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Glocester Land Trust reports trail work, pavilion upgrades and progress toward reclassifying Hawkins/Hiazza dam
Summary
Land Trust trustees told the council they maintain roughly 20 miles of trails across 2,200 acres, completed two DEM-funded pavilions and submitted engineering reports pushing for recategorization of the Hawkins/Hiazza dam from 'high hazard' to 'significant hazard'; trustees said they are awaiting a written determination before final planning.
Representatives of the Glocester Land Trust updated the town council on a broad set of conservation and recreation projects at the council's Dec. 19 meeting, highlighting trail maintenance, new pavilion installations and progress on a long-running dam reclassification effort.
Will Mooring, speaking for the Land Trust, said trustees and volunteers maintain about 20 miles of trails across roughly 2,200 acres in 10 parcels and detailed recent capital improvements. "We've completed the installation and opening of the two pavilions that were made possible through DEM Recreation Grants," Mooring said, citing Steer Hill and Hawkins Pond as completed locations and noting the pavilions are ADA-compliant.
Mooring described the Quadrant Schoolhouse rehabilitation work, including a new roof and an ADA access ramp intended to make the building useful as a visitor center and for educational programming. He said the Land Trust is partnering with the town's economic development committee and other local businesses on trailhead signage and QR-code materials to point visitors to local services and amenities.
On trail development, Mooring said the Land Trust has piloted community events (children's art displays, mountain-bike events in partnership with NEMBA) and has raised nearly enough funding to cover the trail design phase for a proposed mountain-bike trail network at Sprague Farm.
The update included engineering and regulatory work on the Hawkins/Hiazza dam. Mooring said the Land Trust submitted engineering reports and had in-person meetings with DEM and the project's engineer; the Land Trust "convinced those folks that this is in fact not high hazard" and that the dam should be classified as "significant hazard," meaning a risk of property damage rather than loss of life. Mooring cautioned the council that he would not declare the reclassification final until the decision was received in writing and noted that actual repair work and funding remain to be planned.
The Land Trust stressed the difference in scope between a high-hazard retrofit and the work required for a significant-hazard classification, noting that a high-hazard classification could force massive, unaffordable structural work. Mooring said the reclassification, if confirmed in writing, would allow the group to move to final planning and seek appropriate partnerships and funding sources.
Council members thanked the Land Trust for volunteer maintenance and the progress on the dam reclassification. Mooring said he was optimistic that a written determination would follow and that the Land Trust would proceed to the next planning steps once the state confirmation arrives.
