JT Trustee Walk: Schmid Overlook

administration

Six current and former Trustees met on Flanders Rd in Coventry to walk Schmid Overlook. John Hankins, Steward Chair, and Ann Dunnack, steward of the property, led Nancy, Chris, Warren and Karen through this recently acquired preserve. The results of the 50-person work party were evident. Much of the trash was hauled out and loaded onto a dump wagon, and a loop trail has now been blazed  and mowed by a brush hog. What a positive transformation! Here are some photos  from the trip. 

Part of the new loop trail. It had been quite impenetrable before the work party and brush hog operation.
The group checking out the Willimantic River. There is substantial river frontage with this property, with opportunities to allow fishing and kayak access.
This property was mined for sand and gravel years ago and the height  
of the property is a number of feet below what it was originally. We are  
looking here at a channel that gets quite deep with water. It may not  
even be suitable for a bridge because when the river is very high, it tops  
the bank here. Maybe some large stepping stones for when walking the  
loop is possible. We had to backtrack around this spot. 
John decided to cut a large log in the path in such a way that a person or even  
the brush hog can go through, but an ATV cannot. Very clever thinking! 
This spot near the road would be a great spot for kayakers to access the Willimantic River. We discussed erecting a kiosk by the road here that would explain the  
Trust, care of our properties, and if we decide to allow fishing, maybe a place to de 
posit old filament. Also, since there is still quite a bit of broken glass, a warning to  
dog owners (and barefoot runners). And of course, a way to donate. 

~Karen Zimmer

3 thoughts on “JT Trustee Walk: Schmid Overlook”

  1. Scoped it out today. Wow, lot of work. My respect for all. Looks like a good place for birds (and ticks, but the trail is wide and not weedy). The state stocks trout at the bridge there, but fishing is probably a minor issue and only in May/June. Good to continue protecting the river and its future ‘long trail’, and canoe/kayak access can potentially yield new members. Who owns the big riverbank parcel between Flanders Road and Mackey’s?

  2. There’s about a dozen properties along the west side of the Willimantic River between the Schmid Overlook and Mackey’s (Rte. 66). Most are privately owned including our immediate downstream abutter. There’s also a town-owned property in there and a good-sized chunk of land owned by the State between Rte. 66 and the Route 6 Expressway. South of Route 66 on the Columbia side of the river is Potter Meadow, a delightful little Joshua’s Trust preserve with a good section of trail along the bank of the Willimantic River.

  3. Congratulations to the Trust for preserving this Schmid property and creating access for myriad users. I recommend coordinating with The Last Green Valley Inc. with any plans for cartop boating and fishing access. This could be an important managed access site along the 22 mile-long Willimantic River Trail (a designated National Recreation Trail) which has only one portage site between Stafford Springs and Willimantic. The accompanying Paddler’s Guide can be amended to include this site. Each of the existing 10+ managed access sites have an attractive kiosk with site-customized map and graphics highlighting the water trail and trip planning tips.

Comments are closed.