rocky morrison discusses excavation impacts
Paving the trail with asphalt is all but certain to be a damaging endeavor. First, to accommodate the 8′ wide path in the current BSC design, a 10′ wide swathe of land must be excavated to allow for 1′ shoulders on either side of the path and provide enough space for “fill” to stabilize the asphalt laid above.
What will excavation do? Much of the path is 8′ – 12′ in width, but many trees border the trail and their roots pass just under. In many cases the roots will need to be cut and capped while the trees themselves may need to be removed as well. The proposed parking lot will require the removal of dozens of trees and filling existing wetlands.
Notwithstanding the loss of trees, the excavation itself will disturb thousands of square feet of rail bed that likely contains pollutants and toxins left over from the railroad. In addition to our concerns about the impact this will have on water quality, Friends of Haggetts Pond are concerned that the disturbance will shock nearby plant and wildlife with a sudden does of contaminants contained within the railbed. Curiously, although the town has conducted soil sample tests in the vicinity, it has not done so within the rail bed itself.
Wildlife habitats along these trails are delicate ecosystems that thrive when left undisturbed. Paving poses a threat to the natural balance, disrupting the homes of various species. Excavating involves a great risk as well since no one knows the extent of contamination contained therein and its impact on the local environs.
Even Andover’s bylaws impose restrictions on a wide array of projects in these areas and the town is not following these bylaws in at least on aspect (read our discussion of Governance) to learn more.
