The U. S. Forest Service will hold an online Public Meeting to discuss proposed timber sales in three parts of the Green Mountain National Forest to begin a 15-year Early Successional Habitat Creation Project (ESHC project) on June 8th from 6:30 to 8 pm
The ESHC project plans for up to 14,270 acres of timber harvest treatments to be implemented over a 15-year period designed to increase the acreage of the regenerating age class (0 to 9 years old) of vegetation. The primary project objective is to improve habitat for neotropical migrant passerine birds (or perching birds) and other wildlife species requiring early successional habitats.
The ESHC project activities were approved in a June 2019 decision notice based on the analysis documented in the February 2019 Early Successional Habitat Creation Project Environmental Assessment. Resource effects were disclosed assuming application of all relevant Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) standards and guidelines, and project specific design criteria included in Appendix B of the environmental assessment.
Timber sale preparation activity for this project was suspended while changes to reduce the approved amount of road construction miles and harvest treatment acres were considered to address public concerns related to potential adverse resource impacts from road construction and to better align with Forest Plan direction. These changes were finalized and documented in the May 2022 Early Successional Habitat Creation Project – Reduced Roads Final Supplemental Information Report (SIR).
The Forest Service is now ready to reinitiate implementing ESHC project activities with three planned timber sales to create early successional habitat:
- West River – located in the northeastern portion of the project area west of VT Route 155 in the Towns of Mount Holly and Weston
- South Fork – located south of Kelley Stand Road in the Town of Sunderland
- Weston Priory – located west of VT Route 155 near the intersection of TH-13 (Priory Hill Road) and TH-11 (Old County Road) in the Town of WestonTo take part in this meeting, you can join the Microsoft TEAMS meeting at https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_NTI1MzBhMjgtZGExMC00YjY4LWFjZjgtMTM0YWE5YmVjNWVj%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%252284253f04-3fad-4f91-b4a7-bd5c98b559c1%2522%257d%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=54c39d50-fede-44d9-83ff-eeec2d2641ab&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=trueOr you can phone in for audio access at (202) 650-0123, Phone Conference ID: 990 282 794#