Forest Service meeting on Somerset project

DOVER - The US Forest Service and key stakeholders will hold an informational meeting to discuss updates and progress on the Somerset Integrated Resource project with interested members of the public on Thursday, March 24, from 5:30 to 8 pm. The meeting will be held at the Raponda Room in Mount Snow’s Grand Summit Hotel.
In her December 2020 final decision, district ranger Martina Barnes approved a diverse range of management activities on National Forest System lands that will take place over the next several years. These activities will achieve desired resource conditions across the forest landscape, including improved wildlife and fish habitat, restored soils and wetlands, a sustained network of roads and trails, and increased recreation opportunities. The project also includes the harvesting of timber to provide wood products to the local and regional economy, while enhancing forest health and diversity.
The project area is located on the Manchester Ranger District of the Green Mountain National Forest, primarily in the towns of Dover, Glastenbury, Searsburg, Somerset, Stratton, Wilmington, and Woodford but also includes small portions of Sunderland and Wardsboro within Bennington and Windham counties, covering approximately 71,000 acres in the GMNF
At the March 24 meeting, the public will have an opportunity to hear from Forest Service staff as well as staff from the Connecticut River Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Mount Snow. Updates will include the status of the Deerfield River Tactical Basin Plan, fisheries management highlights from the Deerfield region and the status of the Snow Lake dam. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting and participating organizations will be available to answer questions relating to project implementation at the meeting.
Information about the Somerset project, including the completed environmental assessment and decision documents may be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53706. The documents are also available for review at the Manchester Ranger Station, located in Manchester Center. For more information about the project the public may also contact Jay Strand, forest planner and environmental coordinator, at (802) 767-4261, ext. 5522, or at jay.strand@usda.gov.