40 Foot Bridge Now Spans Mill Creek

A bridge now spans an impressive 40 foot length over Mill Creek at Mill Creek Nature Preserve in Wayland. The bridge will keep hikers out of the water that support native brook trout, a rare species to find in waterways of New York these days as so many waterways have become degraded. Trout rely on cold, clean water to survive. Sediment, washing in or being kicked up by people hiking through the stream would threaten this streams viability for trout habitat.

Over 20 volunteers logged some 200 hours over 4 workdays to build this structure which is made of two steal beams that hold oak lumber harvested from forestland within 5 miles of this nature preserve.

With the bridge’s completion, a new loop trail is now accessible to the community to enjoy on this preserve and further trails are now possible on the far side of Mill Creek.

Special thanks to:
-New York State Partnership Program and the NY Land Trust Alliance and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for grant funding
-B & E Collins Family Foundation for critical matching funding for the grant!
-Our Preserve Maintenance Fund and the donors that dedicate gifts to improving our public preserves
-Ed and Kelly at Rochester Rigging for the 40ft long steel beams and Marco for the installation (in 7" of fresh snow)
-Tom Jerris Masonry for coordinating our abutment cement pours and donating the material
-Tom and Brad at Hager Engineering for the beautiful bridge plans
-Jacob Hersberger and family for the oak lumber from just around the corner from the preserve
-AND most importantly, the volunteer crew that provided 200+ hours of labor across 4 workdays