The following conservation projects for the Champlain Valley region are reported in VLT's Winter 2008 Newsletter:
 

VLT sold 115 acres of conserved forestland, which had been previously gifted to VLT by an anonymous donor, to Vermont Family Forests, Inc. (VFF). VFF then conveyed the property to Little Hogback Community Forest, LLC. The company is focused on protecting forest health and has a novel approach to forest ownership. This approach has resulted in people of all income levels being able to purchase shares and own this managed timberland. Owners will be able to participate in decisions about management, share in any profits realized from timber harvests, and take firewood on an annual basis. As Lee Kauppila, one of the new landowners said, “My family doesn’t have a lot of money and we wouldn’t be able to be in on forestland except under these circumstances.” In addition to community members, one of the shareholders is the natural resources program at the Patricia Hannaford Career Center. The program will use the property to teach high school students about forestry practices. The transaction required years of work and consideration by the VFF board, whose members have creatively addressed the issues of stewardship and equity along with the ownership of this Monkton forestland. (July)

8. Fertile Farmland with River Frontage Conserved
Enosburgh. Marcel Parent. Conservation easement sale. 127 acres.

Marcel Parent sold a conservation easement on two non-contiguous parcels of farmland located in Enosburgh. The property has nearly 4,000 feet of frontage on the Branch and Tyler Branch Rivers and fertile river-bottom soils for crop production. With nearly 3,000 feet of road frontage, close proximity to the center of West Enosburgh, and exceptional views, the property was at risk of being converted from productive farmland to house lots. Marcel was pleased to see the farm he grew up on protected for future generations. This project was led by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Funded by VHCB. (September)

Marcel Parent’s Enosburg farm, with its valuable agricultural soil and river frontage, will remain open and productive for generations to come.

9. Scenic Farmland in Middlebury Conserved
Middlebury. Alice Wright. Conservation easement sale. 88 acres.

In a cooperative effort with the Middlebury Area Land Trust and VLT, Alice Wright conserved a scenic stretch of farmland along Cady Road and Route 116 in Middlebury. The land has been in Alice’s family since the 1960s and is farmed by the Foster Brothers dairy farm. It has 77 acres of tillable soil and abuts a previously conserved farm. “It is a good feeling knowing this land will remain available for agriculture,” said Alice. “It [farmland] is a vanishing resource and this area is developing very fast.” The Town of Middlebury was also very supportive of the conservation effort. “This project is an excellent fit for our conservation fund,” said Middlebury Town Planner, Fred Dunnington. “Our small contribution helped leverage the VHCB grant and conserving this land coincides well with our Town Plan.” Funded by VHCB and the Town of Middlebury. (September)

Armand and Linda LeClerc purchased an 11-acre parcel of woodland from VLT that is adjacent to their property. The land was originally gifted to VLT by Donald and Rosel Brittain as ‘trade land,’ or land donated to VLT to be sold or traded to fund land conservation projects. The property has frontage on Lost Nation and Discovery Roads. (October)

11. Remarkable Partnership Leads to Establishment of New Town Forest
Hinesburg. Wayne and Barbara Bissonette.

Conservation easement sale and transfer of land into public ownership. 301 acres. When Wayne and Barbara Bissonette agreed to work with the Trust for Public Land, Hinesburg Land Trust, and VLT to conserve their former dairy farm, they probably didn’t know what they were getting into—but then, neither did the partner organizations. Almost three years later, the Bissonettes conveyed a conservation easement on 301 acres that were simultaneously transferred to the Town of Hinesburg to become a new town forest. It was the first of several conservation transactions that are part of the LaPlatte Headwaters Initiative on the Bissonette Farm. Eventually, over 600 acres of farmland and forestland will be conserved.

As a reflection of the significant and diverse conservation values found on the property, an extraordinary array of funding sources supported the project. The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board provided a major grant to help the Town acquire the forestland, which has public trails and possesses unusual natural communities. Wetlands, floodplain forest, and the upper LaPlatte River’s natural meandering pattern will be restored with help from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resource’s “Clean and Clear” program. Habitat that supports the endangered Indiana bat will be protected with a $500,000 grant from the federal Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. Finally, the citizens of Hinesburg and beyond contributed financial support that ultimately made the transaction possible. “This conservation effort is really a gift to future generations,” said Andrea Morgante, board member of the Hinesburg Land Trust. “We hope they will be inspired to visit this area often and to become good future stewards of this land.” Funded by VHCB, the Town of Hinesburg, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, private foundations, and individual donors. (October)

Bill, Alice, and Rebecca Wright on Middlebury farmland that’s been in the family since the 1960s and is being leased by Foster Brothers Dairy.

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