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So, welcome everybody. Uh, my name is Deborah Milbower and aside from being nervous, I also live in the Pine Tree neighborhood um area and I don't I'm not in an elected office. We don't have officers or anything like that. It's all very informal. We have a team of
volunteers. So, I'm just one of neighbors and I see neighbors here and I'm so grateful um for the neighbors who are here. Um and I'm also grateful for our key stakeholders. So, Oh, can All right.
>> It's more for Zoom, but yeah. >> Okay. All right. I have never been accused of speaking softly. So um so our very cherished community partners so
we're this whole project it's called invasive species management and ecological restoration and we're so grateful to the community preservation committee for funding Pine Treebrook Neighborhood Association to finally
tackle problems especially the knotweed that neighbors have been complaining about for years and the conservation commission is well aware of. So this is really exciting and really serve as a model for the rest of the town because there's not in other places um and uh
the other issues I'm going to tell you about in in a minute. Uh so the partners are sitting around the table because these 10 acres right people have skin in the game. And so after I do a brief introduction and presentation, we're going to go around
the table and each community partner key stakeholder is going to say what their interest is in the project and their angle. Um because each one of you actually is connected to maintains oversees owns stewardship of this exact
10 acres. So it's not just we're a butters, but there's other people involved in this obviously and um and so I'm really grateful you're here. And so after people go around the table and briefly say um you know introduce yourself, what your board does and what
your interest angle in the project is, what I'd like to do is open it up to neighbors and um and folks in the community to introduce yourselves and say your interest in the project and um your comment or question and then you
will we will alternate with folks on Zoom. Um and I see uh so John Kieran is the chair of the conservation commission who is one of our key stakeholders but he is uh online. So John we will include
you when the time is right. So uh >> all right thank you. Okay. So, um, so Department of Public Works maintains the lands, right? They they mow, they
take away down trees, and they do the garbage cans, which is a godsend. Um, and then neighbors actually every day I know also pick up garbage as they walk the path every day. So, it's a group effort. And we have uh Cassie Calabro.
Is that right? She's the environmental coordinator for the um for the town in the department of public work. So they play a really important role in the land. Um and then Lauren and Alex, where are you? Are from Sustainable Milton and
they're a local nonprofit neighborhood and a local nonprofit who has agreed to be our physical conduit actually because my tree brook um is not a nonprofit. And so we are so grateful for them and I know this is like a new thing for them
as well because >> oh sorry I know this is a new thing for them as well. Uh so I'm really grateful we're embarking on this adventure together. And then importantly, Napanza River Watershed Association
uh really they do ecological monitoring and they are really important to tracking water quality and all of that and I'm going to let Karen uh Horin who is the community liaison right engagement strategy. >> Yeah. So you all introduce yourself and
so her role is really important as well. Um and um Tom Palmer uh and Pete Jackson and am I missing anybody online? uh um sits on the conservation commission and
they actually are an appointed town committee that oversees uh the conservation land and make sure that the wetlands protection act is being followed and they are stewards of the land and owners technically although they have the budget for it but shout
out to them. So, I'm really glad they're here to represent. And then importantly, Josh Wilson from Biohabitats is at is our consultant and he's going to present after I do um an overview of
the project and their role and what their plans are. And then importantly, Tom Callahan. Any anyone else here or just you from >> Pete? Pete Jackson. Oh, I didn't I didn't mean conservation commission. I'm
sorry. I told you I was nervous. Um, so sorry. The two of them sit on the uh uh CPA committee and they were the ones that awarded Pinery Brook the funding to do this project. And so I'm really glad
you're here as well. Um, okay. Who did I miss? Did I get everyone? All right. So, um, okay. So, just a quick overview of our neighborhood. So, Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association was probably
started what, 25, 30 years ago? >> 30 40 years ago. >> I think Paul and some other folks no longer with us. And, um, it's about 600 homes on either side of the Brock. It's super roughly speaking. Sometimes it just has to do with how many how much money we have to print flyers and how
many streets we do. So, um it's really roughly defined. Um it's just anyone in the area. So, uh um the land that we're talking about is also very roughly it's about 10 acres. Uh we don't have an exact line.
We're going to show you maps of the area momentarily. Um and it's really a treasure. I I I can't tell you. I go there and it's like medicine because we're a mile from Madagan Square. We're we're like on
the border with a very urban neighborhood on one side uh urban setting and our neighborhood itself, the houses are very close together. It's a very dense neighborhood which I love actually because you build community, you get to know everybody. It's great.
And we have neighbors here. Oh, Mark I no don't know. >> Okay. Um, >> totally unqualified tech support here. >> And and and uh Shane from the Maxis CB who is also helping me gratefully with with the tech. So, um it's just a really
special literally a a block a couple of blocks from our homes is this incredible little slice of woods. wetlands and there's a lot of wildlife and flowers and plants. There's actually a um a unique species of trout only found in
Pine Tree Brook. It's cold water fishery. And so it's really a special place and and um I don't think people realize that. And so I it's really it's I treasure it and I'm there all the time walking around. So the paths, the Brook
passs are used by dozens and dozens of people every day. I mean, I don't know if hundreds is an exaggeration because students, the kids in the morning and in the afternoon, they actually use the path to get to the high school and to Pierce
like it's actually if you're there when the kids come in the morning, the afternoon, it's like it's like a flood and then they disappear. But and then obviously people you all I know you all also several of you here um use the pass
and uh Jeff Stone is especially interested and I'll give you a chance later to to say about your wonderful project um and so uh it's really heavily utilized which is both um a blessing and a burden right because we also have to
maintain the path and the land um and uh joggers and you know families with strollers and little kids on their bikes and um so it's it's it connects Pierce the middle school and the high
school and for those of you obviously you know the neighborhood neighborhoods and um we'll show the maps again it's really centrally located in some way the park you know park the uh blue parkway that entire neighborhood on the other side where Tom lives
um you know a lot of people and and Jeff lives on the other side of Pope's Pond and um you know the whole area where Pierce is like it's really this connecting area actually and you don't realize it but
student you can see in the morning students walking so it's it's very unique and I don't think a lot of people outside of the area or students sort of appreciate or know and all the new neighbors that move in I'm always like wait do you know about the path and
they're saying no and I tell them and amazingly it connects to Pope's Pond. So if you cross over um the Blue Hills Parkway as we'll show you on the map five minutes in it's like New Hampshire. It is incredible. And the CPA also
funded this amazing project to complete the loop to complete the loop around um Pope's Pond because right now you can't do a full loop. So, that's really really exciting. And there's another project they funded which is building a
playground for um uh Sumner and the neighborhood on the other >> park. >> Beverly Park. There's a little spot of grass, the little park that's underutilized. And that side of town really is underresourced with playgrounds and parks and access to those kind of resources. So, we're just
thrilled. Yeah. >> If you're planning on putting up maps, maybe it would be helpful to see them now. >> Yeah. Okay. But but that will trip me up techwise. So I'm gonna hold off, not gonna lie. >> And I'm almost done. So um >> make one other point. >> Yes. >> Environmental justice community.
