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Restoration Efforts Continue at Rockland Preserve

The successful restoration effort by volunteers with the Rockland Preserve Committee (RPC) has turned its attention to Coan Pond with the same intent. That project is set to begin in the fall.

Cecily Baran, RPC member and chair of the Pollinator Project at Rockland Preserve, said the change in the ecosystem since the restoration is incredible. Last year, a controlled burn was undertaken to prep the area, culminating in a huge planting fest last October.

According to Baran, that event was so successful that the group immediately began plans for further work at the preserve.

“We had over 70 volunteers who planted more than 600 plants over two Saturdays. It was truly extraordinary,” said Baran. “We had people from every aspect of the community. We had every age. Little Brownies, Eagle Scouts, and Boy Scouts. We had retirees. We had families come out and kids from the neighborhood all come out. Everyone working together. It was amazing how much was accomplished because this encompassed around a quarter of an acre, so this was an insane number of plants. They are all native and all pollinators, so it truly was an incredible community effort. We’ve been watching it all spring, and it really is amazing to see how all that work paid off.”

Baran said Coan Pond is one of the main features at Rockland Preserve, but invasive plants have crept in over the years.

“This is such an opportunity to reclaim this land because if we don’t, it will just come right back,” said Baran. “The majority of Rockland is forested, but the open area near the pond was our invasive removal target last year, and there was already milkweed there, so it was just a fantastic spot for a pollinator garden. And that got us thinking about the restoration of the pond.”

The initial restoration project was partly funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies approved by the Board of Selectmen. According to Baran, this new restoration project will also be supported by ARPA funds.

“Coincidental with that vision, Madison received ARPA money from the federal government. I started talking with Peggy Lyons and the other selectpeople, and they said this could be an excellent project for this type of funding. So, we formed a committee including some really knowledgeable people in the Madison environmental community,” said Baran. “This all culminated in a huge planting fest last October.”

According to Baran, another series of work days is scheduled for this October to tackle the ongoing effort to promote pollinator plants and remove lingering invasives. The public is also invited to a free event to celebrate the work and volunteers that will take place at the preserve on Saturday, Aug. 12.

“We are having a celebration of the entire effort to celebrate our volunteers and our selectpeople to see what is there,” said Baran. “We want to rally folks for that event. We really want folks to know about the preserve. It is so far up in North Madison, and some folks who live downtown just don’t know about it. It is really just this jewel of a park with so much to offer residents and families. We are certainly looking for volunteers for these days, but we want people to come and see it and come enjoy this park. It is such a great resource to our community. I like to think this project can be a blueprint for what residents can do in their own yards and on their own property. There will be resource materials available at the events. Our objective is to make these blueprints available going forward to residents to help them understand and get involved in the pollinator garden process.”

The longer-term pond restoration project will be a bit smaller scale but requires more intensive work to plant water-based and wetland species around the Coan Pond.

“Just as we were in the throes of getting this planted last October, I was approached by the ARPA Committee, who said they loved the project and said, ‘We still have funding; do you have another project?’ So, we put together a proposal, and that is specifically for the restoration of Coan Pond,” said Baran.

Baran said the restoration at Coan Pond involves removing phragmites, an invasive plant that has overtaken the site. A second step involves treatment by a third-party contractor to ensure the plants don’t grow back. Baran said that the RPC won’t reach that step until 2024 and 2025.

“That will be followed by the planting of native wetland plants and pond plants in 2025,” said Baran. “We’re going to get in there and start planting, so that will be exciting.”

Rockland Preserve boasts 650 acres of bike, hike, and walking trails, a unique playscape for youngsters, and also a mountain bike skills and pump track. The park has multiple entrances, but most users can access the park at 2313 Durham Road across from Samantha Lane.

For more information and event dates, visit www.madisonct.org/520/Rockland-Preserve.