Challenge Mecklenburg County was looking for a boardwalk solution for Flat Branch Nature Preserve, one of the largest upland depression swamp forests remaining in the county. As these delicate wetlands are critical for the local ecosystem- namely, amphibian breeding, the boardwalk needed to sit above the ground and not penetrate it while also preserving tree root systems. Installing the boardwalk in such a sensitive environment was also a point of concern for Mecklenburg County’s project managers. Solution After analyzing the long-term cost savings of a concrete product, Mecklenburg County decided on a PermaTrak boardwalk system. After setting the PermaTrak pier footings in place by hand, the installing contractor minimized tree and wetland surface disturbance through a top down

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