PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – November 13, 2023
Media Contact:
Bradley Greenough, Stewardship Forester
Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation | Agency of Natural Resources
Brad.greenough@vermont.gov; 802-595-3143
Public Invited to Comment on Management Plan for State-Owned Worcester Range Management Unit
Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) will host two public meetings in December 2023 to present a draft long-range management plan for the Worcester Range Management Unit (WRMU).
A presentation of the draft plan and public comment opportunity will be held:
- December 13, 6-8pm, Doty Elementary School, 24 Calais Road, Worcester, VT
- December 19, 6-8pm, Stowe High School, 413 Barrows Road, Stowe, VT
Information about the WRMU draft plan and public comment opportunities is available online.
These 18,500+ acres of state-owned land, located in north-central Vermont, are in the towns of Worcester, Middlesex, Stowe, Elmore, and Waterbury. The WRMU includes five separate parcels. The C.C. Putnam State Forest and Elmore State Park are managed by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. The Middlesex Notch Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Middlesex WMA, and Worcester Woods WMA are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Department.
The WRMU hosts several well-known recreation destinations, including Mount Hunger, Perry Hill trails in Waterbury, and Elmore State Park. There are also boundless opportunities for hiking, hunting, mountain biking, universally accessible trail use, fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing, as well as remote backcountry experiences.
This section of the Worcester Range, in connection with other conserved public and private lands, serves an important role in maintaining long-term health and viability of plant and animal populations, while providing critical connectivity for wildlife along the Appalachians into Quebec.
The draft plan proposes a range of management activities and strategies that promote forest health and resilience, support biodiversity and wildlife habitat, produce a range of forest products, and provide high quality recreational opportunities. This plan includes management proposals for three recent additions to state land: Upper Hollow tract in Stowe, Patterson Brook tract in Middlesex and Worcester, and Brownsville Forest tract in Stowe.
For more information please contact Brad Greenough at brad.greenough@vermont.gov or 802-595-3143.
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The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is charged with oversight and management of Vermont’s natural environment on behalf of the people of Vermont. It is comprised of three departments: the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Fish and Wildlife Department, and the Department of Environmental Conservation.