>> Yes. And actually on the um on the um EPA maps based on socioeconomic status and race, ethnicity. There are neighborhoods defined as um environmental justice
neighborhoods, meaning uh have equal access to resources and um make sure that those neighborhoods and communities aren't differentially exposed and burdened to pollutants or toxins and that they have
access to green space. So, there's a whole wonderful Thank you, Karen. I really appreciate you you saying that. Um, so the paths encourage walkers. They keep cars off the road, which I know the climate change resilience committee,
which I butchered the name, is very interested in, and which Alex also sits on. Um, it promotes exercise. I walk so much in a way that I would absolutely never do if those paths weren't there. My street, I live on Winthre Street, which dead ends. It's the very first the
path starts at Winthrop Street on the non high school side on the Ottabon side. So promotes exercise and it builds community. I can't tell you how many people I chat with which you know if you know me
that's no shock but it really builds community and I met so many people I would never have otherwise met. And so I just there's so many reasons I I cherish the stage and why personally I took the initiative to take this on to be totally
honest. So 11 streets dead end into the path on either side of the brook. 11 literally, you know, and you can think about um uh fertilizer that runs off and uh
pollutants when it rains. The Posit River Wershed Association um issues report cards on the quality of the water and they have said that when it rains it degrade it it it down wait let me see where I I wrote that um when
it's raining the grade that they give like ABCD drops 22% due to polluted rain runoff and so uh NEPA plays a really important role in helping us track that and understand like literally what
pollutants are going in. Uh and a piece of that is education around for the neighbors, right? What not to put on your lawn and your your car emissions run off like everything that you put on your ground. It's a watershed, right?
All things go in at some point. So, um uh sorry, I'm skipping around a little bit. So, this is a one-year planning grant. No intervention or action is going to happen this year. This is just measuring
um sort of what the status is of the site and that's what Josh is going to go into like exactly what that looks like and what that means. Um and so I know some people right like we're not going to do we're not going to assign DPW anything without their input
and collaboration. That's why you're around the table. This is a collaborative process. We're going to talk about what needs to be done and what the recommendations are and then we can talk about all right who can do what what so this is an absolute collaborative process. Pine tree park isn't going to do anything without
complete collaboration. Um so what's the motivation for the project? Japanese knwood is of grave concern to the neighbors. It's very fast growing. It's taken over the brook in just a few short years. I'm going to show you photos. It's choking out all the natives which serve a really important ecological
purpose. It's changing the ecology of the land. I don't think people realize that. And if it jumps the path into the neighbor's yards, it's going to impact property values in England. And I think this is
accurate. You actually can't sell your home if you have Japanese knwood on the property. I mean, it's really serious. And I might need to be fact checked, but I think that's the case. >> And you couldn't get insurance. >> You couldn't get insurance. Thank you for facteing, Susan. My trusted fact checker.
Um, >> wrong. >> No, no, no. I think it's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I looked it up when I was writing the proposal. >> Okay. So, here's the thing. We notwed Japanese notweed. And there's other invasives there, but it's just Japanese
notweed is the biggest. Nweed cannot be fully eliminated. We know that. Everyone knows that. You could get goats. You could do pesticide, right? there's you can burn it, but obviously we can't do any of those things. It's conservation land. Um although Josh is going to
identify actually what can be done and what our choices are because we do have choice. So it but the thing is is eliminate managing and maintamping it down requires multi-year strategic intervention. You don't just do
something once. It h it's over time and then after like a three-year thing and then you can like maintain it and we need to figure out who's going to do that, what's it going to look like, does it require funding. Josh will also biohabitats also help us identify funding if we need any. So it's really
an exciting project and I feel like it can serve um as a model for other parts of town as I said earlier. So other folks are interested in this. I sat in on one of the conservation commission meetings and there was a random neighbor
who I you know who doesn't necessarily attend not from our neighborhood from a different part of town. Um I don't know if you remember this Tom or if you were on that call but um uh they were very concerned about
Japanese notwood and asked the conservation commission what are you doing about it? What's the town doing? Is anyone doing anything about it? And so there's really an interest across town not just for our neighborhood. So the other reason reasons and the the title of the project is called um
invasive species management and because there's a second part um ecological restoration strategic planning. So the other pieces are um flooding and erosion. So the homes literally sit right on the brook if you've ever walked
the path. Literally the homes are right there. um like their their yards above the brook literally above the path and we know with climate change uh everything's changing and so the FEMA flood maps literally predict that that
area is going to flood you know 50 years 100 years and NEPRA has all that data which is really great um they just issued a a a report I 2024 it's like hot off the press so um okay so there's that there's runoff as I already mentioned 11
streets dead ended into the brook. There's pollution, fertilizers, cars. Um, and there's bio retention cells, which are these holes in the ground that filter out toxins before they run into the brook. Um, and we have three and we have 11 streets. Um, one of which is
totally bare and the kids use as a bike ramp, right? Like a a bike pit. Um, and it's fabulous for them, builds community, but terrible for the environment. Um uh and then um
uh and then I said when it's raining the pollutants run in and so those bio retention cells play a really important role and the other two bio retention cells and not weed in them which Neper also told me uh degrades the efficiency
of that filtering process. So um neighbors take great pride in in our little neck of the woods. We have this amazing annual cleanup that a lot of you have been to. Uh tons and tons of bags of trash and and recycling over the
years. We've pulled out bicycles and tables and you know it's and lots of drug and alcohol paraphernalia and >> baseball tire >> baseball tire sign. I mean the good news is every year we do this there's less
and less. So that's kind of good news. um a an iron statue of a horse. I don't know if he still has that. >> I mean, >> what a blue bike. >> A safe box with money in it that I think was stolen during one of the football
games and then they couldn't open it. I'm I have a lot of fun pictures if anyone's interested. >> Where' the money go to? >> Nobody could open it. We gave it back to the boosters whoever it was. Um Okay. So, um,
just a couple more things and then I'm going to hand it off to Josh. So, when we submitted the proposal, we circulated a, uh, in addition to letters of support from all of our key stakeholders, we circulated um a, um, what do they call
that? Like a surveys? No, no, no, no. A um, >> sign up like a endorsement. >> A petition. A petition. Thank you. Um, and we had over a hundred neighbors immediately 150 immediately sign it to
say they support the project and they'll be willing to help whatever ends up being our plan moving forward. And so there is so much interest in this and everyone has their own angle and and so um I am going to read you a quick blurb
from the proposal. I'm going to show you some photos and then hand it over. So, the study's mission is to improve the integrity and ensure long-term resilience of the site and protect the land for generations to come. The purpose of the vision plan is to ident and I know you're going to go into this.
The purpose of the identity is to identify opportunities for Pine Tree Brook Neighbor Association to improve ecological integrity, water quality, reduce erosion, improve long-term resilience, and ensure continued access to the site. This approach will allow biohabitats to form a highle review of
the site and its place along the sur surrounding stream carter and begin to provide an initial vision for open space planning. So there you go. I'm going to show you a couple of quick photos. Uh not of the map. I'll leave that to you.
