Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests — Project Detail

Complete structural repairs to the Glastenbury and Stratton lookout towers. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/qsq3odnaw0h5yxw8bzpddty9vkqj017l

Maintenance of existing openings on 271 separate stands totaling approximately 3,003 acres across the Forest using multiple treatment options including manual, machine, and/or prescribed fire.

Remove white ash trees to prevent emerald ash borer killed hazard at Warren Falls recreation site. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/c3x31ygb529abn9y3yreaqoawsei4frc

Modify Forest Plan Forest-wide Standards to reflect changes in the known distribution of Indiana bat on National Forest System lands, provide protection to roosting bats per the best available current scientific information, and correct active season date discrepancies.

Expand an existing 1.5 acre butternut seed orchard within the Cook Grassland to 4.5 acres to allow planting of American chestnut, and green and white ash with genetic traits resistant to blight and ash borers.

Restore fire-adapted ecosystems, enhance natural forest habitat conditions, and increase wildfire resilience with prescribed fire and non-commercial vegetation management. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/a9kguv4tsnoeav192vc22asca5ugts42

Reroute Rikert Ski Touring Center trails onto private land to prepare for Middlebury land exchange. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/w29lhq6807h20zznxgtjp1cmnxu343ta

Inject black ash trees with insecticide emamectin benzoate at two separate sites across four separate stands on a total 32.3 acres to enhance ash tree infestation resilience. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/gkcuybc45ly6vvsfplmoc70ch93cn5xs

Modified proposed Bromley Plaza Work Road Reroute. Replaced proposed existing work relocation with a ski trail to allow guests access to the terrain park (Plaza) coming from the main mountain. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/x69acr30wk8j346lujb24atb17u0p1s2

Plant 250 red spruce seedlings on approximately 2 acres in Compartment 20, Stand 101 (an existing wildlife opening). Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/yw3hbr0v1f9m15ir5asdu6i4lckenkye

Use of chainsaws, grip hoist, and rope systems to strategically place wood in sections of Goshen, Gonya, and Hale brooks for a total stream reach of 3.4 miles. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/rnry1ozcnxmdmq8dg0s5rc4i0g9f1ush

Construct parking lot along Terry Berry Road to mitigate existing resource damage from vehicles parking in grassland area. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/mq17ukjojdjvgbx6qsgl9daqhtva6n3v

Repair and replacement of numerous critical facilities located along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail including but not limited to bridges, privies and shelters. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/ouaocfzbwmm6w1mcc2710ca98u6cty93

Renovation and reconstruction of a campground by replacing outhouses; installing accessible paths; replacing aging signs, kiosk, and other infrastructure; re-gravel and grade campsites as needed. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/u45u9gutvd9r7f0j7mfowog7w518wdbf

Approve issuance of a special use permit for construction, use, and maintenance of two aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS) towers and associated infrastructure on the East Ridge of the Deerfield Wind facility. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/l711smvjmc2cr2ntmqzh0ekcvts75ofo

Creation of small, natural appearing wetlands in multiple locations where natural wetlands may have existed prior to artificial drainage by farmers. These wetlands would be fully functional and provide habitat and protection against flooding.

This project would authorize continuing management of permanent openings in 266 stands on the Green Mountain National Forest.

Relocate section of Pond Loop trail where it is currently trenched and heavily eroded southwest of Grout Pond. Trail relocation would be 310 feet in length and would be implemented in partnership with existing trail partners: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/idgdjftfq8dc85wkiohcfzsc11aae5wo

Relocate the existing Long Trail segment where it is impacting the soil resource with an approximately 1,300-foot switchback. Decommission about 450 feet of existing Long Trail. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/evkr1aechc7i7kr555pqo5872mw9sd7a

The Forest Service proposes to exchange an approximately 475 acre tract of land on the GMNF for approximately 402 acres of land owned by Middlebury College in the Breadloaf area of Ripton, Vermont.

Issue permit for use and maintenance of an existing trail off of Roaring Brook Road (FR 264) for year-round ATV access. Project website: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/9b0snmqfogchjfmqbnzdzb5sao5sti8l

Sugarbush Resort desires to improve their mountain bike opportunities by constructing 10.9 miles of mountain bike trails in the Gate House area. Some existing trails and a disc golf course would be decommissioned and rehabilitated.

Conduct a project-specific Forest Plan amendment to waive Diverse Backcountry MA Recreation Standard S-1 within the proposed permit area. Issuance of a special use permit to construct, operate, and maintain a hut to provide year-round public use.

Issue a permit with a term of five years, authorizing use and maintenance of the existing access road and bridge to access the Searsbury Wind Facility.

Improve trail around Hapgood Pond Recreation Area. Project involves improving trail location and tread to meet accessibility requirements and provide a full trail loop experience.

Improve trail around Hapgood Pond Recreation Area. Project involves improving trail location and tread to meet accessibility requirements and provide a full trail loop experience.

