A SMALL SECTION OF THE CHICOPEE RIVER RUNNING THROUGH WETLANDS JUST SOUTH OF THE FORMER SMITH POND.
A CURRENT AERIAL PICTURE OF THE LAND SHOWS THAT AFTER THE FLOOD OF OCT 2008, WHEN THE MANMADE DIKE FAILED, AND A HOUSE BUILT ON THE DIKE WASHED AWAY, THE FLOW OF THE CHICOPEE RIVER REESTABLISHED ITSELF THROUGH THE FLOOD PLAIN. THIS IS A COOMON THEME OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND WHEN DAMS AND DIKE BUILT IN MANY CASES TO ARTIFICIALLY CREATE PONDS FOR WATER SUPPLY, ICE HARVEST, AND RECREATION CANNOT WITHSTAND THE FORCES OF NATURE. IN FACT THE BUREAU OF DAMS ENCOURAGES THE DISMANTLING OF BARRIER STRUCTURES AND ATTACHES LIABILITY TO THE LANDOWNERS OF THESE DAMS, IF AND WHEN THEY CAUSE DOWNSTREAM FLOOD DAMAGE. NOTE- IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER BEAVERS MAY ALSO BE HELD LIABLE.
THE STATE THROUGH AERIAL INFRARED MAPPING HAS DELINEATED IN GREEN, AREAS THAT ARE LIKELY WETLANDS. NOTE THE BARE AREAS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST WHICH ARE GRAVEL PITS. THE TALL RIDGE BETWEEN THE AREAS OF WETLAND ARE LIKEWISE AN ALLUVIAL GRAVEL RIDGE, RESULTING FROM GLACIAL WATER ACTION.
THE RECTANGLE ABOVE, NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND SOUTH OF BOSTON ROAD INCLUDES A SMALL AREA OF WETLANDS AND HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO INTENSE DEVELOPMENTAL DISRUPTION WITH THE OLD SILVER STREET, PALMER-WILBRAHAM RAIL AND OLD BOSTON ROAD HAVING TRAVERSED. ON THE SOUTH END THERE IS A GAS PIPELINE. AS ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS WERE IN THE PRE-ENVIRONMENTAL ERA, CUT, SLASH, BURY, AND DUMP WERE THE RULE. IT HAS BEEN NO SMALL TASK TO CLEAN THE LAND AND REMOVE INVASIVES. POTENTIAL SITE OF DOG SHELTER AND RELATED OFFICES IN THE FUTURE??
LOOK FOR SIGNS IDENTIFYING OUR PROPERTIES AND WELCOME. NOTE- THERE IS INFORMAL ACCESS, THE TOWN OF MONSON WOULD LIKE A PAVED ACCESS, BUT THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND "CONSERVATION"
APPROXIMATELY 12 ACRES ON BENNET RD ACROSS FROM THE THAYER CONSERVATION LAND IN WILBRAHAM, THIS PARCEL COMPLEMENTS THE PROTECTION OF AN IMPORTANT WATERSHED AREA. THE PARCEL ABUTS THAYER BROOK TO THE WEST AND THE WILBRAHAM/MONSON TOWN LINE TO THE EAST TO WHICH THE SLOPE OF THE LAND VERY GRADUALLY RISES. THE ROADSIDE FRONTAGE OF THE LAND WHICH WAS LADEN WITH INVASIVE AND TOXIC SPECIES HAS BEEN CLEARED TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR ADVENTUROUS NATURE LOVERS.
