Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy has built a new footbridge! When the original Anglers’ Access trail was created, limits on funding at that time dictated how many bridges would be put in. All of the inlet streams have bridges but the outlet stream, called Opossum Creek, had to be crossed by leaving the footpath and walking on the road over the one lane vehicle bridge before returning to the path. This is a distance of 420 feet, which required hikers to climb over a guard rail. It is undesirable to have hikers walking along the roadway with dogs and children, so FOLC applied for and received two significant grants to cover a good portion of the engineering and construction of a steel 50 ft bridge over the outlet stream. We are very grateful for funding from a South Mountain Partnership* grant and Cumberland County Land Partnership grant. These grants, plus one from Partnership for Better Health, funds from FOLC and generous help from other partners, including Lower Frankford Township went a long way to construct this much needed bridge. Once the DEP permit was obtained, earnest work on the bridge could begin. Finally in July 2022, the steel bridge was set in place on the two abutments and several weeks later, the stairs were attached. Many volunteers showed up to assist in this project! Soon there will be educational signs and several benches near the bridge.

The tall bridge abutment shows, in colored bands, various flood levels- 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 year floods. Also on the abutment in black lines are where the water was for 3 different hurricanes. Agnes in 1972 is near the top of the abutment.

In early April we received 72 free trees and bushes, tree shelters and stakes from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (”Clean water grows on trees!”) to plant a riparian buffer along both sides of the outlet stream below the dam. This will serve to both protect the water and function as an educational project. With the help of volunteers, we had them all in the ground in 3 hours. FOLC will take responsibility for the maintenance of this area.

We have planted a wetlands pollinator meadow patch on the west side between the bridge and the new parking lot on Mt Zion Rd. This area is perennially wet and had been taken over by invasive plants like purple loosestrife, which have been removed and will soon be replaced by native plants.

In July 2023, we added a new small wooden footbridge on the NW section of trail where it comes out to Opossum Lake Road. The bridge allows crossing of the culvert without stepping onto the roadway.

- Mary Franco, President.

*https://southmountainpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AA_WhiteBackground-Example.jpg

From the President of Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy
Officers of the Board: Mary Franco, President; Chloe Fealtman, Vice President; Kim Fealtman, Treasurer; and Joe Shane, Secretary.

Board members at large: Ed Franco, Tim Barrick, Terry Sensenig, Cindy Samet, Bob Hair,Matthew Sweger, Stephanie Sweger, Bob Kessler, Joe Nunez, Randy Heishman, Wilbur Wolf

In late winter many capable and generous volunteers worked together to improve two areas of the trail: the southern most bridge on the west side had been sagging into its north bank, and tilting. That was jacked up, straightened and supported, and the north end extended to remove an awkward step. On the East side of the lake, the railroad tie steps leading down from the spillway parking lot were all re-set, and a hand rail was added. These improvements were made in anticipation of the Awesum Possum Lake Trail Adventure in memory of former President, Board member, trail steward and friend Steve Fealtman who passed away in 2019.

It was from the desire to have a Memorial Race in honor of Steve Fealtman that a new committee was formed within the Conservancy. Initially called the SDF Memorial Race committee, it has now evolved into the FOLC Recreation Committee. We are grateful for the infusion of new energy into the Conservancy. The Race this year will be June 3, 2023. See below and our facebook page for details.Registration is online.

Past donations from this race have allowed us to build a 50 foot steel bridge over the outlet stream of the lake, in order to keep the trail entirely off the road and therefor much safer for hikers. No longer need hikers climb over a guard rail and walk along the road to cross the one lane vehicle bridge over the stream. In addition, we have erected four educational signs at the site of the new bridge, and beautiful live edge benches will soon be installed. This is the kind of trail improvement that can be made with your donation. Future projects could be older bridge repair, kayak launch repair, and additional bog bridges.

This year, donations will be enhanced by our participation in the Match Madness sponsored by The Partnership for Better Health and its donors, M&T Bank, Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation, the McCormick Family Foundation who are offering $150,000 in funds that will be matched by gifts that individual donors make to Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy. We will receive a proportion of the match fund, based upon what we raise.

o For example, if we raise 5 percent of the total funds raised by all participating organizations, we will receive 5 percent of the stretch fund. We will also receive a one-to-one match for our first $1,000 raised.

o The Partnership for Better Health will pass 100% of your charitable contribution directly on to FOLC. The Partnership receives no revenue from the match campaign.

o Please help us spread the word! Invite your friends, family, and colleagues to join you in donating to FOLC. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

o For questions and more details, call or email maryvfranco@gmail.com. Thank you for your generosity!

All checks must be made out to Partnership for Better Health and sent to 274 Wilson St Carlisle. CHECKS MUST BE SENT BETWEEN MARCH 1 AND MARCH 28 in order to receive the matching funds. Put Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy on the memo line

However, if your donation must be made after March 31, please write the check to Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy and send to 1205 Easy Rd, Carlisle, 17015.

Thank you for your generous support!.

I would like to recognize all of the trail stewards, who do so much to maintain the trail, trimming back spring and summer vegetation, worked on the enormous bridge and sign project, planted trees and removing downed trees across the path. They are Justin & Jessica Poe, Terry Senenig, Cindy Samet, Joe Nunez, Matt Sweger, Jacob Fealtman, Bob Kessler, Mark Vallie, Joe Shane, and Lisa Marie Garman and her family, Jonathan Goodman, Ed Franco and myself. Stewards volunteer their time to monitor the trail throughout the year.

If you enjoy the trail and want to help take care of it, we can always use more volunteers! You can adopt a short (0.25 -0.35 mile) section to maintain year round, or you may just want to help with a big Trail Day Project. Please contact me at maryvfranco@gmail.com. We have all the necessary tools for trail work. In addition to routine maintenance, our future plans include widening more of the very narrow sections of the trail, and hopefully, one day, a foot bridge at the south end to keep the trail off the main road that crosses on a one lane bridge. Also, anyone needing community service hours (high school students, scouts, etc) can be put to use on the trail!

The Trail and the Township park area around the lake have experienced many more visitors since the pandemic caused the shut down of other outdoor recreational areas. Much larger numbers of people are fishing around the lake and walking the trail. This is a good thing!. A reminder to all users of the trail and park, please use the trash receptacles and/or take your trash with you.