Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan September 22, 2011 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan as Approved by the National Park Service and the Secretary of the U. S. Department of the Interior May 13, 2011 Note: This is an abridged version of the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan/Environmental Assessment approved by the Secretary of the Interior. For the full text, see www.champlainvalleynhp.org Vision Statement (a view from the future) The people of the region continue to value and celebrate the significance of their rich heritage. Historic cities, traditional small towns, and picturesque hamlets prosper. Healthy farms and forests are still an important part of community life. Heritage sites thrive. The water and air are clean. We teach and respect the history and traditions of those who have come to live here and are stewards of the place they have settled. We continue to overcome political borders and nurture a robust economy and strong regional identity through thriving collaboration among individuals, organizations, and businesses. 1 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan September 22, 2011 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 8 Project Location ...................................................................................................................... 8 The National Heritage Area Program ..................................................................................... 8 The CVNHP Management Plan: A Key Component of Opportunities for Action................. 9 The CVNHP Management Plan: An Integrated Online Management Plan .......................... 11 About the Draft Management Plan/Environmental Assessment .......................................... 12 Planning for the CVNHP ...................................................................................................... 14 Management Issues Addressed ................................................................................................. 17 Recommendations for funding, managing, and developing the CVNHP ............................. 17 A description of activities to be carried out by public and private organizations to protect the resources of the CVNHP ................................................................................................. 17 An assessment of the organizational capacity of the management entity to achieve the goals for implementation ................................................................................................................ 19 Recommendation of ways in which to encourage collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec ............................................................................................................... 20 Approach to Managing the CVNHP ......................................................................................... 22 Guiding Principles ................................................................................................................ 22 Mission .................................................................................................................................. 22 Organizational Background .................................................................................................. 23 Lake Champlain Steering Committee ....................................................................................... 25 Heritage Area Program Advisory Committee....................................................................... 28 Citizens Advisory Committees ............................................................................................. 29 Technical Advisory Committee ............................................................................................ 30 Education and Outreach Advisory Committee ..................................................................... 30 Partnerships ............................................................................................................................... 31 Key Partnership Characteristics ............................................................................................ 33 State and Federal Partnership Characteristics ....................................................................... 35 2 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan September 22, 2011 Collaborative Partnership Characteristics ............................................................................. 37 Regional Stakeholder Partner Groups ................................................................................... 38 Chapter 2: CVNHP Interpretive Themes ..................................................................................... 39 Corridor of Commerce: ............................................................................................................. 39 Making of Nations: ................................................................................................................... 40 Conservation and Community: ................................................................................................. 41 Objectives, Actions and Tasks .................................................................................................. 43 Cultural and Historical Research .......................................................................................... 43 Conservation of Heritage Resources ..................................................................................... 45 Recreation and Accessibility to Resources ........................................................................... 49 Interpretation and Education ................................................................................................. 52 Coordination, Communication, and Capacity Building ........................................................ 57 Marketing the CVNHP ......................................................................................................... 61 Promoting Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 3: Affected Environment ................................................................................................. 69 Natural History and Resources ................................................................................................. 69 Geography, Geology, and Soils ............................................................................................ 69 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 71 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................ 72 Vegetative Communities ....................................................................................................... 73 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 73 Wildlife and Fish................................................................................................................... 74 Threatened and Endangered Animals ................................................................................... 75 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................ 76 Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 77 Cultural History and Resources ................................................................................................ 78 Human History and Cultural Resources: Prehistory and History ......................................... 78 Commerce and Trade ............................................................................................................ 85 3 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Management Plan September 22, 2011 Historic Preservation ............................................................................................................. 89 Archeological Resources ...................................................................................................... 91 Cultural Landscapes .............................................................................................................. 92 Ethnographic Resources........................................................................................................ 92 Museum Collections ............................................................................................................. 93 Native American and Indian Trust Resources ...................................................................... 93 Recreation Resources ............................................................................................................ 94 Chapter 4: Alternatives Considered for the CVNHP Management Plan ...................................... 96 Management Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 96 Proposed Interpretive Themes .................................................................................................