ML070170518

VYNPS - SEIS Web Reference - Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area

ML070170518
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	01/17/2007
From:	State of VT, Dept of Fish and Wildlife
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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References
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Download: ML070170518 (2)

Text

Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area General Description Common Fish and Wildlife Bounded by Interstate 91 on the west and by the Mammals Beaver, muskrat and mink can be found in and Massachusetts border on the south, Roaring Brook Wildlife near the wetlands. Bear, moose, white-tailed deer, gray Management Area (WMA) consists of 1,401 acres in the squirrel, snowshoe hare and fisher inhabit the upland towns of Guilford and Vernon. The WMA is broken up into sections of the WMA. Bear frequent seeps and wetlands in 11 separate parcels ranging in size from 10 to 995 acres. the spring to find early herbaceous growth for food.

The largest parcel borders the Vernon Town Forest (465 acres) thereby creating a 1,460-acre contiguous piece of Birds Turkey and ruffed grouse are present on the WMA public land. and can be hunted in season. Wood ducks are another game The majority of the WMA is owned by the State of species that may be found. Over 25 species of songbirds Vermont in fee simple, and managed by the Vermont Fish have been identified on the WMA. Visitors may also hear

& Wildlife Department. However, timber rights were the loud call of the pileated woodpecker.

retained by the previous owners on 370 acres, and the Department owns only hunting rights on 37 acres.

Access is limited due to the presence of I-91 and a lack of rights-of-way through the private lands on the remaining borders. Access is further complicated by the fragmented nature of the WMA. Several of the smaller disjointed parcels have no developed accesses. The larger parcel can be entered on foot through the Vernon Town Forest. The Town Forest provides parking at the end of Basin Road.

This parcel may also be accessed via an unmaintained right-of-way located off West Road.

History Little is known of past land use except that a significant percentage of the area was open land and pasture. The bulk of the WMA was acquired in the early 1960s when Interstate 91 was being constructed.

Habitat Features Roaring Brook is situated in the southernmost portion of the Southern Vermont Piedmont biophysical region. Due to its location, many of the natural communities on the property are unique to Vermont and are more like those found in Massachusetts. Plant and tree species such as rhododendron, mountain laurel, scarlet and white oak, and American chestnut can found on the property.

There are several wetlands within the WMA, and Roaring Brook flows through the center of the main parcel.

The WMA is mostly forested with a mixture of hemlock and Sampling for amphibians in a vernal pool at Roaring hardwood trees. A significant percentage of the hardwoods Brook WMA. Kim Royar, VFWD photo.

are white and red oak which provide an important food source for many wildlife species. Five hundred sixty-five Reptiles and Amphibians Frog species include green and (565) acres of the WMA function as deer wintering area. wood frog and spring peeper. Salamander species that have Jeffersons salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonium) is a been found on the WMA include red spotted newt, rare species that occurs here. Jeffersons and spotted salamander.

Significant natural communities found on Roaring Brook WMA are vernal pools, wetlands, red maple-black Fish There are wild brook trout in the waters of Roaring gum swamp, and sugar maple-ostrich fern riverine Brook WMA.

floodplain forest.

Roaring Brook WMA is open to regulated hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

To Exit 1 To Brattleboro NORTH O 3.7 Miles 5.3 Miles VERNON G VE Guilford Vernon RN O

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TT To Greenfield Vermont RD Hunting Rights Only 1000 11 Miles Massachusetts 699442 700442 701442 702442 703442 704442 705442 706442