The following conservation projects for the Champlain Valley region are reported in VLT's Spring 2009 Newsletter:
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7.
Productive Forestland and Public Access Protected in Bolton The Green Crow Corporation, a timberland and
wood products company, sold a conservation easement to the Vermont
Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation on productive forestland and
important wildlife habitat in Bolton. The land serves as habitat for many
species and includes a rare red pine forest community. Part of a VAST trail
and critical sections of the Catamount Trail were also protected as part of
this easement sale. “It is very satisfying to know that the land will not be
broken up by development and that this forest will always be a part of the
forest economy in Vermont,” said Nick Brunet of Green Crow Corporation. The
project is part of the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project, a
multi-organizational effort that has conserved over 7,500 acres. The Vermont
Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VLT worked together to help
the landowner access funding from the Forest Legacy Program. Funded by
the federal Forest
8. Forest Legacy Program Conserves Over 1,700 Acres on Bone Mountain Barbara Buttolph protected a significant
stretch of managed timberland by selling a conservation easement to the
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation with the assistance of
VLT. The property 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. Conservation of this property
advances the goal of the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project,
ensuring that the land will not be developed and that the wildlife habitat
and recreational opportunities of this property will be enjoyed by future
generations. “If we don’t preserve Vermont, it’s going to be a dire
tragedy,” said Barbara about her decision to conserve. 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. Funded by the federal Forest Legacy Program.
9. Large Alpaca Farm Conserved In 2005, Cass and Carol Tillman bought a
former dairy farm, which they’ve converted to one of the largest alpaca
farms in Vermont. They sell pedigree alpacas across the country through
their business, Moonlit Alpacas, and their farm store offers alpaca yarn and
clothing. Shortly after purchasing the property, the Tillmans decided to
conserve it. They reserved a portion of the land for an agricultural tourism
business they hope to begin soon. “We want to integrate agriculture with
tourism and conserving the farm works well with our business goals,” said
Cass. “People come to Vermont because of the beauty and the working
landscape is an important part of that, especially in Addison County.
Conserving good farmland will help keep Vermont the special place that it
is.” The Tillman project also includes a public access trail along the Lemon
Fair River that is held by the Middlebury Area Land Trust. Funded by VHCB.
(September)
10. Conservation
Assists Dairy Farm Transfer Conserving 283 acres of their farm helped
Egbert and Dina Beenen transfer the land to their neighbors, Jason and
Jennifer Hatch. The Beenens had run a dairy farm on the property for 46
years before retiring in 2006. Conserving the land made it affordable to
Jason and Jennifer, who added the parcel to their own dairy operation. “We
are very happy that the land went to Jason and Jennifer,” said Egbert Beenen.
“They will take good care of it and we hope the land will give them good
crops year after year.” Jason was pleased with the opportunity conservation
presented to his dairy business: “It’s a good deal for us and a good deal
for the future of Vermont agriculture,” he said. The easement includes
special protection for 57 acres of rare clayplain forest. Funded by VHCB.
(September)
11. Forested
Backdrop to Round Church Conserved Few properties encompass as many community values as Betty and Bill Preston’s property in Richmond. Their 194 acres have productive forestland, habitat used by wide-ranging species, and a significant deer wintering area. The forestland provides a scenic backdrop to Richmond Village and the historic Round Church. And, a majority of the recharge area for the town’s water supply is located on the land. With assistance from VLT, the Prestons sold a conservation easement to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The property, long used by community members
for recreation, now has a protected trail corridor for pedestrian use. “The
land has been used for walking since my grandfather lived on the farm,” said
Betty Preston. As part of the project, the Prestons sold 25 acres of the
largest remaining floodplain forest on the Winooski River to The Nature
Conservancy. The conservation of this land is part of the Chittenden County
Uplands Conservation Project. Funded by the
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12. Ittleman
Farm Links Two Blocks of Conserved Land A large block of conserved farmland was
created when Frank and Elaine Ittleman conserved 113 acres. The now
contiguous block includes six farms and encompasses 2,000 acres. The
Ittleman property is almost all tillable; 93 percent of the land has soil
rated as ‘statewide significant’ for agriculture. The property also includes
over 2,700 feet along the Lemon Fair River. The Ittlemans own two abutting
farms. One of these farms, located on land conserved by the Clark family in
1999, is being used by a beef farmer who will also use the newly conserved
land. Funded by VHCB. (September)
13. Wildlife Habitat Area
Expanded In the 1990s, Marian Welch sold two properties along Lewis Creek Road to the Hinesburg Land Trust, and then with VLT’s assistance conserved and transferred both tracts to the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. In 2007, the Hinesburg Land Trust acquired additional land from Marian and in 2008 conveyed five acres abutting Lewis Creek Road to the Department of Fish & Wildlife. The VLT-held conservation easement was amended to include the added acreage. This small tract has northern hardwood and hemlock stands, and a flowage area containing wetland herbaceous plants. The new acreage abuts existing state-owned land and expands the amount of protected wildlife habitat on both sides of Lewis Creek Road to 139 acres. Supported by the Hinesburg Land Trust. (October)
14. Robbins Mountain
Forestland Secured Ann Villeneuve sold 489 acres of managed forestland on the flanks of Robbins Mountain to the Vermont Land Trust. VLT is working with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation to conserve the land through the federal Forest Legacy Program and will resell the property once it is permanently protected. The forestland provides habitat for species such as moose, bear, and fisher, and is part of the Chittenden County Uplands Conservation Project. It abuts Robbins Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Camel’s Hump State Park and is visible from I-89 and Route 2. (December)
15. Blue
Spruce Farm Uses Conservation to Expand Tillage The Audet family, owners of Blue Spruce Farm,
has farmed in Bridport since the 1950s. This past December, the Audets
conserved 441 acres of land that they purchased from Stephen and Margaret
Cooke in 2007. Three Audet brothers—Eugene, Earle and Ernie—and over 20
family members and employees manage the modern dairy operation that includes
a methane digester, which turns manure into electricity. All told, the
family milks over 1,000 cows. “This was a business decision for us,”
commented Eugene Audet. “Selling the development rights helps our bottom
line. We’re in the dairy business for the long haul and we need this land
for growing hay and corn, not for growing houses. We feel we’re good
stewards of the land and that conserving this parcel fits in well with our
business goals.” In addition to 415 acres of tillage and pasture, the
property has 11 acres of rare clayplain forest.
16.
Second-time Easement Donors Build on Conservation Legacy When John Paluska and Cynthia Brown conserved
and sold 71 acres of agricultural land along with their home in 2004, they
were in the process of moving from Monkton to Burlington. They retained
ownership of 236 acres adjacent to their former Monkton home, and have since
moved again, this time to California. While many in their circumstances
might be content just to sell and move on, John and Cynthia’s connection to
their Vermont property is strong. For nearly a decade, they have worked with
eight neighboring landowners to sustainably manage the wildlife habitat on
their properties with the help of natural resource specialists and the
University of Vermont. Now they have conserved a remarkably diverse 34 acres
just north of their former home. The property includes excellent
pastureland, and about 10 acres of cliffs, rock outcroppings, wetlands, and
forested natural communities that have been given special protection in the
conservation easement. The land also offers views of conserved agricultural
land and a forested ridge and swamp that John and
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