Um uh I know Shane's like, >> "Oh, this is the easiest one. You just pushed." >> Oh, great. Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. So, all right. Um, Margaret, why don't you
advance it, but not let that escape thing. Okay. So, just to show you, this is near, this is on the Ottabon side of the path. Um, we do have trees that fall over the path. Sometimes the DPW comes and they help us um, uh, you know,
manage the safety and all. As you can see, next slide. There's a lot of duplicates. So, this is the other side of that view. This is Glen Street where I live. Um, as you can see, this is somebody's trampoline. Like the houses literally are on the path. And then this is the brook right here. You can see water all peeking through. Next slide.
Um, oh, by the way, I took all these photos yesterday. So, it's very lush. Um, uh, okay. This is one of the streets. I think this is actually Grove Street. Look, you can see how close. And this is the path. And this is And this is the
rock. Next slide. So, um, more of the same. Next slide. So, this is Grove still, I think. And this is the buyer retention cell. It's hard to see from this angle. And these
are the bike ramps. You can see next slide. I shouldn't be touching this. Okay. So, you can see a little bit better the bike ramps here. And then, um, and you can see it's relatively bare. This is the most lush I've seen it. Usually during the year it's
actually, you know, it's just dirt. And this is the brook. Next slide. So this is right where the bridge is behind the high school. Guile road bridge. Um, and again, DPW maintains the trash barrels. You could see it's
freshly, you know, a fresh usually there's a lid on it. I don't know what happens with. But um, and this is the Japanese notweed. >> Notweed. notweed, Japanese knotweed. And you can see it's on both sides. And this is someone's
home. And this is a a bio retention cell here, one of the three. And it's filled with Japanese knotwood. And this is this is someone's home right there. So I actually I think I'm not even sure if it's in his yard yet, but All right, next slide.
This is right right before the bridge on on the Ottabon side. Um, right. I think it's it's Mar meager. I think it's that's the dead end street that's there. This is the N this is the Navi and it's very lush. So, it's literally squeezing in the path and you know normally during
the year off season so to speak, it's not that cramped. Next slide. More views. Um, go on. So, that's the bridge. Um, and uh um that's the high school right there. So
you can see, you know, easy access to, you know, Parkway Crescent and Marger, whatever you say. >> Yeah. Mar >> River and um Grove and Gibbons and
so Okay, next. This is the other side of the brook. This is on the high school side, right on the other right next to the bridge. I came off the bridge and I turned left and this is all Japanese not would not
be. Next slide. Next slide. So just showing you you know this is the high school side and this is the brook and this is the not we next slide. Not we next slide. So halfway along the
brook path is a little cutth through to the high school. It's actually where the I think it's Donovan where the little league baseball where the little kids play. So there's sort of a little bit of of cut. This is a little cut and again the note is encroaching. Next slide please.
Um just more pictures of my absolute favorite place on earth. That's not true but my happy place. Okay. So this is one of the you can see the street here. This is one of the outfall pipes. Is that what you call it? One of the outfall pipes. And you could see literally all
the contaminants from the street go right into literally directly into the brook. That's why when it rains it degrades by 22%. With pollutants. Next slide. Uh just to show you wind that you know how close the houses are. Next slide.
Almost done. Just to show you sort of the land. You know the trees have a normal lifespan. And I don't think conservation land you can mess with it. I think you leave whatever has fallen. But again, I need to be fact checked on that. Next slide.
Um, this is actually on the Thatcher site. So, if you know Manning Lane, uh, there's the brook um, goes through and this is next slide, you'll see what I mean. Uh, it was dry yesterday. I was shocked. Totally shocked. Next slide.
>> Not anymore. All right. Uh again, this is a v visual again, not read over here. Next slide. Uh so this is on the way to Thatcher now. Um and so this whole land is the parkway. I meant to take a picture of
the park said the parkway to Thatcher. That's really kind of roughly speaking. Next slide. Uh more of the same. Next slide. So this is the entrance to Thatcher. Next slide. So you might recognize that stature and you know you might have
passed it a million times and seen it or not seen it. All right, I think that's the last one. So without further ado, I'm going to introduce Josh. We're going to switch to his slides and there you go. >> I don't know if you wanted to go around and after my talk.
>> No, no, do you do first and then >> Yeah. >> knows >> 11. Great. >> Where's the stop share? You have to go. Nope. >> Sometimes just hit escape three times. >> But that's the secret.
>> Got it. >> Um, I'm going to head out, but just let you guys know when you need to stop sharing. I have to just hit it once. Okay. >> And then please just leave this over there. It's not it opens for >> go to the first there.
How do you hide that? >> Yeah, hide. >> It'll just go away. >> Oh, perfect. >> I've been doing this for five years and I still forget this. >> So, I'll advance. >> Thank you so much. Um, so go for it. >> So, thanks. >> Thanks, Deborah. Um, so yeah, my name is
Josh Wilson. Um, I am a senior restoration ecologist with Biohabitats. Um, I've been also I'm also a c a professional wetland scientist. um and been doing um wetland delineations assessment you know that's sort of where my career started and then it uh but
also got into ecological restoration projects um and um you know everything from stream uh bank restoration to wetland creation wetland restoration um type of work both coastal and inland so wide variety of different types of
habitats and that type of stuff um but really always it always comes back to the water for me right so so um you You know, wetlands are that nice area between between the open water and the and the upland areas. Um, some people think they're less nice because of mosquitoes, but we can have that debate
another time. Um, side piece. So, I my title is open space resilience planning. It's a vision plan. That's sort of the larger way. Denvers is a long is a mouthful and I didn't memorize it. So, I I think it's easier. This encompasses a lot of what we're going to do um in terms of open space vision planning. Um,
you know, like she said, we're we're not we're not we're going to get to a place where we identify the conditions at the site over. >> If you like your slides, we >> Oh, you didn't see my slides. I was going to get my slides in the background. Thank you. >> Um, yeah. Uh, so so um we're we're
working towards not just um not just open planning, space planning for the vision, what what the community wants to see in the situation, but also um how do we manage how do we manage the invasive species on site? um how do we manage for future um future climate change and um
and flooding on the site? Well, all of these things are interrelated in in how the site currently exists and what we might need to do in the future um in order in order to to manage it. Um managing water quality, managing habitat, um all of that. So, who are we
biohabitats? Uh Biohabitats um is a company of uh about 40 years we've been in business um and uh I've been in business about 40 years and we are a group of um landscape architects, engineers, biologists, ecologists, hydraologists um soil
scientists, you know, we a wide diverse range of of um professionals in the field. Um we do everything from conservation planning to ecological restoration to regenerative design. So in some cases we do water treatment and reuse of you know gray water reuse type
of stuff. Um really we envision a world where the earth's complex systems um are working uh together with the community systems that are there and with our surroundings. So really uh our our motto is restore the earth and inspire
ecological stewardship and we really try to live that every day. We're a learning company. So, so we're always looking for innovative ideas and ways to um to use what's what's being evaluated and tested um in the sort of more academic realm and bring it to fruition into into the
you know the pract into regular practice. So, the next slide please. So, I think these are the three uh CPA open space goals. Um, and I think this is what what Deborah uh rattled off, which is the ex expand and preserve uh restore open space uh through community improve
benefits use particularly along current and future trails paths um river frontage is conservation land and ponds. The second is to preserve wild and natural areas. Um and then the third is to support resiliency and protect neighborhoods by expanding resources and mitigate impacts of flooding and climate
