INTRODUCTION

 

 

The Natural Resources Element has several purposes.  It provides information on where various natural resources are located, and a summary of why these resources are important, as established by Federal and/or State laws and rules.  Definitions are also included.

 

This Element also establishes policies directing the Regional Commission's actions and positions related to natural resources.

 

Finally, the Element contains many tasks still to done.  During FY94 ACRPC has chosen to begin its annual Plan update work with this section since natural resources are spread widely over the region and are part of our daily lives.  The Commission hopes to be able to work with State and town officials, landowners and citizens to resolve some of the natural resource conflicts in this Region so that business and personal plans can proceed with greater certainty than at present while maintaining the natural environment which is an integral part of the character of the Addison Region.

 

NATURAL RESOURCES GOALS AND POLICIES

 

GOALS:

 

            During the development of this section the goals that are now the "Regional Plan's Overall Goals" were the goals for this section.  As part of the adoption phase it was determined that those Goals reflected an overall direction for the Regional Plan and were moved to their present position.  At this time specific goals for this section remain to be developed. 

 

            NATURAL RESOURCE GENERAL POLICIES:

 

            1.         Encourage government and other regulatory agencies to inform landowners early in the planning process when a particular natural resource feature or characteristic of their property is being seriously considered for proposal as a feature or characteristic that would be included on or in a map, in­ventory, or plan that would have any legal or regulatory effect.

 

            2.         Encourage research and development of science and technology to enhance both the protection and conservation of natural resources and the economic viability of resource based industries, particularly in farm, forest, and mineral indus­tries.  The Extension System and other similar agencies should be used to transmit results and provide training and education as necessary.

 

            3.         Formulate natural resource policies, and natural resource background material based on sound science, and sound scientific evidence.

 

            4.         Encourage amicable relations between landowners and those seeking permission to use the land for recreation purposes.

 

            5.         Support the strengthening and diversification of natural resource based enterprises, including support services for those business­es.

 

            6.         Encourage in all natural resource policies a balance between economic and environmental considerations, recognizing that the public interest is served by having both a healthy economy and a healthy environment.

 

            7.         Encourage the maintenance and perpetuation of a diversity of biological habitats in Addison County as a whole, recognizing that nature and land use are not static.

 

            8.         Encourage continuing education of county residents and visitors to understand and appreciate the interdependence of the economic, aesthetic and environmental components of natural resource management.

 

            9.         Encourage landowners to conserve and protect significant natural resources through positive incentives.

 

            10.       Because of the interconnected nature of identifying and conserving natural and cultural resources, the policies in this section are not to be considered in isolation, but rather in conjunction with the other policies developed in the Natural Resource Section.  Policies have been developed for the following categories:  Farmland; Forestland; Swamps; Bogs; Marshes and other Wetlands; Wildlife, Fragile Areas, Endangered Species; Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams, and Aquifers; and Mineral Resources.

 

 

            NATURAL & FRAGILE AREAS AND THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES POLICIES: 

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Commission, in cooperation with local municipalities, to encourage:

 

            1.         participation in the development of reasonable definitions, based on sound scientific evidence, of natural and fragile areas, diversity (including biodiversi­ty) and other important terms or concepts relating to the protection and conservation of fragile areas, and of rare, threatened and endangered species.

 

            2.         identification of significant natural and fragile areas in the region, and protec­tion and conservation of those areas, in a form commensurate with their impor­tance, and the degree to which protection and conserva­tion is necessary.

 

            3.         the identification of species that are truly threatened, endangered or rare, and the protection and conservation of these species in a form commensu­rate to both their significance and the degree to which protec­tion and conservation is neces­sary.  Recognize that generally accepted farm and forest management practices have helped create and maintain some species' habitats.

 

            4.         the establishment and maintenance of necessary interconnecting wildlife corri­dors, including riparian buffer zones.  Necessity will be deter­mined on the basis of sound science and sound scientific evidence and a balancing of economic and environmental considerations.

 

            5.         the recognition that some species of plants and animals that are rare, threatened or endan­gered in Vermont are at the edge of their natural range, and may be common in other geographic areas further to the North or South.  Therefore, these species may require a lesser degree and/or different type of protection than species that are truly in danger of extinction.

 

NOTE:  Policies in the Wildlife Resources Section may also apply in this section.

