Updates on the Green Mountain National Forest

Please visit our website http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/htm/greenmountain/g_home.htm for more information on all of the below updates and follow us throughout the summer on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenmtn_nf

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.

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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.

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