[MassHistPres] cemetery planning

[Cindy Brockway]

Marcia:
It has been my experience that cemetery erosion problems have been caused by
poorly managed roads. Old gravel or hard-packed dirt roads which used to be
dressed each spring and often crowned in the center to guide run-off into
gravel, cobble or grass swales have either not been properly graded
(dressed), or have been covered with asphalt which is impenetrable and
allows the water to sheet to specific areas.  When the mass of water is
guided to a single area, it begins to erode the loam and vegetated areas
immediately off the edge of the roads.  With no/limited maintenance, the
erosion continues to build.  When the plants which used to hold the soils
onto the hill are eroded away with the water, the soils erode more quickly.
The problem grows exponentially until you get the massive mud slide your
site experienced in these heavy rains.  The problem is not specific to
cemeteries, but is generally the result of poor land and road maintenance.
If possible (given that some of the problem is now across the road), try and
determine the source of the water sheeting and the worst areas of erosion.
Correcting the topography, the vegetation, and the road designs can redirect
the water and properly manage it to prevent erosion.  One other possible
problem is that if the roads were designed with catch basins, the basins are
either clogged or have broken piping which is preventing the proper
distribution of the water.

 

Lucinda Brockway

Past Designs LLC

Kennebunk Me

 

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Marcia Starkey
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 9:58 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] cemetery planning

 

Hello,

 

Greenfield has a private 1852 rural cemetery which has just had a second
case of serious erosion stemming from its elevated site overlooking the town
center.  Are there examples of cemetery management plans that include this
aspect of protection?  

 

Marcia Starkey

Greenfield Historical Commission 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/private/masshistpres/attachments/20110308/d793fa60/attachment.htm>