Carla Occaso
BERLIN — A Montpelier man attended the Berlin Selectboard meeting July 27 to ask about recent ditch digging at Berlin Pond. John Jose attended virtually to raise questions and offer suggestions.
“I frequent Berlin Pond for the birding and the wildlife viewing, and I have questions regarding ditch maintenance and concerns about potential impacts, especially on the pond,” Jose said. There are two outflow pipes, and one drains from the ditch and into the pond.
Jose said at one of the pipes at the north end of Berlin Pond, “vegetation was virtually removed down to bare earth almost to the edge of the pond.” And without the earth being stabilized, the runoff goes right into the pond. He asked why all the vegetation was removed.
Ditchwork has been done for about two tenths of a mile that has left behind soil, which has not been stabilized, and some of the ditch runs toward wetlands, Jose said. He also said he thought plans for planting vegetation were scheduled for next month, but until then, there is no measure in place to protect the area in case of rain.
Jose further asked if it could have been done differently and if something could be done to help the situation until the hydroseeding is done, such as placing straw bales or silt fence at the outflow pipes to help catch any sediment that might make its way to the pond. Soil sediment particles carry phosphorus into an aquatic area and stimulates plant growth, he said.
Highway Superintendent Tim Davis said planting would happen the following week, and hydroseeding is not required the same day as ditching. The town has to pay thousands of dollars for the seeding equipment, he said, and the road crew is attempting to prepare enough areas needing reseeding as possible to make it financially prudent.
“There’s only four of us. We have to get enough work done to make it worth it,” Davis said. “We are trying to get enough work to fulfill a week’s worth of hydroseeding.”
Selectboard Secretary Karla Nuissl asked if Davis and crew were following state guidelines, and Davis said they were.
Jose said he appreciated that the planting was being done quickly, but he was concerned that, at the mouth of the pipes, vegetation was removed down to the mud.
“It has to be lower than the culvert otherwise the water doesn’t drain from our roads,” Davis said, adding that if it is not done right, then water would drain onto the roads and make them muddy.
Jose asked if they plant seeds next week, how long will it take for them to sprout and take hold.
Davis said the vegetation would grow the “same as grass seed grows.” He noted it depends on soil conditions, how much rain falls, and other variables. “You can’t magically make grass grow. It grows when it grows,” he said.
Jose finally said he hopes something else can be done until the seeds grow, such as placing straw bales or a silt fence to prevent runoff into the pond.
“We’ll look into it,” Davis said.
