Mossy Bank Park

Attention landowners with property that is adjacent to Mossy Bank Park, we are applying for a NYS DEC Open Space Conservation Grant with the intent to expand Mossy Bank Park by 75-100 acres.  If you have property that fits these criteria and are interested in possibly selling your property to the Village of Bath, please notify the Village Clerk at (607) 776-3811 no later than Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The Leader Slash wall Link

SLASH WALL PROJECT UPDATE –  September 1, 2025 

                                                            D. Randy Weidner 

     Now, near the end of the first growing season since the timbering and slash wall project at Mossy Bank Park, a review of the forest’s response seems prudent.  Observations were made from various points along the slash wall on the larger of the two plots, and from the north side of the smaller plot.  These observations confirm two of the hoped for early benefits of the project: growth of herbal ground cover to stabilize the soil; and exclusion of deer. 

     A high percentage of the ground in the steeper-sloped large plot was covered with vegetation, and essentially 100% of the flatter smaller plot was covered with green growth.  A variety of herbaceous plants were present including: American Burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius); Goldenrod (Solidago sps.); Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota); Aster (Aster sps.); Willow-herbs(Epilobium sps.); Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus); Wild Raspberry (Rubus sps.); and Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens campensis).  A more complete list will be generated when more thorough exploration of the site is possible. 

     By far the most prevalent herb was American Burnweed, also known as Pilewort or Fireweed.  This member of the Daisy family (Asteraceae) is a native plant that typically colonizes disturbed areas, often as here, in great abundance.  American Burnweed roots stabilize soil from erosion, help reintroduce soil mycorrhizae, and capture nitrogen which ultimately enriches the soil for future plant succession.  As other plants move in, Burnweed gradually becomes less prevalent. 

     In addition to the herbaceous growth, stump sprouts from Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Pin Cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica), Basswood (Tilia americana), Poplar (Populus sp.), Striped Maple (Acer pennsylvanicum), and Sumac (Rhus sps.) were noted within the slash walls.  Comparing areas adjacent to, but outside the slash walls, there is virtually no herbaceous growth and tree sprouts, strong evidence that the exclusion of deer will allow forest recovery within the slash walls. 

     These early observations are certainly encouraging for the ultimate success of the project.  Continued monitoring of the sites will occur. 

by Randy Weidner UPDATE: THIS PROJECT IS UNDERWAY AS OF OCTOBER, 2024

The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is an invasive insect from Asia attacking hemlock trees. This forest pest has been active in Mossy Bank Park for about 10 years. The natural course of this infestation leads to the death of hemlock trees in about 10-20 years.

There are effective but expensive insecticidal controls for individual trees, but this is impractical for a forest. The hemlocks within the drive-around in the park have been treated, but reapplication is necessary every 6-7 years.

For several years we have been co-operating with the New York Hemlock Initiative, a joint project of Cornell University and NYDEC, including serving as a site for release of introduced potential control insects (silver fly). These efforts have so far failed as controls.

One management choice is to let nature take its course. As trees die, we will cut only those that pose a hazard to roads and trails. Regrowth of new trees would come from the soil bank of tree seeds.

However, deer will likely browse regrowing hardwoods, causing them to be short and stubby, potentially preventing these young trees from reaching full growth. There is further risk that non-native invasive shrubs could move in, overwhelming the trees we wish to promote. Without controlling deer and invasive shrubs, it is unlikely a desirable new forest will regrow, diminishing the long-term aesthetics of the park.

Another management choice is to cut the hemlocks from areas well suited for using the downed trees to construct barriers called slash walls. The goal of this approach is to keep deer out and better allow new trees to grow.

Any intervention, or lack thereof, will result in a change in the nature of the present forest, and a new forest will take a long time to regrow. Constructing slash walls has been tried in other areas of upstate New York and shows promise for allowing regrowth of healthy new forests where it has been done.

In early 2022, the Mossy Bank Park committee engaged the services of forestry experts for advice. All agreed that the forest, as it now exists, will disappear; and that we might expect to regrow a desirable native hardwood forest in certain specified areas by removing all of the hemlocks but a few legacy trees, leaving selected hardwoods, and using the logging debris to build slash walls. The total area impacted by this operation will be slightly less than 1/3 of the total park area, and will not include any of the heavily used park facilities or areas visible from the drive-around.

A plan to remove selected dense hemlock stands and build slash walls was approved by the Mossy Bank Park Committee and the Village Board of Trustees. An appropriate contractor versed in this type of management has been located, and this plan will be implemented in the near future. UPDATE: PROJECT IS UNDERWAY AS OF OCTOBER 2024

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Infestation

Often at year’s end I do a review of activities at the park. The Mossy Bank Park Committee met faithfully through the year. An interesting list of programs was in place by March, but then came COVID-19. All programs and formal activities had to be cancelled. Despite these losses, it seemed the park was utilized more than ever by hikers, bikers, family picnickers, hunters, and others who enjoyed the trails as an escape from pandemic restrictions. There were some physical improvements installed at the park that later-in-the-year visitors may have noticed. Some of the frequent bike riders and the Village Crew enlarged the off-season parking area, which should be able to accommodate at least 10 vehicles now. At the pond site, the crew took advantage of low water and a firm, dry bank to back-hoe out the thick border of cattails in five spots around the pond, greatly improving fishing access. For his Eagle rank requirement, a local Boy Scout will be constructing an informational kiosk, bench, table, and waste receptacle at the most popular fishing spot, and a bench at one of the other new openings. The scouts as a group are also planning a new set of stairs to the Lower Overlook. We are always grateful for these volunteer projects. One last, late improvement was running a Wi-Fi line into the Nature Center, with the potential of wider availability within the park.