change. And to this end how will we intended to guess not behaving there we go this is even more words which is like this is like a this is a fail right in presentation you don't want to produce many words in a presentation so I'm not expecting
everybody to read it the guess is that we're trying to do exactly what the what the goals were right um we want to have some strategic planning largely around the basis species management but also some ecological restoration they kind of go hand in hand in that sense um we want to uh identify invasive knotw weeds um
bring back natives into the system which then which then incre increase uh improve um ecological habitat or provide ecological uplift u also water quality improvements and then lastly you know with the expectation that uh that these areas may become are more prone to
flooding and may become more prone to flooding with climate change really trying to identify opportunities to um to manage that um in a way that that's both ecologically and society beneficial and looking at ways of of
doing that. Uh for example, the B retention basins are a great idea, but if they are if they're full of vegetation and especially trees and larger, you know, and notweed, it's really may not be doing everything that they can. Um they're also, you know, but if you can introduce more uh diverse
assemblage of plants, then you're also providing both the uh both the ecological value as well as the the storm water benefits to it. So, so this is uh the steps that we're going to do in this project um and how we're gonna we like to support this is really
um it's really a combination of reviewing what information is out there, what exists and talking to you all as a stakeholders. This is a this is a partnership um in this process. Um we're not we don't say that we know what's going on here. We and what is important
to you all because you all know what's important in this particular habitat. uh what we bring to the table is our understanding of the ecology um and the relationship between um hydrarology and the ecology and the plant systems and everything like that. Um we look to you
all to say how do you prioritize those things? What are your priorities and needs? Um and so but to do that first we need to understand what's going on at the site and we often do that through a discovery process um which is also ecological and site characterization process. And so in that case, you know,
we'll be relying upon information that has been collected um collected by the town um collected by the Platon River wershed association or any other groups that might have information about the um about the area. Um our will also conduct a sitewalk and do you know rapid
ecological assessment um evaluating notable ecological habitats, extensive extents in identifying um invasive species. Well, notweed is one of the big ones. I'm sure there are others uh within the watershed. Um I think I saw some might have seen some multifllora
rose. Um might have seen some some Norway maples which are not really invasive but are invasive. So we can have that discussion. Um and so but then um but then also doing you know evaluating some of the information from you all you know taking notes during this meeting. um hearing what you have
to say about the site um any observations that you have anecdotal observations as well as information that um that's been documented in the system and then collecting representative photos. all this sort of comes together and these are a couple projects where we've you know where we're working on um
one is you know one is a uh this one larger image um is an area um coastal Connecticut that we were working on where we basically identified the major ecological ecological habitat zones um and then this then um is taken to the
public and the stakeholders who and discussed with you all and say these are the the zones and these are likely things that we can do in these areas or how we want to encourage ecological uh uplift um and and manage those areas uh in accordance with what the expectation
for the for the property is. Um and next slide. So then once we've sort of gathered the information um we draft a vision plan. This does come from our head but comes from whatever the the initial the initial conversations we've had with with you all. Um we start to
say okay what are the what are the priorities? How do we where do we want to focus? How do we want to make connections between between areas? For example, if there are connections between Poke Pond, is that I remember that right to the to the south. >> Is that south? I'm trying to get my bearings. I was trying to get my bearings east. Yeah.
>> Upstream, right? The upstream poke pond, you know, in the rest of the neighborhoods um downstream um on Pine Brook. Um but also, you know, how does that relate? um talking about, you know, if we're going to talk about invasive species, we do talk about how those invasive species exist on the site, but
how do they get there? Um part of the reason, uh it's likely that there is um that there is Japanese notweed in this area is it's probably a not a regular flood plane, but a flood plane area nonetheless. It it probably floods periodically. And um and on those flood waters, a lot of seeds often are
dropped. Material is dropped into the soil and the soils, you know, as Deborah's photos were showing, it's sort of it's sort of not entirely a a strong leaf litter duff layer. It's probably um flushed out of there periodically and so it's more soil. So there's more soil to plant contact and the plants grow more
rapidly and then and spread more rapidly than than the natives can. So understanding how how the flow from the river affects establishment of the invasives and also can move them downstream. Um and then really trying to develop a memo that summarizes our um
understanding of what it takes to to take these vision, take these ideas of of how to manage the site and move them forward in a cost as well as a process uh base going forward. um we take this back to you all as stakeholders, get your feedback, um and
then refine it to sort of a final a final version of of sort of that vision of what uh that vision plan. It's kind of like another way of saying is a master plan, right? So doing that type of work and and we work through that. Um a lot of it's it's graphical uh more
graphical and less and less narrative. uh there is there are narrative parts but I think that we sort of balance the two because I think that I think that people we want to try to cater to both the visual people and the and the textual people. So uh we write the our reports in that sort of way. So again um
just other examples of you know uh this is Brooklyn Botanic Garden up here. We were we're working on that project um and just identifying you know this balance between in that one we were looking at a balance between collections which is botanic gardens usually work in the idea of horicultural collections
versus native native communities and so trying to discuss that balance and so or uh park down here that we were working on in New Jersey where trying to connect different natural zones with used zones. So, um, you know, there's maybe there
may be more natural areas like this. There's a salt marsh area over here, but we want to be able to connect it to some of the more park the park areas. Um, so trying to make that balance between in those connections there. So, um, I think that was the last slide for what we're
what we're going to do and how we're going to, you know, our process in this, but I think that the the last slide is sort of maybe a good segue to the conversation. Um these are sort of the general questions that that we would ask you all as stakeholders and maybe put
out there for people um to sort of keep in mind um you know I think we're Deborah and I were talking about developing a a Google form or a questionnaire type of thing to allow people to answer questions these questions offline that we don't expect everybody to have to have an answer now that type of stuff but at least to be
able to answer them and some of the things to consider um as we're starting to work through this this process. Can I show just walk people through this briefly? >> Yeah, absolutely. So, this is Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And this may not be this is just for Pine Brook. Um I didn't Pine Treebrook.
Um I didn't include I didn't include the path that goes out here, which I know is is part of the is part of the overall, but I'll have you speak to that. >> I just very quickly because I really want to go around the table. So, um this is the high school. This is um
Brooksfield. Uh, you know, this is Guile Road. The back entrance pops out onto the parkway. So, this is the parkway and um so this is Winthrip Street. I was telling you it's the first the path starts on this side. Um, you know, so
the brook and the path. So this long where's the brook? >> Starts up where it says talking, I believe. Yeah, >> right there. Thatcher's there. >> Thank you. >> So, the brook goes this way and then there's paths on both sides coming from
Thatcher. It's a little like, you know, tricky to find, but then it is right. Then there's paths on both sides. And you could see here this is very densely populated. And then on the other side is Elman Guliver and um this one >> Wendel Park.
