in This issue:2 Director’s Message 3 We Can “Grow “ Clean Water

4 A Real Giving Tree 6 Faces of Conservation7 Turn Your Yard into a Pollinator Paradise

VeRMonT

spring/summer 2017

ConneCt with nature: nature.org/vermont

naTure.org/vermonT 3

Director’s Message Water

the Vermont We Depend on, Depends on Us

We’re hearing from our new state and federal administrations about the need to invest in infrastructure. While for some the

word infrastructure will conjure images of fresh pavement and gleaming bridges, i look into the future and see nature.

together, we have an opportunity to create a new vision for “infrastructure” that looks first to nature-based solutions as a

cost-effective tool for cleaning our waters, building flood resilient communities and buffering ourselves against climate change.

this approach that has us investing in nature for all its multiple benefits—wildlife habitat, recreation, water and air quality—is grounded in the forest and land protection work we have been successfully accomplishing for nearly 60 years.

the spongy wetlands and broad floodplains that store flood waters and filter pollutants from our waterways are a key ecosystem we have protected at otter creek swamps, Missisquoi Wildlife refuge and Lower Poultney river Natural area, to name just a few.

our forests at Black Mountain, Maidstone Bends, Willoughby Peaks and equinox Highlands Natural areas, not only secure critical wildlife corridors but store carbon and ground water, and act as a buffer against the spread of invasive species and diseases such as Lyme.

We have been connecting our waterways for improved fish passage, and by identifying undersized culverts and derelict dams ready for removal, we are also helping build safer and more resilient communities during a time of increased extreme weather events.

at the core of this work is our research and science that helps us identify the most strategic conservation investments and direct limited resources toward activities that provide the most benefit. What’s more, scientific analyses like our water Quality Blueprint and Dam Screening tool are shared widely and inform the work of our state agencies, partner organizations, and municipalities—ensuring that our impact is felt statewide.

the Vermont we depend on, depends on us—all of us. When we all come together and invest in nature, we can grow a thriving and resilient state that benefits people and planet. Your continued support helps pave the way, or should i say “plant” the way toward a sustainable future for the next generation. Heather Furman State Director

BoarD oF TrusTees

Lynn Bondurant, chair Danby

george Burrill Charlotte

allen clark Plainfield

richard Heilemann Manchester

richard Jackson Dorset

Deb Markowitz Montpelier

Bryan Mccarthy North Hero

John Mcinerney Pawlet

James Murdoch Essex Junction

sarah Muyskens Burlington

Margaret Paine Middlebury

Peter swift Charlotte

Peter D. Van oot Norwich

oak Log is written by eve Frankel and Megan LatourDesign by Laughing Bear associates

the Nature conservancy is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) international membership organization. its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

the Nature conservancy meets all of the standards for charity accountability established by the BBB Wise giving alliance. the BBB Wise giving alliance is a national charity watchdog affiliated with the Better Business Bureau.

Printed on 90% recycled (including 30% PcW), process chlorine-free paper, creating the following benefits:

8.2 trees preserved for the future

7,910 gal. water not produced

802.9 lbs. solid waste not generated

2,654.5 lbs. co2 prevented

CoVeR: columbine, ©Chuck Helfer; This PAGe: top left, red eft, ©David Middleton; Heather Furman, ©Dave Furman This PAGe top to bottom Credit: © Paul E. Richardson; © The Nature Conservancy (Karine Aigner)

water Quality Blueprintour scientists build important tools that we share in an open source environment to bring people and organizations together to strategically tackle our most significant problems like poor water quality. But the benefits are not only limited to clean water. Nature-based solutions support fish and wildlife habitat, improve flood resilience, and increase recreational opportunities. a true win-win-win for Vermont.

the Blueprint is available to anyone with an internet connection. the data will also be integrated into the state’s clean Water roadmap. to access our Water Quality Blueprint and download our nature-based solutions infographic, please visit: nature.org/vtcleanwater.

thank you to you our donors and Keurig for supporting this important work. #sciencematters

scieNce, FarMers, aND PartNers DiVe iN

cLeaN Water We can “grow”

We are all ConnectedThe Lake Champlain watershed is expansive but the waters connect us all. The way we treat our rivers and wetlands in towns far from the lake such as Calais impacts the quality of water we have in Lake Champlain.

Armstrong Farm is located along the Pekin Brook in Calais. The Pekin Brook

connects to the Kingsbury Branch which connects to the Winooski River which finally empties into Lake Champlain.

As with every property in the water-shed, the activities taking place on this farm have a direct impact for those fishing and swimming in the

lake as well as the quality of river waters all along the way.

We worked with the Vermont Land Trust and the Armstrong family to protect the river corridor and wetlands on their farm to improve water quality downstream. Nutrient run-off from the farm will be buffered by these protected freshwater ecosystems that act as natural filters while the farmers continue to work the land.

in nature There is opportunity At least that is how our conservation scientists see it. Wetlands capture run-off and clean our water.

