I placed Mine on Conservation

 

After we left the Navy, and though Wayne had been a resident of Vermont for his entire life, we purchased our first home in NH as the lender wouldn't extend to us enough money to afford a home on the VT side of the river. We asked the realtor to find us a home with more land and less house and he found us a former hunting camp, turned year round house which frankly was ready to be torn down.  I had an immediate love affair with our little white and grey camp house that sat on just short of two acres of land and a whole lot of sand. 

It was a level parcel with a front yard full of stumps and each stump had a tire painted white on top of it. The backyard had more stumps, dilapidated sheds (one for parties), old car parts and the most beautiful American Beech tree I have ever seen.  The driveway was lined with massive Eastern White Pines that every year covered our roofs and the ground with a thick bed of needles.  The side lot was made up of Eastern Hemlock, oak, more pine trees and birch. Oh and there was some debate as to whether or not  our single car garage had been built over the property line of our neighbors 75 acers of mature woods. But a local builder who had once done some work on the neighbors house assured us that he had witnessed an agreement between the two parties that moved the property line less than a foot to the south in order to make the garage fully within our property. 

This is where Wayne and I went on to have three more children. Wayne went to work at VY and in his spare time, with he help of neighbors and family, he rebuilt our phoenix from the sill plate to the shingled roof. 

After many good years of building a life there, our neighbors put their house and property up for sale. Had I been smart about it, I would have asked to buy the lot to the side of our garage; but the thought hadn't crossed my mind as we had never had an issue and we couldn't even see their house from ours. New owners moved in and all seemed peaceful. 

One day a friend asked me if I had heard that my new neighbors had been approved to build a firewood operation. As abutters, I was surprised that the town hadn't officially notified us of the application and approval of the project. At first, I thought with 75 acres, it wasn't going to be much of an issue; but then other residents on the road began talking about the scale of the operation, logging trucks, dump trucks, buildings, a mill, and an access road. Finally one friend woke me up saying that this landowner planned on trucking logs into the operation which was to be built directly behind our house! The new owners apparently wanted to build their business the furthest they could from their own house. 

We inquired with the town and Wayne had a conversation with the neighbor about our area being zoned rural agricultural that ended with our neighbor threatening Wayne with a pig farm. Wayne said to him, "I don't believe that you are a pig farmer." To which he rebutted that our children would not be invited to his grandchild's birthday party and that our garage was on his property. 

Ironically, while living in Vernon years later, I won a piglet at the Winchester Pickle Festival which we raised and later gave to our nephew who owns a farm. 

I am going into great detail about this to help others understand the lengths to which neighbors will go to settle a disagreement and how having rules in place can settle an issue. We appealed to the town, who said that their hands were tied. That inquiry resulted in our neighbors clear cutting the massive pines all along our shared property lines. This caused our home to shake so violently that I thought it would come clear off of its foundation. I called the town which fined him a prescribed amount for logging without a permit. I should note that it was within his right to cut every other tree on the property line with a permit.

Having received his message loud and clear, I phoned a friend who was familiar with the ins and outs of municipal governing and they suggested that I write a letter to the NH State Attorney General's office. I received a call in short order and was told the following. When a municipality doesn't have zoning in place to address an issue, it defers to state regulations. That in of itself is a pretty powerful tool, but we were covered by zoning and the town had approved the project. The AG continued by informing me that under the state definition of rural agricultural zoning, a farm must produce more product than it processes. They notified the town that our neighbor's proposed business did not fall within the parameters of  the designated zoning. The town quickly rescinded its approval. 

At this juncture you are probably scratching your heads. Why I would tell a story about Hinsdale, NH?  Allow me to explain; many here in Vernon say that we have no zoning in town and so residents and land owners are free to do on their property as they wish. This is true to an extent, but I would argue that we do have a form of zoning in place. Perhaps the word zoning doesn't exactly apply; but please permit me some leniency on the topic. Vernon has a Farmland Conservation Commission and so we have land that will in the foreseeable future, remain as farmland. The Current Use Program is also in play for forested land. These programs limit development on conserved parcels.

We  have S2 (and a proposed S1) wetlands which carry with that state designation, restrictions on those wetlands including (among other things), a fifty foot buffer around them. Add to this species of concern and we might need an expert to explain all of the rules pertaining to working around them.

Our town is host to the Roaring Brook Wildlife Management area, a state owned wildlife management area that also has specific permitted uses and restrictions. This is in addition to the Fish and Wildlife owned and managed Hatchery Pond and our Municipal Town Forest, each with their own set of specific rules.

"Vermont law declares that lakes and ponds of the state and the lands lying beneath them are held in public trust for the benefit of all Vermonters."*  The Public Trust Doctrine further includes brooks, rivers and ground water. 