>> Thank you, Wendell Park. And there's a little that's the brook that the stream that goes into where I showed you where it was dry. And then um this is thatcher. So really it's like blue hills to Thatcher. Now if you continue the brook path
continues to post pond which is over here. But we are stopping at we're just looking at the land between the parkway and thatcher roughly speaking. And we're not doing anything over here because the town has got a whole other project going on with the school and all of that. So,
I'm not just this little slice. Although, we're going to walk the site site and talk about the other little pieces that are here because I I wanted to sort of check in around the the full site. Okay. I'm going to stop there. So, so that's just sort of to orient you
what we're talking about. Okay. Do you want to say anything else? >> Um, no. No, I don't I think that I think that you know what's important for for us to understand is is what information is out there um what what's been done to fight um you know whether it's whether
it's the construction of the um I'm not calling them the tension basins but you know the basins um to what Nepona has has done river wershed has done on on um on these this is a tributary so I think that just understanding I'd like to know what that is I can set up a you know
again I can set up a um to say a dropbox, but basically a folder online uh for people if you want to provide your email. Um and you can upload that that those documents and be a part of our our review. Um >> okay, >> I don't think so. I think I'd like to
hear what other people have to say. Yeah. >> So, my intent is get through everyone and the audience. So, let's see if we can do this in the time that we have. Thank you. That was great. Thank you. Really, really >> um I'm so excited to be working with
them. Um, okay. Why don't we start with Tom just to get it out of the way because he's was very clear they're just the funer and not really actively part of the project. But I want to give context. So we'll start with Tom. >> Sure. So, um I'm a member of the
community preservation committee. As as Deborah said, um we raise through your search charge on your property taxes about a million dollars a year for three purposes, affordable housing, open space
and recreation. The second purpose to historic preservation. So, we are I think just entering our fourth year of being able to fund uh various deserving projects around town and we were pleased to award uh sustainable Milton
um is technically the recipient um because the 501c3 for this project um it as you pointed out >> fit fits in with the goals of CPA and um we're um we like to fund these projects
and watch uh the benefits um multiply to Milton residents. So um I would also say without my CPA hat on um I'm a resident of this area and active user of this uh path. So So
thank you. Um Lauren Barski, but I don't want to steer your last name. Is that >> Yes, that's we go. >> Lauren Barovski. I'm representing Sustainable Milton. Um we're excited to
be included in this project. Um we our primary role is as mentioned the fiscal conduit which is uh our sponsor. So um which is not something that we're familiar with but we're working with um
and excited to be able to help Pineree Brook and all of this community. Um, I actually personally found this really exciting because I've been watching um a um Japanese Notwood project in
Vermont um that's been very expansive a lot in war in Vermont and I've been watching the project in these areas where we swim and the Nweed is unbelievable and watching what they do is
it's daunting. It's a daunting task. So, I'm excited that we're addressing this for and you know, Sustainable Milton's mission is to help um the community. Um you know, part of our mission is to preserve the
ecosystem. So, um I think this project will be important for that. And um I'll let Alex touch more on our the planning process for the the climate action plan or resiliency part. Thank you so much. And just speak up a
little louder. We only This is the only microphone we have. So go ahead. >> Morning everyone. My name is Cassandra. I'm the environmental coordinator for the town. I recently started with the town six months ago. So I'm here representing the DPW. Um our stake in the game is like Deborah said at the
beginning, we do general maintenance of the Pine Tree Brook. So we mow, trim, all that stuff. We also maintain the three bio retention cells on site. And I think as we all know now, they're not in the greatest shape. So I'm really excited that this project's coming about around the same time that we're in the
state of those cells. So I'm really hoping to see what Biohabitat's recommendations are. Um that way through the DPW, we can see what we can move forward towards and what you guys recommend. So I'm really excited for that. And I think
it would be really cool to learn more about the current state. I mean, we all know that the Japanese notweed is there, but I'm really interested to learn what other invasive species are present there as well. So, very excited to collab on this project. >> I'm so excited. Can you pass?
>> Okay. Um, and Karen Hin um who actually used to be a neighbor in literally like stones throw from the the path in the brook. So, Karen, go ahead. >> Uh, yes. Carros Horin and I am community engagement strategist at um the positive
liberal watershed as well as former resident and all of my community work really is in Milton cou greatest conversations for racial justice. This all just fit very well with, you know, the loves and passions that I have um and the work that Neper is doing, you know, as we look at our participation in
the municipal um vulnerability preparedness grant. Um we looked at the whole region what are the the uh do the flood modeling now that we've been in three years of study and um this is one of the critical areas of concern and as we look kind of throughout the watershed
we are looking at what kind of green and gray infrastructure can be implemented in this very region um to lessen the severity of impact um over you know the coming years um because it does look serious and you know the priorities um you know where are elderly living where
are the schools, where are the environmental justice u populations and that's why this area really is a focus. Um so um that we were just doing that modeling recently um and talking about um all the things that impact this area. So not only that I think that this
serves as a model for the whole wershed you know um and other invasives are um of critical um impact throughout the wershed. So maybe this is really a a great um highlight of how other communities can get involved in doing um
this type of work. So thank you so much. >> Me you can just >> Oh okay. >> Hi Margaret Carols. Um I live my street
dead ends on the brook. from three houses from the brook and I've watched the Japanese notwe go from zero to 100 um in the past 25 years um but I just want to note like it was about 15 years ago where a certain department in town
not represented here and I won't throw them under the bus clearcut near the b near the bridge and what comes back is the knotweed I mean it wasn't there before but it's very clear like where it where it kind of
grows you know. Anyway, so um every I think every year I go online and say, "Have they solved the Japanese notweed problem?" Every year the answer is no. So um thank you Deborah for pulling this together.
