SOUTHWICK — Despite the cold weather cutting down on the public’s use of the North Pond Conservation area, steps continue to be taken to address the issues that have plagued the property because of overuse over the last three years.
During the Conservation Commission’s meeting on Dec. 2, the committee’s Coordinator Sabrina Pooler announced the state’s Division of Fisheries & Wildlife approved the commission’s request to close the Scenic Trail, one of three approved state approved trails, on the 61-acre property.
“We should start getting a materials’ list together of what we need … and get everything in place as soon as the spring thaw,” Commissioner Dennis Clark said after Pooler made the announcement.
“We could have done it sooner, but it took a while to get the permission,” Clark added.
In the letter sent to the commission by Elizabeth Newlands, a MassWildlife conservation restriction stewardship coordinator, she wrote agency approved the closure of the Scenic Trail for two years.
“MassWildlife has determined that this will help prevent further erosion, allow the re-establishment of trampled vegetation, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat,” Newlands wrote, adding it consistent with the conservation restriction on the property.
Pooler said snow fencing, which MassWildlife suggested for blocking the trail, needs to be purchased, but for now the Scenic Trail can be blocked using woody debris, like logs and branches.
There are three state-approved trails in the area: the Scenic, Main and Vernal Pool trails. There are six “unapproved” trails that have created by visitors, two that run west of the beach area connected to the scenic trail, two that track south off the main trail, and two that allow access to the property from Babb Road and spur into the vernal pool trail.
The Scenic Trail is the access point for the property from the parking lot along South Longyard Road.
As a visitor enters the property, there is a fork where the scenic and main trail meet. That is where the barriers will be placed.
Since the property was purchased in 2019, an increase in the number of people using it has increased steadily, and the vegetation in the area of the former King’s Beach, where the majority of visitors gather, is severely eroded.
Essentially, the beach area is completely bare, which means that during heavy rains, the soil is washed into the North Pond of Congamond Lakes.
MassWildlife also recommended placing informational signage where the trailhead is closed and along the shore at the base of the steep slope “to further discourage use in the area of concern.”
It suggested signage with language like “Area Closed for Habitat Restoration.”
The commission and the Select Board had already agreed to significantly increase the signage inside the property and along its perimeter.
A task force that was created after a street brawl between residents and visitors in July on South Longyard Road to come up with permanent solutions included as one of its recommendations the installation of signs on the property that clearly spell out with is and isn’t allowed.
What is allowed on the property is defined as “passive recreation,” which is hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, trapping and observing wildlife.
What is not allowed is camping, starting campfires, using the shore for swimming, drinking alcoholic beverages, littering and ATV use, which has been an ongoing problem.
In an attempt to reduce the number of visitors to the property, the Select Board has approved reducing the number of parking spaces in the parking lot from eight to four.
The board has also formally started the process of installing no parking signs along South Longyard Road by nearly half a mile in both directions from the property’s parking lot and on nearby side streets that visitors often used when the parking lot was full.
The board held a required public hearing for the no parking signs installation last week. Several residents of the side roads spoke in opposition to the signs, and several others spoke in favor.
The public hearing continued during the Select Board’s next meeting, which took place on Dec. 9.
The task force also recommended the town adopt a new bylaw that would codify what is and isn’t allowed, not only in the conservation area but on all town-owned property.
The proposed bylaw has provisions on security activities that would be conducted on town property, including a provision making it clear to visitors that law enforcement agencies will use video, drone or other electronic measures to monitor the property, and no visitor should have an expectation of privacy.
Also included in the proposed bylaw are prohibitions for littering, starting fires, operating ATVs, consuming alcohol, bringing unleashed dogs onto town property, smoking tobacco or marijuana and noise.
The bylaw would allow “authorized agents” of the town to search, seize, and confiscate any property, thing or device, including to but not limited to vehicles, persons, coolers, bags and backpacks taken into any park, beach, conservation or preservation area or its parking areas.
It proposes fines starting at $50 for violating the provisions of the bylaw.
The proposed bylaw must be approved by the Select Board and Town Meeting.
