Lincoln, Vermont -Conservation Commission

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Henry Wilmer or Sally Ober

Conservation Commission

The Lincoln Conservation Commission takes on projects as we are able and willing. Often, but not always, these projects are conducted on the three Town properties.

All townspeople are invited to help out, even if you are not interested in being a member of the Commission.

Current interests
1.	Encouraging the growth of red oak seedlings on the Colby Hill Town property by protecting them from deer browsing.
2.	Working with the Audubon Society and private landowners to encourage the conservation of breeding bird habitat, including grassland, shrubland and woodland nesting species. Interested landowners can contact Tina as above. We plan to have a spring program on this subject, TBA.
3.	Next spring the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (formerly the VINS research arm) will be conducting vernal pool surveys in Addison County. They will need volunteers. The LCC would like to facilitate this activity in Lincoln.

History

In 2001, the Select board appointed five town residents to form the Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC), with subsequent confirmation by town residents at the March 2002 town meeting. The Select board asked the Commission, as their first task, to provide management guidance regarding future care and use of the three town-owned forests (the "Colby Hill" Town Forest, the “Ripton Lot,” and the “Urz Property”). Using a grant from Yellow Wood Associates with coordination by Andrew Lindsey, the LCC carried out the “Lincoln Town Forest Project,” which included field trips and two town-wide forums to involve town residents and gather their input. The LCC submitted a project report to the Select board in spring 2003.

In 2008, the LCC finalized a forest management plan for the Ripton Lot. We were able to do this through a Vermont State Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation “Trees for Local Communities” grant. Brendan Weiner of Vermont Family Forests did the timber cruising, along with help from Tina Scharf. We are grateful to both the Department, and also to Vermont Family Forests for their help with this project.