>> Okay. Alex um serves on two committees. So I'm excited he's in dual roles. So go ahead. >> So I'm Alex Hasha. I am the um vice president of sustainable Milton. So here in our role as a fiscal conduit and I'm also the chair of the climate action
planning committee uh which is a select board advisory committee that has been working for two years to uh make a comprehensive plan from now till 2050 uh to eliminate both eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with
Massachusetts goals uh for net zero by 2050 but also in the scope of our planning is um adapt adaptation and resilience to growing climate risks. Uh so very interested in sort of learning from this project. Uh because I'm not an
ecologist by by training. So I don't um interested in learning what goes into restoring and maintaining um valuable open space um as as everyone else here. Uh and certainly the recommendations from this work will make their way into
Milton's climate action plan. So very excited to be part of this. >> Thank you. And Tom, >> I'm a I'm Tom Palmer. I'm a Milton resident. I live across a parkway, but I
often visit this area. I'm familiar with it. I'm a naturalist and a photographer, botonist. Um I remember Dick Russell, the former head. >> Say what board you sit on. I'm on the
conservation commission. I'm a former employee of Nepro. I'm a Nepro water sampler. In fact, I sampled the brook at the parkway yesterday at about 7 a.m. Something I noticed was I had gone to
six spots around town, including Brookbrook and the main stem deposit. I sampled for dissolved oxygen at the Parkway. the numbers of for dissolved oxygen were much much lower than elsewhere around town about 23 25%
whereas at Adam Street on the main stem of the river it was up around 90 plus on goody brook up above 80 I believe that I recall why is there so little oxygen in Pinery Brook when it crosses under the parkway
I think it has to do with Pope's spine um popes like uh this portion of the brook is um a creation. The portion of the brook we're talking about is straight. That's very unusual for a brook in
Massachusetts. It's also lined with concrete. You can walk up and down it now when the flow is low. You won't hardly get your feet wet because the bottom is so hard. The banks are steep and they're rip wrapped. Why is a brook
like that? I think you know it was pushed to the side when this whole neighborhood was developed in the 1920s. That's when all these streets went in. And uh how much of that area was wetland? I don't know. But it's all flat
now, which is very unusual in New England. Another sign that this is an altered area. Why is there a trail on the far side of the brook from the homes? because there's a line of fill there that covers a major sewer pipe. I
don't think it's a town pipe. I think it's a NWR trunk sewer. And that's why near the Parkway on certain days and certain weathers, there's a really accurate stick there where it comes out of that manhole.
At any rate, this area is serving a lot of purposes already. Before we talk about ecological services, I would say public access to the neighbors is also an ecological service. It's something that we all value and
enjoy. Um Dick Russell uh had photos of him in a boat rescuing people from this area in uh Hurricane Diane, August 1955. That was a flood record for the area. And uh that kind of changed the history
of the area because after that it was realized that when this neighborhood was developed it wasn't taken into consideration that Pine Tree Brook drains twothirds of the north slope of the Blue Hills which is a large area and the Blue Hills is rocky. So when the
rain hits it it comes down quickly. So the people that developed the area didn't realize that when the stream got narrow, all the water was going to come out of the brook and that's why Dick had to rescue those people in his boat. So
what changed between then and now the flood storage was dam was built at Uncle Harland. I think you all know that place, a big burm along a goody road that travels onto Harlem and that keeps flood waters from the Blue Hills back
from this neighborhood during big storms. And if you've looked at that dam closely, you may have seen the big tray shaped um place where the water should plunge in if it gets high enough. And then there's an orifice at the front end
of that where it goes through that. In my 30 years in town, the water has never come over into that tray. In fact, it's never gotten in more than a foot of it. So, I would say that dam is doing its job for this neighborhood. But when I
got to know Dick, it was because the town wanted to build a soccer field right across the road. And uh that's the same area now proposed for a school in it. At any rate, the neighborhood did not want that to happen. at least Dick's
friends. And so, uh, the reason they were so sensitive about it was not only did they enjoy having the woods of the natural area across the brook from them, but they believe that they were very vulnerable to flooding. And the type of
flooding that they were concerned about was not water coming over the banks of the brook into the yards, but the water that came up the walls of their basement from the groundwater. And uh that is still a problem and that will remain a
problem. And one way to make sure it's as minimized as possible is to make sure that the brook can carry the water out of the neighborhood. And uh knotweed interferes with that because
knotweed grows up it dies to the brook and means when a flood comes there's less room for the water to pass. So that's one reason it got rid of notweed. And I and I like the fact that this project is about management and
vegetation management because you can get a lot of improvement with that kind of work. not only in flood control but in public access aesthetics and so forth. But I would like to emphasize that as a botist I know what plants belong and
what don't. I know that most of that area is noted. Most of that area is treed and the treed area is a maple swamp which is the most common wetland type in the whole state I would guess.
And if you go into that wooded area across a brook, once you get under the trees, there are no invasives or very little. And that's most of the area. And why are there no invasives? Because they're suppressed by the intact map
canopy. And the notweed, if you walk up and down there, is confined to specific areas. And generally speaking, they're areas that are sunny. I have tried to get rid of knotweed in a couple of places and the
only reason I succeeded a little bit was when I was cutting it, there were other things coming up and they eventually shaded it out. So I would just say not getting rid of nweed is not only about getting rid of it but creating
conditions where other things will grow in and prevent it from coming back. I this is so rich and amazing, but I'm gonna stop listening. I want to um in introduce John Kieran.
I'm putting you on the spot. He's the chair of the conservation commission and I want to give you an opportunity to uh say something. >> Oh, sure. Thank you very much. And I'll be very brief. Uh first I guess and
foremost is that the conservation commission uh enthusiastically supports the program. Uh we passed a resolution supporting uh the application of the CPC and we thank the CPC for uh providing funds to do this. Um invasive species is
a big issue for us. I think one of the speakers mentioned that it's all over the town uh and it it uh has infected many of the projects that we've permitted and we usually have special conditions that goes along with at least attempts uh to if not eliminate or
eradicate at least to limit um the existence of Japanese not weed on site and certainly the spread. Uh so it's a it's a high priority for us. Um the second thing and and I don't I can't see if Jeff Stone is with you but yeah um the conservation commission is now
trying to coordinate um or participate in coordinating uh a number of different projects. This is is central to um Jeff Stone's Milton Brookwalk um and he he can speak directly to that. But we're trying to connect a number of pathways,
not just this 10 acre section between essentially from the uh Thatcher Street to I I know it's actually, you know, further. It's actually central a perhaps to uh the parkway, but right now we're trying to coordinate that pathway with the pathway surrounding Pope's Pond and
Beverly Park because the CPC has been gracious enough to fund the Beverly Park. That's a 4 acre piece of the uh Pope's Pond area. So, they've got a pathway system inside that 4 acres uh surrounding the playground equipment. We're trying to we the conservation
commission is trying to tie that to another CPC project that will close the loop around actually there are two projects to close the loop um surrounding Hokes Pond. So, this area that we've seen, you know, sketches and
and overhead photos of uh will connect to the Pope's Pond area and by including the pathway through the Pevely Park playground and completely surrounding Pope's Pond. And then there's another
big project also funded both by DPW and the CPC. We're trying to put in a a bridge to go over Pine Freebrook, a pedestrian bridge at the south end. That's the Canton Avenue side of Pope's Pond. So when all of these projects come together, we'll be able to I always use
the word circumn and people say, "No, no, it's circumambulate Pope's Pond." So by adding that second bridge, we'll be able to complete the loop. Um and then there's an additional CPC project to make that circumambulation path way
around Popes Pond uh handicapped accessible just as the Turner's Pond one is. So that there are a lot of projects there there there's a confluence of projects timewise. All of that is coming together right now. Uh and Jeff, if you're there, we're trying to set up a
meeting with Bill Madden uh with the Beverly Park Group so that we can coordinate um all of these projects and it's it's very important to us, the conservation commission, to get this pathway that that that uh Deborah has led the charge on cleaned up to make it
more accessible to the public and get rid of that Japanese. So Deborah, we thank you. CPC, we thank you. Uh Jeff Stone, I thank you. But we're on the way. This is all good news. Today is a good meeting. Thanks. >> No fan wrap there.