As any would be developer knows, The Natural Resource Board in Vermont oversees Act 250 permitting,  "reviewing and managing the environmental, social and fiscal consequences of major subdivisions and developments in Vermont"**

I only have a tea party knowledge of state zoning and other land use regulations in Vermont. Most of what I understand comes from personal interest in specific aspects of these rules. For example, after moving into Vernon and converting our dining room into a fourth bedroom, the state removed the burden of septic tank and leach field regulations from individual municipalities and now regulates all such systems in the state. If we ever were to replace our system, we would be required to upgrade to a four bedroom system or remove our fourth bedroom. Septic system approval (or not) limits land use.

I hope that I haven't lost you yet because here comes the big finale!

Vernon recently created a designated town center for which they consulted experts and residents to help with planning what the center might encompass in the future. Currently it includes farmland, municipal property, our school, businesses and private homes. Adjacent to this center is the Governor Hunt House recently acquired after considerable strategic planning by the volunteer group, Friends of Vernon Center. The house formerly affiliated with the Vermont Yankee site and gifted to this non-profit group, will become our community center. Grants were applied for and awarded for these projects and those accepting the grants must adhere to their stated use. 

Vernon has a selectboard appointed Planning Commission which is charged every eight years with producing the Vernon Town Plan . The next plan is due in 2026. It states right in the introduction that the plan is in part, "...designed to chart a course for development that will benefit future generations..."* 

I recently attended by public invitation, a strategic planning event hosted by the Planning Commission and held at the Vernon rec for the purposes of gaining insight from the public regarding the former Vermont Yankee site.  Most of the small group in attendance were officially involved with town business in one capacity or another. A few of us were just plain old residents. (The ball game across the street however was packed with spectators!) After a thorough presentation, we were given a sheet of stickers so that we could place a sticker on each of the ideas we thought should be pursued in the event that the town obtains the site in approximately six years. Two of the dots provided were a different color than the others and were to be placed on what we thought to be most important.

 I placed my two dots on Conservation & Abenaki. Why? Because aside from valuing conservation, I know that state and federal incentives exist for projects that include these sorts of things in their plans. Low income housing and solar fields also are incentivized and those were choices too. Of course it is possible that the town may choose to set up a Tax Increment Finance District (bonds) instead of pursuing grants, or it may choose to pass altogether on inserting itself into the future of the site.

People who serve on committees, show up to meetings and those who vote, are the ones who help to make decisions. Ordinances, rules and laws are in place because those who showed up, successfully negotiated to put them in place. 

Recently a resident expressed what I have heard from many over the years, they wish that Vernon had remained as a part of Hinsdale. They view NH as having more liberties than Vernon does. Because of my response, "you have options" may have on the surface seemed curt to others, I thought that I would dedicate today's blog to explaining myself. -Norma Manning

 Existing Land Use Town of Vernon VT, May 2018 

*Town Plan Vernon Vermont

**Natural Resources Board, Act 250 Program

Random & Rough Spring Trails With Surprises Along the Way

 Donald pulled his truck over and rolled down his window. He wanted to talk about the trails, "You know we called to invite you to the falls?" Yes I had gotten the call but Wayne and I were already on a hike when they left the message. I asked Donald about another trail that Wayne and I were considering between the town forest and Franklin Rd. There were also two ponds that we found on Google Earth but just one showed up on the vast trail map. After an extended chat waving neighbors around us, we left the conversation with Donald telling me about the ways to get to the pond and my saying that it would have to wait until the the spring mud was done with.

Of course as soon as I walked in the door I had Wayne trying to find a way in. We had tried without success once before; but as luck would have it, the temperatures were about to drop like a rock and I assumed that would firm up the mud. So armed with Donald's conversation and a trail map, Wayne and I tried to pick up the trail by driving up to Fairman Rd. Seeing that the area where the trail crossed was posted with no trespassing signs and no place to park, we headed to Sak Rd. There was a field to be crossed next to a house but it too was posted. Our next stop was Tyler Hill Rd at Lillis Pasture Rd and you guessed it, that too was posted. We were beginning to think that we would have to hike in from the town forest after all. 

Just so you know upfront, this is a super long post covering four and a half hours of hiking. But I hope that you will agree that along the way there are some great surprises! 

We decided to park at the town hall and take the trail across 142 and the train tracks. The road crossing the tracks is posted, but the vast diamond is also clearly visible.

Miller Farm is to our right and the crushed stone operation is to our left.

I was excited to see that there is a wildlife refuge on the farm. We saw a flock of Canada Geese there.

Terracing with a brook below reminds us of the glacier and lake that sculpted the land in Vernon

With snow flurries in the forecast, clouds were rolling in over the CT River and Miller Farm

Finding ice on the trail, we immediately regretted leaving our trekking poles and crampons in the car. Also, notice that Wayne packed water and first aid supplies for this hike. 

