On Friday, September 25, two volunteers from Dominion Power, Millstone (Pete Lenk and Claude Flory) along with DPNC staff member Al Brown moved and repaired all but the two largest bridges. We extend a hearty thank you to them for their considerable efforts.

Lily Pad Pond Bridge - Fixed

The seven inches of rain that fell on Mystic in July caused major headaches for the Nature Center. The rear of the building filled up with over a foot of rain and came in, under, around and through the building.

The summer camp kids had lots of fun at the end of the day because the pond was up over the trail around the pond.

Alas many of our bridges did not fare well. The Lily Pad Pond bridge to the left was floated off its foundation and the boardwalk knocked askew. 

Red Trail Bridge - Not fixed yet

The Red Trail bridge was swept crooked off it's foundation.

Mystic Middle School Bridge fixed

The bridge near Mystic Middle School has been relocated...

... approximately 100 feet down in the woods. Fortunately, it is a small span and can be towed back into place with some muscle. (This has happened before)

Pequotsepos Big Bridge - not fixed yet

The big bridge over Pequotsepos Brook was floated up over the piling sections and was headed downstream. Kim Hargrave and Al Brown went back the next day with ropes and lassoed the pilings and docked the bridge (raft) again.

It is passable but not quite in the right place.

Woodland Bridge - fixed

The little Woodland bridge is also passable but askew.

Some good news. The little bridge over Pequotsepos Brook, built by Dominion volunteers in 2002 was good and high and the area nearby is low. So it remained in place! The trail just beyond the bridge goes into the Denison Farm fields and has a section of trail in need of clearing (~20ft).

Bog Boardwalk - fixed

The Bog Boardwalk took a hit from the high water. The first part of the walk is like a see saw and some other sections were set crooked.

Some more good news. The viewing platform on the pond, built by Dominion volunteers in 2007, came through the storm without a hitch. The deck was under water for a day but no harm done. A large snapping turtle is often seen beneath the deck.