West Brattleboro in Windham County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Creamery Bridge Native Plant Restoration Project
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 5, 2023
At 140 years old, Creamery Bridge is a local treasure both for its history and aesthetics. Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department is tasked with stewarding the structure and the site (a ask greatly supported by volunteers as well!). Since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the adjacent banks of Whetstone Brook have become inundated with knotweed (Fallopia japonica), an exotic invasive plant. Knotweed disrupts ecological systems by spreading rapidly, displacing native vegetation, destabilizing soil and depleting nutrients of sedimentary leaf litter. Tropical Storm Irene helped this plant spread by scouring river banks that were already infested with Knotweed, breaking the plant into fragments that were then able to root into freshly scoured banks downstream.
In 2018, Brattleboro Recreation & Parks, with cooperation from an abutting landowner, began restoring the banks of the Whetstone at the Creamery Bridge site. The first phase was to gain control of the knotweed infestation by judiciously applying a wetlands-approved herbicide. In 2019, after spot treating the remaining knotweed plants, the banks of the brook will be replanted with native plants that are better able to provide shade for the brook, stability for the soil, and food for insects and animals. Planning and advisory support is being given by Connecticut River Conservancy and Brattleboro Floral Arts & Garden Club.
Erected by Brattleboro Recreation & Parks; Long View Forest Management.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 2011.
Location. 42° 50.975′ N, 72° 35.16′ W. Marker is in Brattleboro, Vermont, in Windham County. It is in West Brattleboro. Marker is on Creamery Bridge Trail north of Guilford Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Western Ave, Brattleboro VT 05301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Creamery Bridge Native Plant Restoration Project (within shouting distance of this marker); West Brattleboro / Molly Stark Byway (within shouting distance of this marker); Glenwood Seminary and Brattleborough Academy (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mary Wilkins Freeman (approx. 0.7 miles away); Brattleboro / Molly Stark Byway (approx. one mile away); Estey Organ Company (approx. 1.2 miles away); The First Building of the Centre Congregational Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); Memorial Tree (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brattleboro.
Related marker.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 5, 2023
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.