>> Um I do I I want to say uh Roy Chambers is on the Zoom and I'm so thrilled to see you. Roy everyone knows as the sports photographer in town, but he created this unbelievable
website of Pine Tree Brook and I stumbled upon it um during when I was writing the proposal. And so, uh, Roy, if you just want to very briefly, we have 15 minutes left, but if anyone, we can continue till noon if people want to
stay, but really want to make sure we get, um, uh, everyone. So, briefly, Roy, if you could just say hi to everybody. And I'm gonna, it's a little better for sound if we go like this. Okay. >> Yeah. My name is Roy Chambers. I became involved with the, uh, Pine Tree Brook
back in the late 90s when I met Dick Russell. Uh we've maintained a website uh since that time just about up to presently which I maintain the website uh right now. Um most of my um
involvement has just been the making sure the brook is uh wide open clean and that uh any obstructions are removed uh so that the brook can flow through the neighborhoods as it's uh supposed to.
I've walked the brook from hillside at the beginning right at Hillside Pond all the way to Neponet. So I'm very familiar with the brook and uh I uh I'm glad to see that uh that the Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association is alive and
well. So I'm glad >> you so happy that that you're here with us. Okay. Um >> does anybody >> Oh, Tara's a neighbor. Do you want to say something? You don't have to if you don't want to.
>> Um, sure. I guess a um I'll say I'm I'm super excited about this project. I'm really excited to learn about it. Um, some member of my household is on the path the the space that we're talking about every single day. Um, so we moved
into the neighborhood um with our first buying our first home. We're not abutdding the brook. We're about a block off um on Aottabon and Parkway Crescent on the corner there. Um but we bought uh in Pinerbrook in large part because of the path and because of the brook and
that access that it was going to afford the family. Um and we've really enjoyed it. I I'll say um my sister's an ornithologist, so the first thing that we noticed was like a nesting oral pair and um we have nesting woodpeckers in that wetland. Um, and then I think once
I started to learn more about the local botney, realized how many invasives there are. Um, you know, we beyond the knotweed, there's barbar, there's a lot of English ivy in there. Um, and others
too. Um, but I think the exciting thing is that as people have talked about that the natives come back. Um, and so like just this um, spring during the brook cleanup, I remember seeing like the most beautiful Jack in the Pulpit plant that was coming up in the wetland on the edge
of the wetland. Um, so they're there um, underneath it all and I'm I'm so excited to learn from this. Um, and I think other than just the other point I will make is uh, the point that was already made in talking to other neighbors about this, I think it's twofold. It's both
being good stewards of the ecology in the area, but also um people are really concerned about the climate change aspects of it and how the new school might impact um the Brook's ability to manage storm water with our climate
change big rain events. So, um I know that that's another part that the homeowners are concerned about. >> Thank you so so much. I'm gonna swap to the audience and we can Kim come back to you if you want to share because Kim
serves on the climate resiliency committee, right? >> Or not. >> No. >> Oh, never mind. >> No other members here. Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Okay. Sorry. Hi, Kim. >> Yeah, she >> I thought you said Ken.
>> Sorry. Sorry. Um I am going to Fred. I I hate to put you on the spot. You're welcome to hold off and go a little later, but Fred sits on the shade tree committee in town still. Is that true? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, if you want to just say
something. >> We're an advisory committee to select the main job is to try to restore the loss of street trees which has been very bad. And we also deal with bark trees where we can I think so we don't
thinking of this as a natural area. we wouldn't have any role to play. But I think there would be to my mind a question of how much we want to turn this into a park type area versus just some sort of natural area. And I really
I mean I've been advocating and and Tom brought this up too. If you could grow a lay of trees down that brook and shade everything out, you're not you maybe keep the knotw weed at least shorter because it's gets shorter and shorter as
the as you get into heavier woods. And I and and I don't know whether you walk the area. The porcelain bearing now is unbelievable. And if you go to Pope's Pond, it's like a carpet everywhere. And I can't believe that isn't going to come
down to this part of the brook as well. So that's another that's next, you know, that's next year's invasive. >> Say it again. Which one? >> Porcelain. >> What? >> Porcelain. >> Porcelain berry. It's a vine. It's related to grapes. It is a great type of
vine. And it's but it's coating the trees all the way up. It's very I can't believe those trees are going to survive. If you look along the um west end of Brookfield, it's just a carpet. Anyway, that's all I
>> Thank you. Amazing. Thank you. Um someone else. Uh K, maybe we'll pop back. Kim, did you want to say anything or No, you don't have to. >> Hi. Um just that I'm a neighbor. I'm really into like e very interested in ecological restoration and the path is
such a mess. I'd love to see more native plants there. So, Ben and thanks for organizing all of this. >> Kim Johnson. >> Yes. Who? >> Oh, yes. Jeff Stone. >> Yeah. Uh
>> camera there. Hello everybody. First of all, congratulations to Deborah and members of the Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association for making this project go. And uh it's it's terrific. And uh congratulations and thank you to
uh the community preservation committee for also making this go through uh financing the necessary grants um and the conservation commission for support of this and involvement in this. So what I see here is complimentary
projects that are working together that are going to all help each other to preserve and protect Pineree Brook, its uses and its improvement for the residents of Milton. And uh so I have
been the advocate uh for the Milton Brookwalk which uh capitalizes on the uh areas of the brook where people already walk to create an identified threemile
walking path, multi-use path originating probably at skating rink but maybe further upstream all the way to uh the Neponet River. And uh that's approximately three miles.
And this idea has been inspired by other towns that have miles and miles of identified trails and mapping. And it is has four purposes really. The built-in Brookwalk. It's uh it's uh recreational.
It's educational because part of it would be to install signage indicating the seasonal flora and fauna uh that are including the Japanese notweed unfortunately uh and uh history perhaps of native
peoples and other history uh along the brook uh public health because part of the signage would be mileage markers maybe every quarter of a mile along the three-mile path to give people an indication and an incentive to uh walk
further and as we know uh physical activity is one of the prime uh ways to prevent chronic disease along with diet and other measures. So this would enable people to walk further. Uh and finally
transportation. It's a opportunity for people to walk from the Blue Hills all the way to the Neponet River and beyond connecting DCR properties uh the Blue Hills as well as Neponet Greenway path
and DCR likes this concept by the way because it does connect with two of their uh properties. So I hope to have a meeting something like this in the near future. Uh we have received as I
mentioned alluded to a grant for a feasibility study which I really need to get online and create a website soon. Uh feasibility study was done by VHB a well-known uh firm that does uh how to describe VHB
planning and >> design engineering uh and uh so that study was done. It does indicate uh really good opportunities to u further this concept
and uh been talking with John Kieran and uh encouraged by the uh conser conservation not conservation the CP CPC to combine efforts in like phase one of the Milton Brookwalk to combine efforts
working focusing on the Pope's pond segment So that's where we would work with um Pine Tree Brook neighbors as well because that's very close by uh the area that you're most working on and the notweed is unfortunately you know
upstream and downstream. I live a couple of blocks above Pope's Pond. So I'm very close to to uh the brook which is Pope's Pond is part of the brook as was mentioned earlier. So, um, very soon I hope to have a meeting
by Zoom and in person of, uh, uh, dozens of people who have already indicated their support for the Milton Brookwalk concept. So, I'll stop there and just say I'm really grateful to be here, grateful that, you know, this energizes me and I think we're all energizing each
other to uh, do some great work around Pine Tree B. >> Thank you, Jeeoff. I really appreciate that that you're here and the work you're doing. It's very cool how it's all connected. Pete back. >> Um, I'm Pete Jackson. I sit on the CPC.