Once past the open trail, we found ourselves walking up what reminded me of a playground shoot.

I was surprised by how large the gravel mining operation is given it's relatively small road frontage footprint on 142.  Most of the pit isn't visible from the trail. After the hike, I explored this area using the 3-D option on Google Earth. 

The bank of the shoot is sand. It's interesting how varied the soil is in this area of Vernon

At the end of the shoot we found ourselves in mixed soft and hardwood trees

Without sled tracks to guide us, we kept our eyes out for the vast trail diamonds. It's important to note that these markers are placed for the much faster riders and can seem too spread out for hikers. Here we see directions to a logging lot. Experience tells us that the trail could get rough with logging happening.

 The cycle of freezing and thawing created air pockets on the logging road which did not hold our weight. It's important that when the tail gets rough that you do your best to not walk to the side of it. Hiking around rough areas creates erosion and widens the trail. This includes wet muddy spring trails. Many trails are closed in the spring to prevent damage to them and to protect wildlife.

Finally we found what we were looking for.

Everything pointed in this direction but we came upon posted land. We had to backtrack to the intersection and try the trail on the right instead.

Further up the trail on the right we located another diamond that was the same color that we had followed to the posted land. A good Samaritan attempted to clarify where we were headed.

Another decision to be made

The trail to the right lead to a clearing above the Miller Farm pastures

Miller Farm has cleared this land

A clear view of our retired nuclear power plant - Vermont Yankee

The soil is rocky in this new clearing

Another backtrack had us considering taking a well worn wildlife path.

The third trail is the charm!

We began seeing brooks and wet  trails 

At this juncture we were out of trail options, so when the trail became blocked, we continued on

I want to mention that there were beautiful cliffs on the other side of the trail, but none of my pictures showed them well enough to post. I thought that these vines were also interesting.

We began hearing an ATV but never spotted it. Wayne said we were headed towards Lillis Pasture

Lilis Pasture to the left, Tyler Hill to the right, 142 from where we came. We headed to Lilis.

Of course it was uphill

Moose scat

Wayne couldn't believe that I picked up poop, but how else were you to see how big it was?

There is a lot of water up here

A sure harbinger of spring, the snow fleas are out

When the diamonds are on the ground, take your best guess

I think that on clearer days the view from this hill would be beautiful. For now I settled for more wetlands.

Wayne letting me know approximately where we are

Finding Laurel provided better orientation for me

Friendly face 

 

It had started to snow and we weren't entirely certain that we were on the right trail, so you will understand that I felt like I had found the golden Easter egg when I found this diamond!

Wayne pointed to the gate post and then headed towards that side of the trail. I should have paid closer attention to the reason he did so.

When I took the course Living in a Vigorous Environment at Keene State, we were told that when your shoes get wet, keep walking to dry them out. What choice did I have?

More trees across the trail

Someone was trying to tell us that we weren't getting out of this in one piece. 

Finally we reached the green trail! We could hear the interstate along this trail.

Given that this trail runs north and south we needed to decide to which direction once again. Wayne decided to go south. Who was I to argue?

Having hiked most of the way with too little information, we suddenly found ourselves on the information highway!

We had just come from 1 to the intersection. Wayne informed me that we were about halfway through our hike if we took the loop 1-A back to the farm. On this map there was only one big pond in the area, and it looked like we were going to miss it. Looking at the map as I write, I can see the small triangle on the orange trail above Miller Farm, where we back tracked to twice before heading towards Franklin Road and Lillis Pasture.

 

The 1-A trail meets up with Cold Brook. This side of the trail had been recently traveled on by logging trucks and so the roads were wet, rutted and muddy. The snow began falling more steadily.

Two miles (?) of hiking in truck ruts seemed more than enough for one day. But I believe this is what the loggers were after.

Where there is mud and flowing brooks there is bound to be beaver, and where there are beaver there are beaver ponds and I was so excited to finally find it!

This is the pond seen on Google Earth but not on the Junction map. It is rectangle in shape with two dams and a third under construction. 

An impressive dam network. This is the largest I've seen in southern VT.  This is dam #1

Dam #2

Hemlock branches underwater between dams two and three. Branches and saplings are stuck in the mud and stored for another meal.

This is  dam #3 which is under construction (lower right corner). In spite of the beaver's efforts, the Cold Brook continued east. 

We enjoyed the company of the swollen Cold Brook as we hiked along the trail. As for the markers above? At this juncture, what's another lucky guess?

Imagine our dismay when we exited this part of the trail by walking right past the posted signs that had caused our first backtrack at the start of our hike. We wondered it it was a logger who had posted his lot and that this section of 1-A was in fact still open for snowmobiles and hikers? Clearly our hike to the pond would have been much quicker had we continued on our way.

I hope you enjoyed our hike. I think that our next adventure will take us the distance between the town forest and Franklin Rd...but we never know!