Southington Officials: Excuse the 'Mess' at Crescent Lake

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Town officials have released the following statement regarding the final phase/completion of the Crescent Lake Forestry Project:

Over the past year, the Town of Southington in conjunction with the Open Space and Land Acquisition Committee has worked with a professional Forester and Forest Harvester to thin the stand south of the lake under the Crescent Lake Forest Management Plan.

This was done to provide additional sunlight for remaining trees and to create gaps in the canopy to allow sunlight to stimulate the growth of new seedlings and shrubs.

In addition, we treated invasive plants to reduce their populations and to help encourage the development of native species.

All this will help provide improved habitat for a wide variety of wildlife from pollinators to songbirds in addition to improving forest health and resiliency.

The woody material including tree tops and smaller diameter trees that posed a danger to the removal of large trees now provide habitat, a temporary impediment to deer browse on new saplings, and a slow release of nutrients back into the soil as the wood decomposes.

This may look a bit “messy”, but it is all part of the science behind the plan. Some of the larger material suitable for firewood may be removed by hand cart or wheelbarrow once a waiver is signed in the Town Attorney’s office at Town Hall, 75 Main Street.

If you have questions regarding the possible collecting of remaining limbs for firewood, volunteering to control invasive plants, or would like any additional information please contact Dave Lavallee in the Planning Department at 860.276.6203 or lavalleed@southington.org.

More information on Open Space can be found at Southington.org under the Parks Department page.

Work has been ongoing this summer.

Photo Credit: Town of Southington