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A major tributary to the North Branch
as it passes through the North Branch Parcel
Traveling south along Vermont Rt. 12, you can’t miss the North Branch River as it cascades down its valley from Elmore to Montpelier. Slow travel through miles of northern hardwoods, spruce and fir gives you glimpses of the river’s exquisite waters and of Vermont in an earlier day.
This is a very special place – its clean waters, scenic views, and habitat for ambling moose and darting trout. It is a place where one can spend hours admiring the sparkling cataracts, the wide pools reflecting the surrounding forest and the glittering stones in clear water. For five peaceful miles, you can fish or swim or sit in this forested valley. It is a place without houses or lights or too many people – a river setting once common in Vermont but now rare.
When a parcel within the undeveloped corridor, owned by Green Crow, Inc. (a timber and real estate development company based in Washington State) came on the market the VRC Board realized that if these seventy acres on the hip of the Worcester range were developed into house lots the North Branch River Corridor would never be the same. Our children and we would be poorer for its loss.
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The Vermont River Conservancy was able to negotiate an agreement for purchase of the property. Community support has poured forth. The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board awarded $108,000, the Fields Ponds Foundation awarded $11,000 and over 120 businesses and individuals contributed the balance needed for the project to succeed. As contributions poured in it became evident that people cared deeply for this corridor. It was also clear that this project would accomplish a critical first step in protecting this absolutely magnificent community resource. Our success together is a first action toward keeping the corridor undeveloped, ensuring its public accessibility, protecting its scenic values, maintaining the wildlife corridor connection with Putnam State Forest and the Worcester Range, and keeping the North Branch waters clean for swimming and for native brook trout.
The location of the parcel is just north of the Worcester – Elmore town line on the West side of Route 12.
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The VRC Board thanks all who contributed to this project.
If you should have any questions about this project, please email us at vrc@vermontriverconservancy.org or call Steve Libby at 802-363-0616 or 802-229-0820. We would be delighted to discuss this project with you!
page updated 5/14/08 by Zephyr Sites |
