The rainfall experienced in Old Lyme over the past 24 hours has resulted in standing water under the Cross Lane railroad bridge. That part of Cross Lane will remain impassable for at least the next 18 hours.
Regional District 18 has been notified so that school bus traffic can be diverted on Monday.
Allow extra time for Monday morning travel and take alternate routes.
(Photo submitted) Roaring Brook In Whalebone Watershed.
The Lyme Land Conservation Trust plans to celebrate the start of Spring by sponsoring a public hike that will explore its new 100-acre Banningwood Preserve in Hadlyme on Saturday, March 22.
Land Trust Vice President Don Gerber will lead the walk through the preserve, which stretches along Rte. 82, just north and east of Hadlyme Four Corners.
Also leading the walk, Land Trust Environmental Director Lisa Niccolai will talk about the flora and fauna of the property, Connecticut State Geologist Emeritus Ralph Lewis will explain its geology, and Lyme Selectman Parker Lord will discuss its history.
State grants helped the Trust buy the Banningwood property last year and provided funds that enabled the town of East Haddam to acquire two nearby tracts along Roaring Brook. Taken together, the 437 acres of the three new preserves will protect almost 2.5 miles of stream frontage on Roaring Brook, which feeds into the Connecticut River through Whalebone Cove.
This walk is a preview to the more formal opening after trails are complete. The Land Trust plans to develop trails through the preserve when warmer weather permits.
This hike will be moderately difficult because there are no trails. Waterproof hiking shoes or boots are suggested. Please do not bring pets.
The hike, which will start at 10 a.m., is open to the public. Members, non-members, Lyme residents and non-residents are invited.
Parking will be available along the driveway at 19 Town Street (Rte. 82) about 100 yards north of Hadlyme Four Corners and just north of the bridge over Roaring Brook.
In case of bad weather, consult the Land Trust’s Web Site: http://www.lymelandtrust.org for postponement and/or rescheduling.
We were sent this great photo by Connie Donkin of Lyme, which shows a strange sight she saw in Hamburg Cove a week or two ago. We had to agree with her that it’s remarkably reminiscent of the famed ‘Loch Ness Monster’ — but we decided it looks like he’s sunbathing, which we’re not sure that the real thing would be very likely to do in light of the chilly weather in the Scottish Highlands!
We are delighted to have received from readers quite a few photos of the varying effects of the cold snap on The Lymes.
The photo above was taken by Nancy Meinke and shows five immature eagles perched in a
tree overlooking the frozen waters visible from the Mile Creek Road bridge. The extreme cold weather caused a fish kill in this shallow estuary meaning the severe temperatures had caused the shallow water to freeze all the way down to the mud, thus killing small stripers that were wintering there.
As a result, the fish froze to death and thus became banquet food for the birds, including the eagles, which have taken up residency in the area and are shown in the photo.
Thanks for sharing this photo, Nancy – more coming soon.