Commission presses contractor and resident engineer after complaints of 'sea of ragweed' and a persistently flooded low point on rail trail

Commissioners raised two maintenance concerns about the rail-trail alignment during the June 8 Martin Conservation Commission meeting: an extensive stand of common ragweed along the trail and a recurring low point near the town line where water sheets across the surface, creating wet and icy conditions much of the year.

John Nero and Matt Chu of Beta Group, with Dave Bashette of Masto Environmental, fielded questions from commissioners and residents. Nero said the contractor had obligations to control invasive species listed by the state and that seed tags for the prescribed seed mix were held by the resident engineer. "Common ragweed is a native species to eastern US," Nero said, adding that while the species is a colonizer in disturbed soils, it is not on the state's invasive list and therefore was not necessarily treated under the contract.

Commission members said the result — a dense, unsightly stand of ragweed — did not match the intended perennial seed mix. One commissioner asked the resident engineer to check the applied seed mix and supply records that identify species percentages and seed tags.

Separately, commissioners described a low point about 60 feet south of the town line where stormwater sheets across the trail and pools or creates persistent wet conditions; one commissioner said the corridor can be wet nine months of the year and called the condition a safety issue for cyclists and pedestrians. Engineers explained the design intent to minimize wetland disturbance and use existing railroad ballast; they also showed cross‑sections indicating constraints such as ledge and minimal cover to daylight a culvert beneath the trail.

The commission asked for spot grade survey data from the contractor in the wet area and requested that the resident engineer review whether small regrading, removing an obstructing berm, or other limited work could restore sheet flow into the adjacent swale without creating new wetland impacts. The commission also requested that the contractor or resident engineer examine the seed-spec implementation and, if necessary, propose a maintenance or reseeding plan to achieve the intended perennial cover.

Commission staff said they will contact the resident engineer and contractor to request the documentation and consider a follow-up discussion at the July commission meeting.