Greylock Glen Eyeing Construction Next Year
 Cathy Garnett of DCR said invasive species removal should also begin this summer. |
MassDevelopment announced last month a $275,000 grant that the Greylock Glen Advisory Committee hopes to use to do engineering work for an array of infrastructure improvements.
The group hopes to receive funding from the newly developed MassWorks Infrastructure Program for the actual construction.
"Instead of using their money for the physical improvements to water and sewer, they can help us with the engineering. We wanted them to do that so that we would be in position to apply under the MassWorks Infrastructure Program," Donna Cesan, community development director, said on Thursday. "I think this is a really big step forward."
MassDevelopment has already issued and received requests for proposals; engineering work can begin in the next couple of weeks, Cesan said. The MassWorks program applications are due in September and if the project is approved, construction would begin next year. Cesan said she was confident, after talking with state officials, that the project will receive funding.
Before construction can start, invasive species removal must begin at least a year in advance, according to Cathy Garnett, a planner with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. DCR is on a tight deadline to hire a new contractor and hopes to begin about $150,000 worth of invasive species removal this summer.
"I am about to issue a new request for proposal for a new contractor," Garnett said. "The scope of the work has changed. They're expanding the area to cover the full 1,000 acres."
There are nine species identified on the property that threaten rare species, Garnett said, and in the next three years more than 85 percent will be removed. Work there can begin as early May, she said.
"I'm under the gun for this," Garnett said. "It's going to be a quick effort once I get these people going."
Funding for the removal will take away from the funding to construct the trails, Garnett said, but the removal cost could be greatly decreased with volunteer efforts. Removing the species will take place all summer and into late fall, she said.
DCR is committed to paying for the removal for three years and after that the developer would take over.
Another worry off the committee's shoulders is the Lake Ashmere mitigation. Garnett said the state has decided to look elsewhere for the needed wetlands. However, DCR may still pay to remove the concrete slab that would have been part of that mitigation.
The state and the town both have consultants outlining the current wetlands on the site for permitting. The delineation will be complete by June, she said.
"It's good for six to nine years so we will have some time," Garnett said.