Protected and restored floodplain forests buffer us from ravaging floods. Forests provide us with clean air and store carbon. These nature-based solutions can help us meet our 21st century environmental challenges.

This framework inspired us to develop the Water Quality Blueprint, an inter-active web-based map, that identifies priority wetlands and forests that can be protected to help clean our water. The Blueprint results are leading us to projects like the Armstrong Farm.

4 oAK LoG spring/summer 2017 nATuRe.oRG/VeRMonT 5

In his famous poem, Shel Silverstein speaks of The Giving Tree’s selfless generosity as it

provides shelter, sustenance, joy and protection to a boy who grows up enjoying all that the tree has to offer—long after

only its stump remains, having given its very trunk away for the benefit of others.

While Silverstein’s story is fictional, its spirit rings true in Charlotte, Vermont, where the largest slippery elm in the Northeast has brought together a community, found a new life and is playing a unique role in bringing back a species.

boTh PAGes clockwise slippery elm seeds from the “Vt elm” © Gus Goodwin; elm planting © Gus Goodwin; Vt elm processing © Vermont Tree Goods; tree hugging ceremony in front of “Vt elm” © Gus Goodwin; former trustee Larry Hamilton © Gus Goodwin; John Monks at his mill © Vermont Tree Goods;

A ReAL GiVinG TRee

a historic elm

When Charlotte tree warden Larry Hamilton heard about a large slippery elm on Thompson’s Point back in 1996, he had to measure it for himself. With tape in hand he made his way to the property of David and Christie Garrett, where the tree stood tall in front of one of Vermont’s oldest stone homes. Assisted by the Garrett’s then awe-struck, 6-year-old neighbor Erick Crockenberg, Larry recorded the tree’s diameter at a whopping 212 inches. In the 20 years since, that diameter has increased by another 20 inches to 232, making this elm not only the largest in Vermont, but in all of the Northeast. Upon re-measurement of the tree in early 2016, Larry—a beloved, recently deceased trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Vermont—knew it was truly something special and brought the giant to our attention.

Every spring, the Conservancy visits survivor elms that somehow escaped the virulent Dutch-elm disease—which felled the species by the millions in

the 1970s—to harvest buds or seeds from their branches and propagate a disease-tolerant strain. These are raised into seedlings and then planted on conserved floodplain lands. Hardy and flood-tolerant, elms are vital to floodplains, providing much-needed stability to the soil, shade along the shoreline, and valuable habitat for a variety of species.

Eager to harvest seeds from the massive elm, our staff descended on the Garrett property, only to find it had recently succumbed to Dutch-elm disease.

The story could have ended there except that David Garrett, a history buff and talented woodworker in his own right, knew there was a greater tale to tell. He had heard of a local artisan by the name of John Monks who had the know-how and the super-sized equip-ment to take down the now dead tree and possibly give it a second life.

With a penchant for heirloom trees and a good story, Monks became smitten with the elm and envisioned a new life for it that honored its heritage and could actually play a role in bringing back native elms.

a second Life

On a bright morning this past November, Monks and his team from Vermont Tree Goods “disassembled” the historically significant tree and transported it to their one-of-a-kind sawmill in Bristol where they kiln-dried it and began to reassemble the wood into artisan furniture—kitchen tables, beds and other pieces, each bearing the silhouette of the elm that gave its wood to create them.

We are grateful to the Vermont Tree Goods team for not only giving this elm a new life, but also for supporting restoration of the species through their donation to the Conservancy’s floodplain restoration project. Their furniture will have a real story to tell and the quality will ensure that the individual pieces and their narrative can be handed down from generation to generation, as well as support another generation of elms.

Under the blue sky before its disas-sembling, John Monks, David Garrett, Conservancy staff and community members gathered around the elm to celebrate its life in a unique and inspiring “tree hugging ceremony.” Some took a ride on its swing. Others linked arms as they wrapped around the tree’s thick trunk. Thoughtful words and memories were shared under its boughs before the roar of the chainsaw signaled the time for final goodbyes.

In its last moments, The Giving Tree said “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I’m just an old stump.” The boy, now a man, knew better. The tree had given so much more than it ever knew possible, for through its generosity it would live on in other forms, each bringing with it happiness and a reminder of what once was and can be again. The same will be said of Vermont’s iconic elm thanks to visionaries like David, John and supporters like you. Working together for conservation honors the legacy of Charlotte’s remarkable tree and helps establish new communities of resistant elms for future generations to enjoy.

every spring, the Conservancy visits survivor elms that somehow escaped the virulent Dutch-elm disease.

to learn more about the collaboration, visit nature.org/vtelm or vermonttreegoods.com

naTure.org/vermonT 76 oAK LoG spring/summer 2017

BioDiVersitY

Lawn care season is upon us. A manicured lawn feels like a tidy outdoor carpet surrounding our home but it is in fact, a biodiversity desert— it does not sustain healthy populations of bees, butterflies, beetles and other pollinators that we need.

