Conservation department seeks grants, repairs for Pratt Farms dams and requests workshop and equipment at Pecony Farm

Trisha (Conservation) presented several conservation projects on Jan. 22, including a high-priority Pratt Farms large-dam repair, a smaller culvert/dam connected to ADA trail improvements, and facility/equipment requests for Pecony Farm.

On the large dam at Pratt Farms, Trisha said the town previously applied to the state Dam and Seawall Grant program but was not awarded funding because permitting (including Army Corps of Engineers permitting) was not complete. She said the project would cost about $1.0 million with a local match estimated at $465,000; the town plans to reapply for the grant in the next round. Trisha described current temporary repairs that date to the 2010 floods and said the dam is held partly by clay and sandbags. She also noted environmental and recreational importance: the dam affects downstream flow into the Taunton River system and supports fishing and other recreation. Trisha said the town will pursue permit steps and community outreach required by the grant program and noted public‑meeting and equity outreach can strengthen an application.

Trisha also described a smaller culvert/dam near Pratt Farm that supports the ADA trail connection. That repair would replace a failing culvert and reduce undermining and sinkholes on the trail; Trisha said she had a quote from Parr Corporation for approximately $285,000 for the culvert/dam work and that eligibility for some ecological grants is limited if the site isn’t mapped as an ecological restoration priority.

On Pecony Farm, Trisha requested funding options for a modest workshop or retrofit of existing outbuildings to store tools and equipment and to support land-management tasks. Estimates ranged widely: a prefabricated shed or simpler retrofit on the low end, and $20,000–$50,000 for larger scenarios that could include electrical work. Trisha said one land-manager (formerly called land steward) position has been funded by the town; the current land manager’s salary is about $70,000. Committee members suggested exploring lower-cost fixes first — adding secure doors, using existing truck/trailer storage, or renting a container — and asked Trisha to supply an itemized retrofit estimate for a specific building.

Trisha also requested a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) in the $17,000–$23,000 range to move tools and materials across properties; staff currently rely on volunteer vehicles and an old donated truck. Committee members asked about storage for a UTV and whether vehicles could be licensed for road use to avoid trailering.

Committee members instructed Trisha to follow up with more detailed, itemized quotes for building retrofit or storage solutions and to prioritize work on the large dam if the grant reapplication moves forward.