BERNARDSTON — Bernardston is getting help to bring its Eden Trail culvert in line with state standards, thanks to a $74,930 Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant.
Town Coordinator Hugh Campbell said he applied for the grant in June, when a culvert and small bridge inventory revealed the Eden Trail culvert doesn’t meet stream crossing standards because a concrete slab that was installed under the bridge years ago to prevent erosion.
“Our grant application called for that crossing to be redesigned,” he said. Replacing the slab with more natural features in accordance with standards, he explained, would allow fish and wildlife to pass through more easily and promote species growth.
The Eden Trail culvert isn’t the only one in town in need of attention. According to Campbell’s grant application, the Highway Department previously inspected and mapped all known water crossings in town, a task Campbell said simplified by Superintendent Gary Wetherby’s intrinsic knowledge of the town’s features. Of the total 584 crossings, a total of 15 culverts were rated as very poor and another 108 were rated as poor.
However, given the Eden Trail culvert isn’t meeting state standards, and is in an ecologically sensitive watershed area, Campbell said he decided to apply for a grant for that particular culvert, which funnels Mill Brook. The culvert is also over 50 years old, he added.
“This one is in a critical environmental area,” he explained. “It just so happened it was in the Deerfield River Watershed and that was a priority with (the Division of Ecological Resources), which is why we chose this location … We’re very pleased that we’re able to target an environmentally sensitive area and address the area the state is asking us to address.”
The $74,930 grant will support field data collection, engineering and design, and permitting to replace the culvert, according to Campbell’s grant award letter.
“The new design will be to provide a 50-year useful life,” Campbell explained, noting that designs should be complete by June 2018.
With a rough construction cost estimate of $575,000 for the 33-foot-long culvert, Campbell said he intends to apply for another grant, also through the Division of Ecological Resources, to offset construction costs.
“That’s not something we could ask the taxpayer to fund,” he explained.
As for the other culverts, a $19,500 Community Compact grant has enabled Bernardston to develop a maintenance plan for its small bridges, culverts and manholes. Campbell said he’s waiting for engineering and consulting firm Stantec to complete its report before seeking out other culvert replacement grants.
Reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257