thank you to the DCR and Friends and Fellows for doing this. Really appreciate all the work that you do there. I would just ask to add, some language to the condition or the statement that Eric put out there that care be taken that materials not be stored off of the trail or in other areas that are not intended to be disturbed so that we keep the impact constrained. Thank you.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Thank you, Jeremy. Thanks. I did note that there The central footer will be retained. And I was just curious as to. Is that I'm going to share can I share my screen? Yep. Can you see my screen?

[Chair Heidi Davis]: OK. And so, yeah, obviously the stone has not degraded, so you'll reuse that.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, that would be the idea. So it'll be in two pieces that will actually cut everything off site and then bring materials in and assemble one piece at a time.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Dennis, I don't know how to stop sharing now. My screen minimized on me. Okay, great. Thank you. Anybody else?

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_00]: I presume we wouldn't receive any comments from the Northeast Regional Office, but is it worth waiting to vote on the order until we hear from them, or should we just go ahead?

[Chair Heidi Davis]: There were no comments on the last filing for the 90 millimeter site. I don't think there would be any comments, so I would encourage Voting on it now and then yeah, I agree.

[Denis MacDougall]: Hi, we have this. We do have some members of the public here. So, which I know it's uncommon for us, but if anyone. members of the public would like to speak on this matter, please, you're welcome to do so. Just please raise your hand in the chat and just tell us your name and address for the record. And if not, thank you for coming to our meeting.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Thanks. So we discussed two conditions. And so is there a motion to approve of To issue an order of conditions with the. To discuss conditions and moved. 2nd, that great all in favor just. Hi, Heather, Jeremy.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: Hi, and Heather, I'm sorry you were muted so I'm going to have to ask you to.

[Heather]: Yes, the cats are trying to get in. I thank you and myself is an eye.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: So, as soon as. So, we can close this portion of the hearing regarding the notice of intent. And upon issuance of a file number, the order can be issued. Thank you very much for coming, and good luck with the work.

[Denis MacDougall]: Good to see you. So I'll get the order written up, and we're just waiting on the DEP file number once that's in place. Sign up for single shares, and you'll get it. You can get started.

[SPEAKER_04]: Thanks so much, Dennis. And thanks, Heidi and team. We appreciate it.

[Denis MacDougall]: So the only other thing we would have would be, we had some minutes at the last meeting. I think we didn't approve because people hadn't a chance to read it. Kyle is working on last month now, but she's also staffing our energy festival. So she was kind of more doing that for the last two weeks. And once that's over, she's going to get back on this, but it would have been. September 2nd, which was the first part of the meeting for the Condon Shellites.

[Chair Heidi Davis]: That's right. Jeremy was not present, but Heather, Caroline, Eric, Greg, and myself. You were. So of that, there's only there's only three, three that can vote.

[Denis MacDougall]: And speaking of the next one, we have really nothing in the pipeline right now. I'm proceeding now, I don't want to jinx anything, but, like, usually I get, you know, especially for larger scale projects get. Notices in advance, at least a little bit early, but I've gotten nothing so far. So I would say I'll send out a message tomorrow, but I figure maybe for the next meeting. We go back onto the discussion on the regs.

[Denis MacDougall]: 21st of the 28th, I'll shoot out an email and sort of get people's schedules.

[Heather]: Okay, I can do either at this at this point. Question. Com, com, question, com, com.

[CAS00002529_SPEAKER_07]: I think that Caroline will be back soon. I think she was only out this week.

[Denis MacDougall]: All right. Perfect. So maybe I'll, I'll shoot her down anyway. And then maybe I'll wait till Monday when she's back. So there's other ways she might not see it while she's away and it might not register it as much.

[Denis MacDougall]: For a very efficient hearing. Yeah, y'all did great. So thank you much. And those of us who have any we can go eat. Motion to close the hearing.

[Heather]: Motion to close the hearing and just commenting on that beautiful black cat. Yeah, thank you.

[Denis MacDougall]: Aye. Aye. This is all in favor of Larry's beautiful cat? Or both? All right, perfect. Good evening, everyone.