 

 

            WILDLIFE RESOURCES POLICIES:

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Commission to encourage:

 

            1.         participation in the development of reasonable definitions, based on sound scientific evidence, of significant wildlife habitat, fragmentation, wildlife corridors, edge effect, diversity (including biodiversity), riparian zones, and other important terms or concepts relating to the protection and conservation of wildlife, of fragile areas, and of rare, threatened, and endangered species and to recognize that each occurrence of wildlife habitat does not produce an equal public benefit.  When evaluating land uses that involve a mix of public benefits, including wildlife habitat, encourage consideration of those other public benefits, along with wildlife habitat.

 

            2.         the design and siting of development in a manner to protect and conserve adjoining areas of significant wildlife habitat. Encourage the protec­tion and conservation of significant habitat, wherever it may be located.  Protection and conservation should be of a form commensurate with both the significance of the habitat and the degree to which protection and conservation are necessary.

 

            3.         the usual pattern of succession in forest wildlife habitats, including that which allows the harvest of forest products according to the principles of sound forest management, recognizing that a variety of forest age classes are desirable for wildlife diversity.

 

            4.         a rate of harvest of wildlife that is commensurate with the capacity of the area to replenish and support the species.

 

 

            5.         the establishment and maintenance of necessary interconnecting wildlife corri­dors including riparian buffer zones.  Necessity will be determined on the basis of sound scientific evidence and a balancing of economic and environmental considerations.

 

 

NOTE:  Policies in the Fragile Areas, Threatened, Endangered and Rare Species Section may also apply in the Wildlife Resources Section

 

 

 

            WATER RESOURCES POLICIES

 

            Surface Waters Policies (Lakes, Ponds, Rivers & Streams):

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Planning Commission to encourage:

 

            1.         municipalities to consider carefully the need to protect surface water in local planning and decision making.

 

            2.         recognition that the public values provided by surface waters are diverse, and include recreation, fisheries, wildlife habitat, water supplies, power generation, transportation and aesthetics; decisions at all levels of govern­ment and in the private sector should protect these values.

 

            3.         maintenance and protection of the quality of surface waters including where they might be degraded incrementally.

 

            4.         improvement of the quality of lakes and ponds in areas where human activity has already degraded them.

 

            5.         improvement of the quality of rivers and streams in areas where degrada­tion has already occurred and water quality does not comply with Water Resources Board classification.

 

            6.         multiple and balanced use of lakes and ponds; discourage uses that would significantly diminish the use of surface waters by others.

 

            7.         monitoring of the condition of surface waters.

 

            8.         practices that reduce or eliminate the release of effluent (waste water) that would have a significant negative impact on surface waters.

 

 

            9.         evaluation of proposed and existing land use activities that have the potential to threaten surface waters through pollution, depletion, or other means of degrada­tion.

 

            10.       recognition of the interrelationships between various water resources.

 

            11.       maintenance of diverse areas of vegetation along surface waters suffi­cient to protect the viability of the surface water.

 

            12.       development of waste water treatment technologies that will help protect and improve the quality of surface waters.

 

            13.       the construction of dams only when it is shown the public interest is clearly and substantially benefitted.

 

 

            Aquifer and Ground Water Policies:

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Planning Commission to encourage:

 

            1.         municipalities to consider carefully the need to protect groundwa­ter resources in local planning and decision making.

 

            2.         recognition that the public values provided by groundwater re­sources (groundwa­ter and aquifers) are critical and include drinking water supplies, water for industry, commerce and agricul­ture, and recharge of surface water supplies; decisions at all levels of government and in the private sector should protect these values.

 

            3.         maintenance and protection of the quality and quantity of ground­water resources, particularly where they might be degraded increm­entally.

 

            4.         improvement of the quality and increasing of the quantity of groundwater resources in areas where degradation or depletion has already occurred in violation of state and federal standards.

 

            5.         protection of the public's right to adequate groundwater while allowing use of groundwater resources by new development.

 

            6.         restriction of land uses in mapped wellhead protection areas to those uses that do not have a significant negative impact on water quality.

 

            7.         monitoring of the condition of groundwater and aquifers.

 

            8.         practices that reduce or eliminate the release of effluent (waste ­water) that would have a significant negative impact on groundwa­ter and aqui­fers.

