Eversource Construction Begins in Desert Natural Area

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Memorial Forest Pines. Photo by Craig Smith.
Memorial Forest Pines. Photo by Craig Smith.

During the week of October 31, 2022, Eversource will launch a two-year project to construct an electric transmission line along the abandoned rail line in the Desert Natural Area of Marlborough, Hudson, and Sudbury, the site of SVT's Memorial Forest property.

The construction is expected to consist of two phases, the first running from November 2022 through April 2023, and the second running from August 2023 through April 2024. During those times, there will be no trail connection across the rail line (see map).

We advise visitors to check out the map ahead of time to plan your visit. SVT and the other landowners in the Desert Natural Area are posting notices about the trail closures at our trailheads.

History

Eversource initially proposed the construction of an electric transmission line from Hudson to Sudbury (at the Route 20 junction) in 2016. From the beginning, SVT opposed the construction of the transmission line project along the abandoned MBTA rail line because the route goes through a very significant and large conservation area that contains sensitive species and habitats.

In the years since, we have continued to advocate to reduce the environmental impacts of the project at the local and state levels. While the efforts of SVT and others were unable to prevent the construction of the transmission line through these important conservation lands and waters, we were able to reduce the scope of the project and its overall impacts on the wildlife habitat.

As one example, because of the advocacy of SVT and our partners, the permitting process required Eversource to suspend construction from May through July of each year, which is the breeding season for some threatened species of wildlife.

SVT is very appreciative of the efforts of the Town of Sudbury's Conservation Staff and Conservation Commission who worked to minimize the negative environmental impacts of this project.