As you walk this section of trail, notice how you appear to be several feet higher than
the stream and adjoining land. This is not a pile of dirt left from construction of the
nearby subdivision, but a natural process. Natural berms form when floodwaters carry
sediment over the banks of the regular stream channel. As the floodwaters spread out, the
waters lose energy and drop their sediment load. This process builds up the area beyond
the banks. Over time these berms can grow to be many feet wide. Different plants will grow
on these drier areas than alongside the stream.
Daniel’s Bridge and Bench. This 10-foot span, taking a hint
from Chris’ Bridge, sports an elegant parabolic design. Its’ beams were cut from
2x12s which were glued in pairs around a plywood core. The outer beams being recessed
disappear from view leaving the impression of a very light bridge, but it can support the
same load per square foot as its’ big brother.
Nearby there is a bench. It is an excellent spot to contemplate pool and riffle formation,
or just watch the little fishies.
These two projects along with a flight of stairs where the trail meets the “high
ground” were completed by Daniel Schwarz of Troop 154 in August 2002.
Brad’s Trail. The section of the trail near Chris’ Bridge
was named for Brad Wertheim who, with Troop 46, installed the signposts along the entire
main trail marked with white circles. This was the first project to extend through the
County and Township parklands and was completed in August 2000. For this reason the
boundary area between the two was selected as Brad’s trail.
Somerset County Park
From this point to Chimney Rock Township Park the trail is on property owned on
each side by Somerset County. The County has a parking lot and emergency phone located on
Newman’s lane. The County property includes the Washington Valley Reservoir, which
belonged formerly to Elizabethtown Water Company and before that to the Bound Brook Water
Company.