 

            9.         evaluation of proposed and existing land use activities that have the potential to threaten groundwater resources through pollution, depletion, or other means of degradation.

 

            10.       recognition of the interrelationships between various water resources.

 

            11.       the development of waste water treatment technologies that will help protect and improve the quality of groundwater.

 

 

            Wetlands Policies:

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Commission to:

 

            1.         recognize the diverse benefits provided to the public by lands defined as wetlands, including the following: reduction in flood­ing; improvement of ground and surface water quality; provision of resource base for the farm and forest economy, and traditional rural culture; the provision of wildlife habitat, fish habitat, and habitat for threatened and endangered species; provision of educa­tional and scientific opportunities and enhancement of the scenic landscape for both residents and visitors.  The protection of these benefits should be encour­aged in both government and private decision‑making.

 

            2.         participate in the development of a reasonable definition of wetlands, based primari­ly on hydrology, recognizing that not all wetlands are of equal importance in the provision of each of these bene­fits.  Such a definition should balance ecological and economic considerations.

 

            3.         encourage the protection of each wetland commensurate with the impor­tance, and type, of benefits it provides. Evaluation of impacts should consider effects on the total wetland system as well as impacts over time.

 

            4.         promote the equitable taxation of wetlands, through, but not limited to:  local assessments based on use, zoning restrictions and land capabilities.

 

            5.         recognizing that under current definitions as much as one‑third of Addison County farm land and a substantial portion of forest land are classified as wetland, recognizing that these farm lands and forest lands are among the most productive in Vermont, and recog­nizing that farm and forest uses are among the most compatible with environmental conservation the Commis­sion will:

 

                        a.         encourage agricultural and forestry uses of wetlands which are consistent with Acceptable Agricultural Practices (AAPs­), and Acceptable Manage­ment Practices (AMPs‑logging).

 

                        b.         within wetlands, encourage efforts to work towards Best Manage­ment Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality.

 

                        c.         encourage the protection of the right of land owners to continue growing farm and forest products on these lands.

 

                        d.         support State and Federal policies and legislation which allow the continu­ation of farm and forest uses in wetlands, provided that the criteria of 5(a) and 5(b) are met.

 

            6.         encourage land development in a way that avoids significant negative impacts on important wetlands.

 

            7.         recognize that sometimes it is necessary and desirable to manage wetlands and wetlands habitat for the purpose of protecting people from nuisance, from the loss of economic opportunity and from threats to health and safety.  This includes, but is not limited to the nuisance of ordinary mosquitoes, the destruc­tion, by flooding, of productive farm and forest land by beaver; and the threats to public health and safety arising from giardia carried by beaver.

 

 

            AGRICULTURAL LANDS POLICIES

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Planning Commission to:

 

            1.         recognize the diverse values and benefits provided to the public by agri­cultural land, which include the following:

 

                        a.         provision of a resource base for the farm economy and rural cul­ture;

                        b.         food and fibre production;

                        c.         enhancement of the scenic landscape for residents and visi­tors;

                        d.         provision of wildlife habitat;

                        e.          recreational opportunities.

 

            2.         encourage the protection of the quality and quantity of agricul­tural lands.  Farm tracts of sustainable size, individually and as a critical mass, should be encour­aged.

 

                        Recognize that in some cases a portion of agricultural land may need to be developed for purposes other than agriculture in order to maintain the viability of the balance of the agricultural land; and to encourage clus­tered development for development that does occur on agricultural lands.

 

            3.         promote the equitable taxation of agricultural lands through, but not limited to:  local assessments that reflect current use, zoning restrictions, and land capabili­ties.

 

            4.         encourage the strengthening and diversification of existing farming enterprises, including agricultural support services.

 

            5.         encourage municipalities to carefully consider agricultural lands in local planning and decision‑making.  Farm land evaluation and site assessment systems should be used when beneficial.

 

            6.         encourage the local processing, manufacturing and marketing of value‑added agricultural products.

 

            7.         encourage progress toward Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality.

 

            8.         encourage that land development be placed so as to avoid signifi­cant negative impacts on farm land and farm management.

 

            9.         encourage the maintenance of diversity, including biodiversity, within the farm land of Addison County as a whole, recognizing the desirability of diversity that currently exists.