Relocate the Finger Lakes Trail trailhead from its current location to a more suitable spot 0.5 miles along Satterly Hill Road. A new trailhead and parking area would be improved at the new site. Includes a new 0.1 mile trail connector.

Amend existing special use permit to authorize improvements to the Chittenden Brook and Grout Pond Huts to meet their respective accessibility, storage and waste disposal needs.

This project would enhance mountain biking opportunities by the adoption of some existing user-created trails, and authorized use changes on some existing system trails.

Decommission Ripton north building located at the district administrative site in Bristol.

Construction of a new 20 vehicle garage and expanded parking to address limited parking at the Rochester Ranger District Administrative Site.

Removal of accumulated fine sediment from Hapgood Pond in order to increase water storage volume, improve recreational experience, and prevent potentially hazardous high water temperatures.

Restoring stream channels through addition of coarse woody materials to retain sediment and organic material, reduce flow to improve stream habitat, increase channel stability, reconnect flood plains and riparian habitat, reduce downstream effects.

Issuance of a 20-year permit for construction, use, and maintenance of a work road to be used for the installation, use, and maintenance of sap lines connecting private properties.

Issue special use permit to install high speed internet services at the Burnt Hill communications site for the New York State troopers.

Relocate and reconstruct Homerstone Brook hiking trail in order to repair storm damage and provide a sustainable side trail to the Appalachian/Long Trail.

Small Tracts Act conveyance of ~11.7 acres to Lodge at Pinnacle View, LLC in order to phase out hazardous material disposal use, in compliance with the Forest Plan, and to reduce special use administrative costs.

Construction and designation of non-motorized multiple use Velomont Trail across the Manchester Ranger District.

Amend existing special use permit to authorize improvements to the Chittenden Brook and Grout Pond Huts to meet their respective accessibility, storage and waste disposal needs.

The Appalachian Trail/Long Trail (AT/LT) Homerstone Bridge crossing Homer Stone Brook was overtopped in 2011 and 2023. The foundation is eroded and the trail was washed out. Proposal would provide new trail tread and a safe structure to cross brook.

Issue permit for the underground installation of 3,000 feet of primary electric line extension along a section of Forest Road 93 (Tucker Brook Road) to residential property.

Approve issuance of a special use permit authorizing construction, use and maintenance of a parking lot to access National Forest trails. Area occupied by the parking lot is about 0.03 acres.

On 262 acres of stands included in the Dutton Brook II DN, a non-commercial mid-story removal will be implemented on trees up to 10 inches in diameter using chainsaws and herbicide to release red oak and chestnut seedlings.

Multiple resource management to implement the Forest Plan across a large landscape area. Proposed activities include timber harvesting, wildlife habitat enhancement, recreation & forest access improvements, and soil and wetland restoration work.

Replace AT/LT Peru Peak trail bridge due to significant maintenance needs. Project may involve airlift and hand-crew construction, implemented in partnership with existing trail partners. Originally part of and scoped under Project #63335

Several snowmobile trail bridges on the Manchester Ranger District need to be replaced in order to provide a safe and high quality trail experience for over-snow motorized use.

Replace an existing culvert along Murray Hollow Road with a bottomless bridge structure to enhance aquatic organism passage and flood resiliency. Includes in-stream work to mimic stream elevations above and below the structure.

Issuance of a 10-year permit authorizing a van with trailer to shuttle 50 people per day to a pull off between Auction Barn Field and Lacount Field on Vermont Route 100. People would then carry inner tubes down to the White River for float trips.

Issuance of a 5-year permit to retire and remove existing utility poles and lines along Vermont Route 12 in Woodstock.

Application to construct, use, and maintain a private road from Sylvan Ridge Road to private property in order to haul construction material to the property, and be used year round by personal vehicles.

Proposal to issue a construction permit with a 3 year term authorizing the rebuilding of existing overhead electric utility and telecommunications lines and converting them to underground lines directly adjacent to National Forest Road 296.

Issuance of 3-year permit to use an old skid road off of FR155A for the purpose of transporting timber. A landing of ~0.2 acres east of the road would be used for staging. The proposed project area utilizes ~0.69 acres.

Realignment and reconstruction of existing mountain bike trail infrastructure.

Restoring ecosystem resilience and biodiversity by planting native, woody, fruit bearing species in an area currently dominated by invasive species.

Multiple resource management to implement the Forest Plan across a large landscape area. Includes activities such as timber harvesting, wildlife & fisheries habitat improvement, recreation & forest access opportunities, and restoration work.

Increase acres of early successional (0-9 age class) habitat for neotropical migrant passerine birds and other wildlife species primarily with timber harvest treatments on up to 14,270 acres over a 15-year period.

Multiple resource activities integrated across the landscape designed to bring the project area closer to the desired future conditions as provided by the Green Mountain National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).

Multi-resource project activities to meet desired future conditions provided by the 2006 Forest Plan for resources such as recreation, heritage, soil/water, fish/wildlife, rare plants, natural communities, timber, and roads.