Stormwater and Erosion in Natick

After the heavy rains this morning, took a "field trip."  As I emptied the BHLF Trash and Buddy Bin on Campus Drive, I noticed an ugly, filthy plume of brown water gushing from beneath the culvert extending 150 yards into Dug Pond. (sorry, no photo).  Can't be a good thing.  Then I ventured to Coolidge Hill to check on erosion.  Jefferson St. was flooded.  Arriving at School St. Ext adjacent to the "sledding hill," I noticed an "outwash delta" of gravel and mud extending halfway onto School St.  The neighbor across the street reported 5 inches of water in his basement.  Then I bumped into friend and Trail Buddy, Rich Whalen, who is (among other things) a skilled amateur meteorologist.  Since midnight he had measured nearly 6 inches of rain.  (in less than 12 hours).  Climate Change Deniers take note: you're out of your minds.   The trail erosion on the sledding hill was intense.  We have a lot more work to do there.  But thanks to Trail Buddies David Parnas, Kathy Branagan, her son, Arthur, and daughter, Lucy, and Shannon Murray some of the erosion control devices worked well, particularly the newly deployed water bars on the steep trail leading up from the Jefferson St. Kiosk.   Finally despite the presence of 6 Town Trash Barrels and Recycle Bins at Coolidge Field, some rascals had piled a bunch of plastic bottles at the open gate along Coolidge Hill.  Picked it all up. Wed., 8/4, 10 am,  I'll be at the sledding hill along School St. Ext. to continue our work on the severe erosion.  --Pat