Here are a few simple tips to liberate yourself from the manicured lawn while creating a rich backyard habitat for wildlife and plant species.

Build it and they will come. Reduce the size of your lawn. Allow a wildflower meadow to grow beyond the first quarter

acre. Mowed paths through the meadow are charming, less gas used is good for the planet, and many plant species grow up to flower and fruit. Plant milkweed seeds into your meadow in late fall to support imperiled monarch butterflies.

Create borders at lawn edges. Plant flower or shrub borders that set off your lawn creating “outdoor rooms”. Native shrubs

feed pollinators and provide fruits and nuts for people, birds and wildlife. American hazelnut, red osier dogwood, elderberries and winterberry holly are great options.

Let it grow taller. Set your mower to

3-3 ½” height to conserve soil moisture and set deeper roots. The low-growing broadleaf plants like mints, clover and violets will bloom.

Go greener. Grow a water quality friendly

lawn by laying off the pesticide and fertilizers and letting nature do the work. Low-growing white clover supplies nitrogen to soils. Soil microorganisms break down thatch and help recycle nutrients back to your lawn.

Biodiversity in the newsour Chickering Bog natural area in east Montpelier has been chosen by the Vermont agency of Natural resources to receive class i Wetland Designation. this is like the equivalent of winning the “Best in show” award for a wetland ecosystem. chickering Bog is “...irreplace-able or exceptional in its contribution to Vermont’s natural heritage.” the 10-acre Fen wetland is of a size that is large and rare in Vermont. it provides a home for rare and threatened species and contributes to education and research.

a donation of land by Dubois Farm inc. of addison expands Dead Creek wildlife area by 37 acres, bringing its total acreage to 2,895. the new parcel hosts rare and ecologically important clayplain forest that supports a diversity of wildlife species. Nearly 40 years ago, the conservancy partnered with Vt Department of Fish and Wildlife and local landowners to place a conservation easement on this property after recognizing the forest’s significance. that project began a multi-decade partner-ship between the two organizations that has resulted in many success stories.

This PAGe top to bottom © Bob Klein; © Roger Irwin

For more info on Chickering bog or our 54 other natural areas: nature.org/vtpreserves

PoLLiNator ParaDise

turn Your Yard into a Faces oF coNserVatioN

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new Board LeadershipWe are honored to have three new and exemplary community members join our Board of Trustees. They bring a wealth of experience in the arenas of policy, business and science that will help advance the chapter’s water, land, and climate initiatives. New board members include: Former VT Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, Deb Markowitz (above, left) of Montpelier; Retired business executive John McInerney (above, middle) of Rupert; Wildlife Biology Professor and Chair of the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at University of Vermont, Jed Murdoch (above, right) of Essex.

Cultivating Future ConservationistsThis fall, two new AmeriCorps members joined our chapter as Field Assistants, helping us manage and maintain our fifty-five natural areas throughout the state. Dylan O’Leary and Jack Markoski came to TNC with a desire to advance the conservation values they have been cultivating through their previous education, research and field experiences. “Serving with the Conservancy has opened my eyes to the complexity of land stewardship. I’ve learned the importance of cherishing and fostering the connection between people and our ecosystems,” shared O’Leary.

“I am exposed to the smallest details, as well as long-term challenges, of staff’s responsibilities. Whether I am monitoring sites, helping plan for preserve-specific projects, or grappling with the Conservancy’s role in the future of environmental stewardship, it is a highly engaging experience,” Markoski added. The AmeriCorps program is a national service project that places members with community-based non-profit organizations nationwide.

the nature Conservancyvermont Chapter575 stone Cutters WayMontpelier, Vermont 05602-2959

nature.org/vermont

non-PRoFiT oRGus PosTAGe

PAiDPALATine, iLPeRMiT #171

Spring/Summer 2017

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VeRMonT

upComing evenTs

spring paddle on the WinooskiJune 3, 10-2pm, Colchester point Fishing access Join us in exploring one of VT’s most spectacular rivers—the Winooski. We will paddle upstream and learn about its floodplain forests, ancient river deltas and beautiful natural areas.

Discover Wild ediblesJune 24, 10-12:30, Camel’s hump State parkLearn about wild edible plants that can be found in the forests and fields. We will talk about identification, safety, parts used, harvest, preparation, ethics, conservation, and a maybe a bit about medicinals

a Walk Through TimeSept 9, 9:30-noon, white river Ledges natural areaCome take a walk back in time to see how the White River Valley, the most ecologically diverse area in the upper Valley, was formed while we also search for rare plants.

Events are free and spaces are limited so please register online by visiting our field trip and event page at www.nature.org/vermont