Strong Statement from DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert

[michele biscoe]

Dear Fells Dog Owners,

DCR Commissioner, Ed Lambert, has a letter to the editor in the Melrose Free Press in which he writes:

"[I}t is disturbing to see the misinformation being disseminated by a group that refers to itself as the “Friends of the Fells” (FoF) which is deliberately misleading the public in its suggestion that DCR is destroying the Fells and tearing up historic trails.

We strongly object to such characterizations and believe these actions are part of an agenda that seeks to limit access to other user groups that the “Friends” does not support."

The statement is in response to the FoF's recent attacks on the DCR's work re-routing the Reservoir (Orange) Trail.

Under the current news section of their website, FoF writes:

"For the first time since creation of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, its managing agency is destroying historic trails that for nearly a century have served to protect nature and enhance visitor experiences.  This destruction follows a new policy of unbridled expansion of mountain bike use throughout the Reservation.

Mountain bike riders cannot negotiate rock steps, so DCR is destroying them on the Reservoir Trail. This is the second section of rock steps demolished by DCR to render the Reservoir Trail convenient for bikers.

DCR is also bypassing other sections of the Trail by cutting new bike-friendly routes through new sections of the Fells, disturbing habitats and landscapes."

Last winter the DCR partnered with the Greater Boston chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (GB NEMBA) to identify problem areas on the trail to be fixed before officially opening for multi-use. I am grateful to Adam Glick and Tim Post of GB NEMBA for helping me understand the history and the details of the situation.

DCR and GB NEMBA created a list of about a dozen issues, of which four were identified as "Priority Projects."  One of the Priority Projects involved an area of trail that had become a mud pit because it was poorly located in a wetland:  the goal of the project was to re-route the trail to higher ground and create a sustainable, contoured reroute that would both protect the wetland and keep the trail in that approximate location.

The mud pit was at the top of a series of stone steps--themselves situated in the wetland--that had been installed in the recent past without permission or any wetlands approvals process.  In order to re-route the trail around the wetland, the DCR engaged Student Conservation Corps volunteers to dismantle the rock steps and rearrange the rocks, effectively blocking the former trail to discourage further, unauthorized use.

The rerouted trail completely avoids the wetland.  It is a single-track, 3' wide trail, whereas the segment it replaces was 8-12' wide. In addition to avoiding the wetland, people involved in the project see three additional benefits of the re-route:

• There is a net gain of habitat once the original trail is re-vegetated,
• It will require less maintenance, and
• It will resist erosion.

Unfortunately, with the exception of the Medford Transcript, the local press has failed to do due diligence: Rather than getting the stories of all parties involved, the Boston Globe and the Melrose Free Press have opted to serve as the mouthpiece for a disruptive and self-serving organization.

Best regards,

Michele

with Strummer (standard poodle)

Somerville, MA

[Joel A Feingold]

Thank you very much Michele.

Woof!

Joel A Feingold
Joel Feingold Presents
1038 Beacon St. #203
Brookline, MA  02446
O. 617-277-1149
C. 508-308-5408
www.joelfeingoldpresents.com
www.LedZAerial.com

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[Chris Paddock]

The Globe story shows what happens when you gut the resources of your largest local newspaper. Clearly little effort to get the other side of the story here, not a conservation expert nor, worse, the DCR itself, only referencing a letter. This type of story shouldn't even be published without their input, else siting they would not comment. Horrendous.

---

From: michele biscoe <mic...@fellsdog.org>
To: fellsdog <fell...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2012 12:43 PM
Subject: [FellsDOG] Strong Statement from DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert