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Forest seeks comments on invasive
plant control project
RUTLAND, VT (NOV. 24, 2009)-- The Forest Supervisor for the Green Mountain
National Forest is seeking comments on a proposal to control the spread of
non-native invasive plants. The National Forest, located in Addison,
Bennington, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties, has known
infestations that cover about 1,650 acres.
“We expect to find many more infestations with future survey work,” said Jer
Marr, Acting Forest Supervisor.
Non-native invasive plants present serious problems such as loss of biological
diversity, loss of natural wildlife habitat, changes in water or fire regimes,
degradation of soil structure, health concerns, and decreased quality of
recreational experiences. Solid stands of non-native invasive plants can
replace and possibly lead to local extirpation of native plant species.
Methods the Forest Service is proposing to control non-native invasive plants
include mechanical, manual, physical, prescribed fire, chemical, biological,
or a combination of these treatments.
The Forest Service is seeking public comments until December 31, 2009 to help
them determine the best range of methods to control non-native invasive
plants, and better understand any issues or concerns associated with them. A
preliminary Environmental Assessment documenting the environmental analysis
for the proposed project will be distributed for an additional 30-day notice
and comment period scheduled for March 2010.
There will be an open house public meeting held between 4 and 7 p.m.on
December 10, 2009 at the Green Mountain National Forest Headquarters in
Rutland, Vermont (231 North Main Street). For additional information regarding
this project, please contact Jay Strand at (802)767-4261, x522 or email at
jstrand@fs.fed.us.
Asian Longhorn Beetle, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and the Emerald
Ash Borer are invasive species that threaten the health of the Forest and
they are moving our way. The Green Mountain National Forest and the state of
Vermont are jointly working on prohibiting movement of firewood from
out-of-state into Vermont. The Forest is preparing a closure order that will
ban the transport of out of state firewood onto the National Forest. The
Forest and the State are sponsoring early detection surveys and public
outreach efforts in the form of education, postings, and face to face contact
with campers. We are also training staff and campground concessionaire
operators on identification, public contact, and potential closure violations.
For more information, please contact Bill Peterson at 802-747-6758, or Kristi
Ponozzo at 802-747-6760
Repairs in Progress at Texas Falls, Falls of Lana and Robert Frost Trail:
(Hancock) We are working to repair flood damage from the August 2008 flood
event. An engineering firm is currently designing a new bridge (due this Fall)
that will include upgrades to make the Texas Falls area accessible for people
with disabilities and will include a new boardwalk to discourage off-trail use
that damages the ecosystem. Construction of the bridge is expected in the
summer of 2010 and the Texas Falls picnic area is now open. The Robert Frost
Trail (Ripton) handicap accessible trail loop is open. The entire Robert Frost
Trail and Falls of Lana are on similar time-frames with construction slated
for next summer and all areas open to the public in Fall of 2010. Please call
802-767-4261 with specific questions about the area or alternative hiking
trails.
Deerfield Wind Project: This Spring, the Vermont Public Service Board
issued a Certificate of Public Good for the Deerfield Wind project, located
primarily in the Green Mountain National Forest. The board based their
decision, with significant conditions, on its findings that the wind project
will produce clean, renewable power. We completed the public comment period,
after release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, in November of
2008. We are working on content analysis, response to comments, and
collaboration and mitigate efforts with the State of Vermont Agency of Natural
Resources as we work towards the Final EIS, estimated out in February of 2010.
Upper White River Integrated Resource Project: We recently concluded a
month long comment period for this proposed project which aims to improve
wildlife habitat and the network of roads and trails mainly in the areas of
Granville, Hancock and Ripton. We are in the process of reviewing comments and
expect the preliminary Environmental Assessment to be out for public review in
October of this year. There are more than 36,000 acres that have been studied
for potential management with about two-thirds consisting of National Forest
and the remaining third in private ownership. For more information in the
Upper White River Project please visit our website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/htm/greenmountain/links/projects/projects_currentandcomplete.htm
National Forest Supervisor Heads West
RUTLAND, VT (Sept. 11, 2009)-- Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest
Supervisor Meg Mitchell has accepted a Forest Supervisor position in western
Oregon on the Willamette National Forest. She will begin her new position in
mid October. Jerr Marr will be acting Forest Supervisor until a new supervisor
is named early next year. Marr is currently the deputy Forest Supervisor of
the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.
“I have enjoyed the people and landscape of Vermont so much. I will miss all
the wonderful partners, Forest employees and groups I have worked with over
the past three years that care deeply about conservation in and around the
Green Mountains. I take with me good memories and lots of learning from my
time here,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell started working on the Green Mountain shortly after the Forest Plan
was completed. She and her staff helped resolve the appeals and implemented
the subsequent New England Wilderness Act passed by Congress a year later. She
has served as a Board member on the Vermont Council on Rural Development, a
member of the Society of American Foresters and served on several conservation
task forces. Recently, the Forest has focused on implementing stewardship and
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects in collaboration with
surrounding communities, initiated a Green Mountain Trails collaborative
effort with UVM and the State of Vermont and is evaluating the Deerfield Wind
project proposal.
“I believe the future for conservation and the Forest Service involves
thinking and acting with a landscape perspective in mind. So many issues and
challenges facing forests like non-native invasive plants and animals, water
quality, energy and climate change require thinking broader and working across
landscapes with others,” said Mitchell.
