Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Why – Importance of Forests to Lamoille County .................................................................................... 6 Lamoille County Forest Stewardship Steering Committee ....................................................................... 6 Objectives.................................................................................................................................................. 7 Lamoille County Regional Characteristics ............................................................................................. 9 Location and Demographic Trends ........................................................................................................... 9 Land Use Trends and Future Land Use ..................................................................................................... 9 Economic Trends ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Regional Forest Characteristics ............................................................................................................... 10 Existing Forest‐Based Land Uses ............................................................................................................. 14 Natural Environment Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 14 Forest Resource Values ...................................................................................................................... 16 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Forest Productivity and Economic Values ............................................................................................... 16 Recreational Resources ........................................................................................................................... 27 Scenic Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Wildlife Habitat ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Ecosystem Strength ................................................................................................................................ 31 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................................. 37 Landscape Zones and Priority Areas ....................................................................................................... 37 Urban Landscape Zone ........................................................................................................................ 38 Vermont Forest Resources Plan Priorities for the Urban Landscape Zone ......................................... 38 1 Lamoille County Urban Landscape Zone Priority Areas ...................................................................... 38 Rural Residential Landscape Zone ...................................................................................................... 39 Vermont Forest Resources Plan Priorities for the Rural Residential Landscape Zone ....................... 40 Lamoille County Rural Residential Landscape Zone Priority Areas ..................................................... 40 Rural Landscape Zone ......................................................................................................................... 41 Vermont Forest Resources Plan Priorities for the Residential Landscape Zone ................................. 41 Lamoille County Rural Residential Landscape Zone Priority Areas ..................................................... 41 Threats, Barriers, and Limitations ...................................................................................................... 42 Environmental Threats ............................................................................................................................ 42 Incompatible Development and Fragmentation .................................................................................... 45 Economic Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 48 Existing Forest Conservation Measures .............................................................................................. 51 Conserved Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 51 Regional Plan ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Local Plans and Land Use Regulations .................................................................................................... 59 Local Conservation Commissions and other Conservation Organizations ............................................. 59 Forest Product Associations .................................................................................................................... 60 Private Landowner Associations ............................................................................................................. 61 Advocacy Organizations and Associations .............................................................................................. 62 Additional Forest Stewardship Strategies ........................................................................................... 64 Land Use Regulations .............................................................................................................................. 64 Road Policies ........................................................................................................................................... 67 Regional Policies ..................................................................................................................................... 67 Act 250 and Other State/Federal Regulations ........................................................................................ 67 Ownership of Land/Ddevelopment Rights .............................................................................................. 67 UVA and other tax incentive programs ................................................................................................... 68 2 Cooperative Management and Marketing ............................................................................................. 68 Strong Forest Resources Based Businesses ‐ Economic Opportunities .................................................. 69 Education and Outreach ......................................................................................................................... 72 Other Forestry, Natural Resources, and Sustainability Initiatives .......................................................... 73 Summary of Forest Stewardship Strategies and Initiatives .................................................................... 74 Appendix A: Regional Plan ................................................................................................................. 80 Appendix B: Local Plans ..................................................................................................................... 85 Conservation/Forest Reserve Districts ................................................................................................... 85 Planned Unit Development ..................................................................................................................... 86 Subdivision Regulations .......................................................................................................................... 86 Ensure Forest Products Industries are allowed in Community ............................................................... 86 Forest Practices ....................................................................................................................................... 88 Definitions of Important or Significant Resources .................................................................................. 88 Education (Non‐Regulatory) ................................................................................................................... 89 Map and Inventory Forest Lands, Wildlife Corridors (Non‐Regulatory) ................................................. 89 Purchase or Transfer of Development Rights ......................................................................................... 90 Other ....................................................................................................................................................... 91 Citations ...........................................................................................................................................