I endorse all of this and love what people are talking about. But one thing I want to remind people of, the CPC is not able to fund pure open space ecological projects um, unless it's land that CPC purchased. Um, so the hook for
this project was recreation. And it's an important part to us that this plan look at enhancing the recreational components of this area and both how it connects with others but access from the
neighborhoods, you know, opening access, controlling access, um additional recreational opportunities that might be out there. Um so the ecological is very important but um the recreational aspect is a very important part of this project
from the uh community preservation point of view and I just don't want to lose sight of that. >> Thank you. I appreciate you pointing that out. Anyone who's Susan? Well, I'm a 20-y year resident of the neighborhood and a 10-year uh consumer of FEMA flood
insurance ever since the big rain that flooded everybody's basement but ours, including the people across the street. Um, and it was very interesting to hear the history and und because I had understood about the burm having reduced the flooding since the 50s, but uh I
didn't realize that that section of the brook was essentially man-made manufactured and that's why our neighborhood is so floodprone. So sitting here today, I mean my interest is primarily recreational as a walker and a nearby resident. um and hearing
the idea of the tree LA or or all of that. I I'm really excited about the possibility of really thinking broadly between the idea of the ecological restoration to maybe some sort of realizing that it is not a completely
natural space to the extent that I thought it was. um and thinking about you know what makes it viable, usable and also I know also from door knockocking the other side of the pro I live on the Warren AB side the other
side is extremely worried about water table issues that Wendell Park area that um comes down from the new development that's up at the top of their hill. They experience a lot of base basement flooding. So the whole aspect for these
neighborhoods of water table and flooding and all of that is a big concern and one of mine also um to be thinking about. So anyway, this is really exciting. I came to learn and now I'm like thinking of all kinds of
amazing things that could happen. >> Thank you Susan. I really appreciate it. Um Kim or Amy or I can't remember. >> I'm just happy to introduce myself. Kim Carlos, Deborah's neighbor a couple doors down and a frequent user of the
pathway along Pine Brook as well as my son who every day has gone fishing at Pop Ponds. Like every single day he's out there, he walks down Brook. >> I saw him with his friend. >> Yes, I'm sure you did. >> Oh my god. I see him in his >> Yeah. They literally
>> into my voice. >> He has his own little fishing room, you know? And so we and like Deborah said, to me it's like I work from home. I work all the time. It's like an area of restit for me and of peace and tranquility. And of recent, I feel like I'm walking through a jungle. >> Yeah.
>> Like I will and I said earlier like I would love to come down with like a machete and just like don't do it. Okay. I just want that peaceful space back for everyone, myself, everyone else. >> I'm so grateful you're here.
>> I'm happy to help. >> Yes. I I do. You >> a member of sustainable built it. >> Say your name again. I apologize. >> Pardon? >> Your name. >> Say your name. >> Jean Bron. >> So, yeah. Thank you, Jean.
>> I'm Amy. am a neighbor on the other side of the Brook who's just interested in learning more. >> Great. >> Wow. Does anyone want to add anything who's already sort of spoken or >> This is a great start.
>> Thank you, Deborah. >> Yeah. What are the next steps? >> Next steps. Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Forgot to say that. So, the grant is for a year, right? It kicked off July 1 and ends June 30th, right?
>> Technically, you have multiple years to spend to spend in >> Okay, you're cast dream, but don't >> you want me to say the consultants? >> Yes. Yes. >> Yesterday,
it starts it started on July 1st. So you're eligible to receive um the grant anytime. >> We we estimate that the that the discovery period initial conversations stakeholder conversations is a three 3
to four month up to six month period. Um but then but then we'll between that six to nine month period is where we'll start having a vision plan in place and start you know start really bringing forth some of the stuff. I mean, we'll be in contact with with Deborah, you know, as as the project continues. But
yeah, that's the that's the schedule. >> And can I just jump in in case Deborah doesn't say it? We need people to help. We need people to help. Deborah is wonderful and amazing, but she's wonderful and amazing and trying to do a million things at once. So, if you have
time, please um make sure you sign up for the the committee and don't be shy about jumping in and taking something on um because it's really going to take a group effort. >> Oh my god. Thank you. So, there is a
sign up. You can either email me or tell me right now. I'll write your name down. The sign up is back there. Hopefully, people checked off if they're interested. or you can and also if you want to scan there's a survey you know just to sign up as well. So um yes Alex
>> what kind of opportunities to help tangibly do you anticipate? So, no idea. But part of this is a community needs assessment in in in a way, which is sort of my wheelhouse. And so, part of what we're going to do is convene neighbors and key stakeholders
and talk about and and um Josh is going to gather the data. Um but as Margaret said, you know, pulling together a meeting, I'll need help, right? You know, uh telling people, spreading the word. Um maybe there's key stakeholders
that I'm forgetting about that I haven't notified yet. So getting help like doing that community organizing piece of it and also we have to feed Josh information. So Nappa is has a lot of important all of you have really important data. Tom just said a bunch of
stuff. So um you know Kim is a neighbor and has information about you know the birds that are there which I love that. So anyway, that's sort of and I'm sure Josh if you want to add anything. >> No, I think that's I think that the tangible helping because in some ways
it's also helping organize some of the information. >> Is there going to be a walk where neighbors can walk with June for example just to point out issues like where the water floods across the path during storms.
>> Oh, right. We'll probably >> we'll likely have a you know I'm I'll probably go out there today um and take a quick walk to just orient um but we'll be back we'll probably be back sometime in the next you know next 3 to six weeks at most um to walk the site and I think
maybe that could be a good opportunity you know um you know we like to be able to walk it just me and a couple other ecologists just looking and taking it in ourselves but we can make maybe carve out a period either at the at the start or at the to sort of get some, you know,
some things that we missed or whatever, you know, or we might want to look for switch sides. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, good idea. >> Oh my god, you guys. It is 11:47. We did it. Thank you everybody.
Appreciate all of you. It really is takes a village. >> Thank you everybody on Zoom. >> Yeah. Thank you. [Music]