The Forest Service recently received a new Chief, Tom Tidwell, and new
direction from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with a similar message. "Our
nation's forestlands, both public and private, are environmental and economic
assets that are in critical need of restoration and conservation," said
Vilsack. "By using a collaborative management approach with a heavy focus on
restoring these natural resources, we can make our forests more resilient to
climate change, protect water resources, and improve forest health while
creating jobs and opportunities," said Vilsack in an August 14 speech in
Seattle.
See speech:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/08/0383.xml
The Green Mountain National Forest encompasses more than 400,000 acres in
southwestern and central Vermont, forming the largest contiguous public land
area in the State. The Finger Lakes National Forest is more than 16,000 acres
and is the only National Forest in New York.
VDTM Hosts
Free International Workshop on December 11
Vermont tourism industry members are invited to a free international marketing
workshop hosted by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing on Friday,
Dec. 11 at the State House in Montpelier.
Linda Seville, international marketing director for VDTM, will provide members
of Vermont’s tourism industry with an overview of the state’s international
markets, which include the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.
Linda will also provide tips on working with international journalists and
tour operators, and what lodging properties and attractions can do to be more
involved in the state’s international program.
Sue Norrington-Davies of Discover New England, a non-profit international
marketing group for the six New England states, will also offer a presentation
on international marketing and DNE’s Tourism Summit and International
Marketplace, which will be held this spring in Newport, RI. In addition, Shoko
Hirao, Vermont’s Japanese sales representative, will be on-hand to talk
specifically about the Japanese market.
The meeting will be held in Room 10 from 1-3 p.m. To RSVP, please e-mail Erica
Houskeeper at Erica.houskeeper@state.vt.us.
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Burlington, VT 11/20/09
Five
Miles of the Catamount Trail are Conserved In Lowell, VT
Nearly five consecutive miles of the Catamount Trail are now protected in
Lowell, VT. Thanks to the generous support of landowners David Stackpole and
Ed French, who recently helped protect 3 miles of the Trail, a protected
corridor roughly 5 miles long now runs from the top of the Lowell Mountains to
Lowell Village.
At 300 miles in length and spanning the state of Vermont from bottom to top,
the Catamount Trail is one of Vermont’s treasured gems. It is a public
cross-country ski trail that has been in the making since 1984 and was fully
linked together in 2008. The Catamount Trail Association is working to
permanently protect the entire 300-mile trail corridor by obtaining trail
access easements.
As it heads north towards Lowell, the Catamount Trail climbs to the top of the
Lowell Mountains on the historic Bayley-Hazen Road. It then descends through
working forestland and into a broad meadow with spectacular views of Jay Peak.
This 1.4-mile section of the Trail is now protected through a Long Term
License Agreement between the Catamount Trail Association and the Dyer-Dunn
Corporation, represented by Mr. French. The Berthiaume Farm Partnership,
represented by Mr. Stackpole, donated a 1.4 mile Trail Easement to the
Catamount Trail Association to protect an adjacent section of the Trail. As
the Trail continues north for about 1.8 miles between Route 58 and Lowell
Village, skiers glide downhill to Lowell Village on land conserved by the
Vermont Land Trust and protected by an easement former Governor Howard Dean
donated to the Catamount Trail Association in 2001.
“I've had the good fortune to enjoy a large tract of land on the west slope of
the Lowell Mountain Range for forty years. Although my active participation in
cross-country skiing is now somewhat limited, I still think of it as one of
the best all round outdoor recreations. I feel that the privilege I have had
in overseeing the stewardship of these properties can easily be expanded to
protect the backcountry experience for those who seek it on skis or snowshoes,
and the Trail is really much better on its own route apart from the snowmobile
corridor. We have always welcomed hunters and hikers and this is just a step
towards assuring the enjoyment of some very good people,” said Stackpole.
After deciding to donate the easement on the northern parcel, David talked to
his neighbors to the south and helped CTA protect both parcels. “The
Catamount Trail is about community on many levels. When our landowners share
their values and enthusiasm with one another, we can really make progress
towards our protection goals. This is a model for how our work of protecting
the remaining sections of the Trail can and will get done,” states Amy Kelsey,
CTA Trail Management and Protection Director.
Stackpole hopes other landowners on the Catamount Trail will catch the spirit
of protecting the trail for future generations. “I'm a lawyer and I felt the
Catamount Trail Association paperwork was well crafted, and flexible enough to
accommodate my concerns for our continuing activities--we log, cut firewood,
hay in the summer. Their documents allow for change, if the need arises, with
minimum effort. If any other land owners would like to talk to me about any
of this I would be pleased to do so.”
The CTA first began holding easements on its own in April 1995. A variety of
easement models have been developed and are modified to meet each landowner's
need while ensuring a high-quality and safe ski experience on the Catamount
Trail.
For more information contact:
Amy Kelsey, Catamount Trail Association - 802-864-5794,
akelsey@catamounttrail.org, or visit
www.catamounttrail.org
Vermont
Outdoor Guide Association
P.O. Box 10
North Ferrisburg, VT. 05473
1 800-425-8747 (802) 425-6211
info@voga.org
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