Vermont Land Trust - More Than 1,900 Acres of Forestland in Bolton and Richmond Protected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Elise Annes, Vice President for Community Relations, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 262-1206
Bob Heiser, Conservation Project Manager, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 434-3079
Carl Powden, Forest Projects Director, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 635-7611

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More Than 1,900 Acres of Forestland in Bolton and Richmond Protected
Productive forest, wildlife habitat, water resources, and public access secured with funds from the federal Forest Legacy program.

More than 1,900 acres in Bolton and Richmond were protected with funds from the federal Forest Legacy program, the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Department of Forest Parks and Recreation announced today.

The two properties contain uninterrupted, productive forestland and important wildlife habitat, and provide excellent recreational opportunities.

The conservation effort was part of the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project (CCUP)—a cooperative project involving many local groups and statewide organizations and agencies to conserve the ecological integrity, rural character, and working landscape of the northeastern uplands of Chittenden County. To date, over 7,000 acres have been conserved in the area—all within 20 miles of Vermont’s largest city.

Richmond: Forested Hill Serves as Backdrop to Round Church
Betty Preston and her son Bill’s family has lived in Richmond since 1900. The 194 acres that Betty and Bill conserved was once part of Bill’s great-grandfather’s farm. The forested hillside provides a scenic backdrop to the village of Richmond and the historic Round Church. The property also incorporates the majority of Richmond’s public water supply recharge area. “The land has been used for walking since my grandfather lived on the farm,” said Betty Preston. “I didn't want to see houses as the background to the Round Church.”

Working with the Vermont Land Trust, Betty and Bill Preston sold a conservation easement on 194 acres of their property in Richmond to the Vermont Department of Forests Parks & Recreation. An easement is a legal tool that limits development. Landowners continue to own, manage, and pay taxes on the land and can sell their land; however, the conservation easement permanently remains on the property.

Many people have hiked or hunted on the property; the Prestons have ensured that the land will continue to be open to these activities. The Richmond Land Trust was granted a trail easement over the Preston family’s adjoining land to enable the public to get to the protected property.

“We’re delighted with what the Prestons have done for Richmond, including their generosity in donating a trail route across their property to make it easier for people to access the conserved land,” said Brad Elliott of the Richmond Land Trust. “The Prestons have also allowed for a trail through their upland forest to complement the existing trail through our nearby Rivershore Preserve. Richmond residents and others will benefit from the Prestons' decision for generations to come.”

Last year, the Preston family sold 25 acres to The Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy’s parcel is one of the largest of several fragments of silver maple-ostrich fern floodplain forest, and is part of the most extensive remaining floodplain forest on the Winooski River. “Richmond is building a nice diverse block of conserved landscape that connects native natural communities, from low-elevation floodplain forests and the river itself, to hardwood slopes and ridgelines,” said Joan Allen of the Nature Conservancy.

“The values protected by the Prestons mirror the objectives of the Chittenden County Uplands Project as a whole,” said Bob Heiser of the Vermont Land Trust. “They have protected managed forestland benefiting the local land-based economy, significant wildlife habitat, an uncommon natural community, public recreation, water quality, and a scenic backdrop that helps define the character of the village.”

Bolton: Large Tract of Managed Forestland Crossed by VAST and Catamount Trails
In Bolton, the Buttolph family decided to protect 1,733 acres of their managed timberland by selling a conservation easement to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, with the help of the Vermont Land Trust.

The Buttolphs’ land is located on the southeastern side of Bone Mountain and reaches up to the summit (2,900 feet). It is also bordered by Mount Mansfield State Forest to the north. The conservation of this property ensures that the land will remain forested and open for hiking, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing, trapping and fishing.

“These additions to the Chittenden County Uplands forest legacy project are great to see completed,” said Jonathan Wood, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. “I’ve known the Buttolphs for many years; I’m pleased they have participated in this project. Protection of their property with a Forest Legacy easement will ensure that their strong commitment to responsible forest stewardship and public access to the property continues for future generations.”

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who authored the Forest Legacy program and obtained funding for the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project, was pleased to learn of this latest conservation effort. “This easement adds significant conserved acreage that will assure perpetual protection of wildlife habitat and travel corridors while remaining available as working forest with public access,” Leahy said.

The land comprises two parcels located east and west of 319 acres that the Buttolphs transferred to the state prior because it contained a significant section of the Long Trail. Both of the recently conserved parcels include sections of the VAST and Catamount trails.

“Conserving the Buttolph property is a very exciting development,” said Michael Snyder, the Chittenden County Forester. “It’s big and wild, but with good access and areas of excellent management history. It also provides a profoundly important area of connection between valley and upland landforms and habitat. And thousands of people see it from the Winooski River valley every day.”

“It was a great pleasure to work with the Buttolphs in conserving this property”, said Carl Powden, forest projects director for the Vermont Land Trust. “They have a long history of timberland stewardship and a deep belief in keeping lands open for public access.”