HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin review 3.11.2026Trail Repair and Erosion Control
Miller Pond, Historical Society of Old Yarmouth (HSOY) Property, Yarmouth Port
Proposed project:
We want to better manage stormwater that currently flows down the long set of “stairs” that runs
from the Thacher Trail to Miller Pond. Stormwater and sediment flow into the pond during
intense rainfall events, affecting pond water quality and vegetation, and also creating scour
along the trail and undermining some of the steps. The project will aim to redirect stormwater
along the course of the stairs to slow the speed and reduce the volume of water flow toward the
pond.
Components:
Remove every 3rd or 4th step and replace with a longer step timber that extends toward the
downslope side of the trail (north side) and off the current path in order to redirect stormwater off
the steps and into the existing underbrush. These extended timbers will also have the benefit of
breaking up the long gully that runs along the north side of the path. This gully has been created
by walkers and bikers looking to avoid the steps.
The timbers will be held in place with long stakes driven into the ground. It may make sense to
add additional steps in one or two locations as the existing steps are wide and have a high rise.
In these cases some fill may be needed to backfill the step. Wood chips are proposed for
backfilling these steps and the segments of the steps that run across the gully. The wood chips
will be packed in, and may require some additional maintenance in future years as they
decompose.
Two additional steps are needed at the base of the stairs, and one or two as the Thacher Trail
joins the Pond Trail and turns to the right (north), where there is further gullying. Here, the
timbers will be placed such that they extend off of the path slightly, to the west.
Materials:
There are some undesirable (invasive) Sycamore Maples located on the slope at the beginning
of the Thacher Trail where it turns to the left off of the Gatehouse Entrance of the HSOY
property near Route 6A. We propose to remove some of these maples, buck them, and use the
trunks as timbers for the steps. The limbs will be chipped and used as the backfill for the steps.
Stakes will be suitably sized pressure treated timber or rebar.