Cochituate Rail Trail Restoration
Restoring the Commons
We began our work in 2022 near the Framingham trailhead of the Cochituate Rail Trail section of steep embankment dominated by the compounding problems of erosion and invasive plants. We installed a variety of native shrubs and trees along the top of the bank to help establish beneficial root systems and stabilize the soil previously overrun with Japanese Knotweed.
During the 2023 season we continued in our restoration efforts by addressing a small section of the embankment that was receiving a tremendous amount of water runoff from the adjacent uphill parking lot. We planted a variety of native grasses and wildflowers (known for their deep root systems and aggressive spreading tendencies) throughout the space to form a tight knit canopy. We utilized rip rap stone to stabilize the slope from potentially large volumes of water moving through the space until the plants established and spread.
We hope to continue our work in 2024 by addressing the remaining 2,300 sq/ft denuded by a Japanese knotweed colony.
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