ML070170518

VYNPS - SEIS Web Reference - Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area

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

Text

Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area General Description Roaring Brook WMA is open to regulated hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Bounded by Interstate 91 on the west and by the Massachusetts border on the south, Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) consists of 1,401 acres in the towns of Guilford and Vernon. The WMA is broken up into 11 separate parcels ranging in size from 10 to 995 acres.

The largest parcel borders the Vernon Town Forest (465 acres) thereby creating a 1,460-acre contiguous piece of public land.

The majority of the WMA is owned by the State of Vermont in fee simple, and managed by the Vermont Fish

& Wildlife Department. However, timber rights were 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 hardwood trees. A significant percentage of the hardwoods are white and red oak which provide an important food source for many wildlife species. Five hundred sixty-five (565) acres of the WMA function as deer wintering area.

Jeffersons salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonium) is a rare species that occurs here.

Significant natural communities found on Roaring Brook WMA are vernal pools, wetlands, red maple-black gum swamp, and sugar maple-ostrich fern riverine floodplain forest.

Common Fish and Wildlife Mammals Beaver, muskrat and mink can be found in and near the wetlands. Bear, moose, white-tailed deer, gray squirrel, snowshoe hare and fisher inhabit the upland sections of the WMA. Bear frequent seeps and wetlands in the spring to find early herbaceous growth for food.

Birds Turkey and ruffed grouse are present on the WMA and can be hunted in season. Wood ducks are another game species that may be found. Over 25 species of songbirds have been identified on the WMA. Visitors may also hear the loud call of the pileated woodpecker.

Sampling for amphibians in a vernal pool at Roaring Brook WMA. Kim Royar, VFWD photo.

Reptiles and Amphibians Frog species include green and wood frog and spring peeper. Salamander species that have been found on the WMA include red spotted newt, Jeffersons and spotted salamander.

Fish There are wild brook trout in the waters of Roaring Brook WMA.

VERNON FORT BRIDGMAN RD NEWTON RD NORTH VERNON Roaring Brook Connnecticut River Guilford Vernon Vermont Massachusetts Charles Hill 837 ft Lily Pond Vernon Town Forest Vernon Dam ROW 5

91 POND RD WEST RD HUCKLE HILL RD SCOTT RD BASIN RD GOVERNOR HUNT RD LILY POND RD CENTRAL PARK RD 300 1000 700 1000 400 699442 700442 701442 702442 703442 704442 705442 706442 4734186 4735186 4736186 4737186 4738186 4739186 To Exit 1 3.7 Miles To Brattleboro 5.3 Miles To Greenfield 11 Miles Hunting Rights Only Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area 0

0.5 0.25 Miles 1,401 Acres 1:35,000