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Conservation

Chateauguay No Town (CNT) Conservation Project

Mission

"Working together for the common goal of voluntary land stewardship and wildlife habitat conservation through education and the coordination of public and private partnerships."

Background

In 1997, the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Stockbridge and Killington formed a group of town representatives to work on a conservation plan, in voluntary cooperation with landowners, for the 60,000+ acre Chateauguay No Town (CNT) Area. For those not familiar with this Area, the four participating towns meet in the center of the CNT. The group's role is to assist landowners in keeping this area the way it is today by emphasizing voluntary landowner participation. The role of the Regional Commission in this project is to facilitate the program's process and offer administrative and technical assistance to the participating towns.

Goals & Objectives

  • Assist landowners in keeping the area the way it is by emphasizing voluntary landowner conservation.
  • Conserve as much of this area as possible while keeping the land in private ownership.
  • Promote sustainable forestry.
  • Keep the CNT area working and environmentally healthy as it has been for many years.
  • Ensure recreational opportunities.
  • Conserve critical wildlife habitats (such as bear, moose and plant communities).
  • Preserve and protect upland watersheds. The Ottauquechee and the White Rivers are important water resources.

CNT Project Highlights

  • The Project commenced in late 1997 in response to local interests.
  • Two Rivers RPC hosted a meeting in Barnard with the affected towns to solicit their interests in working together. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources was brought in as partners to the Project. (Winter 1998)
  • TRORC, Vermont Land Trust, The Conservation Fund, and Appalachian Trail Conference committed to assisting the Committee in undertaking the CNT Project.
  • Mission statement was developed and agreed to by the above partners. (Winter 1998)
  • All towns and the above organizations entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding how each is to contribute to the Project. (September 1998)
  • Committee began, with the assistance of the TRORC, to compile a database of landowners and parcels for the Project Area. (Winter 1998)
  • TRORC launched extensive resource mapping for the Project. (Fall 1998/Winter 1998)
  • CNT Project was awarded planning grants from the Connecticut Joint River Commission and the State of Vermont to conduct further research and mapping of this wilderness area. (Spring 1998/Fall 1998)
  • Barnard voted to form a Conservation Commission and to set-up a Conservation Fund ($5000) to promote long-term conservation in Barnard, including lands in the CNT area.
  • VLT and others hosted a meeting at the Lakota Club in Barnard to educate landowners on the intentions of the CNT Conservation Project. (Spring 1999)
  • Fundraising efforts were commenced to underwrite purchase of conservation properties in fee or easements therein.
  • VLT set up a CNT Conservation Fund as a depository for these funds. VLT and other conservation partners continue landowner contacts and negotiations on key properties. (Summer/Fall 1999)
  • Barnard, Bridgewater, and Stockbridge receive $25,000 Municipal Planning Grant for purchase of conservation easements. (October 1999)
  • CNT partners complete a natural resource inventory, identifying many unique and significant ecosystems and flora within the Area. (September 2002)
  • Bridgewater Town Plan and TRO Regional Plan updated to reflect CNT Project mission and goals. (January 2003)
  • TRORC launches Pilot Crossing Study to assess options for safer wildlife crossings on Route 12 in Barnard. (Summer 2003)
  • Work starts on update of landowner and parcel databases for properties within the Area using Municipal Planning Grant funding. (Summer 2003)
  • VLT successfully conserves properties in the CNT, totaling almost 3,700 acres to date.
  • Conservation partners continue contacts with landowners regarding plans for conservation.

What's next?

  • Provide landowner education
  • Update and gather information
  • Increase local involvement
  • Continue fund raising
  • Consider new partners

For more information

Contact Pete Fellows at TRORC. Email pfellows@trorc.org or call 802-457-3188 X27

In This Section

Back to Conservation

About the CNT

CNT Project Area

CNT Partners

CNT Committee

CNT Publications