 

            10.       encourage amicable relations between farm land owners and those seeking permission to use the land for recreation purposes.

 

            11.       recognize that Addison County farm product enterprises compete in a global market economy, and that their continued survival will require the ability to make capital investments, to benefit from technological ad­vance, and to adopt cost‑effective, environmental­ly sensitive methods of farm management and farm product manufac­turing.

 

 

            12.       encourage the protection of established farm enterprises from public and private nuisance suits relating to farm practices, provided that those practices are ordinary and customary within the industry, and provided that those practices do not have a substantial adverse effect on public health and safety.

 

            13.       encourage research and development, with the results disseminated through the Extension Service and similar sources of information, of better science and technology to enhance both the conservation of natural resources and economic viability of individual farming enterprises.

 

            14.       (Vermont Constitution Article II)

                        private property ought to be subservient to public uses when necessity requires it, nevertheless, whenever any person's proper­ty is taken for the use of the public, the owner ought to receive an equivalent in money.

 

            15.       recognizing that farm and forest land may be the principal or exclusive form of holding life savings for rural landowners who earn their living by growing farm and forest products, and recog­nizing that the continued economic viability of that land is necessary or desirable if the public benefits their land provides are to be maintained, encourage that any planning strategy regard­ing that land not convert those public benefits into private liabilities, and be mutually beneficial to both the landowner and the general public.

 

 

            FORESTRY RESOURCE POLICIES

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Planning Commission to:

 

            1.         recognize the diverse benefits provided to the public by forestla­nd, including the following:

 

                        a.         provision of a resource base for the forest economy and rural culture;

                        b.         production of forest products;

                        c.         enhancement of the scenic landscape for both residents and visi­tors;

                        d.         provision of wildlife habitat;

                        e.          provision of recreation opportunity;

                        f.          enhancement of watershed quality.

 

 

                        The protection of these benefits should be encouraged in both government and private sector decision‑making.

 

            2.         encourage the strengthening and diversification of forest product enter­prises, including forest product support services.

 

            3.         encourage municipalities to carefully consider forest lands in local plan­ning and decision‑making.  Forest land evaluation and site assessment systems should be used when beneficial.

 

            4.         encourage progress toward Acceptable Management Practices (AMPs) to protect water quality.

 

            5.         promote the local processing, manufacturing, and marketing of value‑a­dded forest products.

 

            6.         encourage amicable relations between forestland owners and those seeking permission to use the land for recreational purposes.

 

            7.         encourage the protection of established and sustainable forest enterprises from public and private nuisance suits relating to silvicultural practices, provided that those practices are ordi­nary and customary within the industry, and provided that those practices do not have a substantial adverse effect on public health and safety.

 

            8.         encourage research, and development education, with the results dissemi­nated through the Extension Service and similar sources of information, of better science and technology to enhance both the conservation of natural resources and economic viability of individual forest enterprises.

 

            9.         encourage the protection of the quality and quantity of forest lands.  Forestry tracts of sustainable size, individually and as a critical mass, should be encouraged. This should ensure economic viability, ecological health and sustainability.  Encourage the maintenance and/or restoration of forested corridors, such as streamside forests to encourage biodiversity.  Recognize that in some cases a portion of a forest property may need to be developed for purposes other than forestry in order to maintain the viabili­ty of the balance of that forest property.  Encourage clustered development for development that does occur on forest lands.

 

            10.       promote the equitable taxation of forest lands through, but not limited to:  local assessments that reflect current use, zoning restrictions, and land capabilities.

 

            11.       recognize that Addison County forest product enterprises compete in a global market economy, and recognize that their continued survival may require the ability to make capital investments, to benefit from varied technologies (old and new), and to adopt cost‑effective, environmentally conscientious methods of forest management and forest product manufac­turing.

 

            12.       encourage the continuation of a multiple use management philosophy on National Forest Lands, State Forest and Parks, and State Fish and Wildlife lands, and the maintenance of good communication between the Addison County Regional Planning Commission and these agencies.

 

            13.       encourage the maintenance of diversity, including biodiversity, within the forestland of Addison County as a whole, recognizing the desirability of the diversity that currently exists.

 

            14.       (Vermont Constitution Article II)

                        recognize that private property ought to be subservient to public uses when necessity requires it, nevertheless, whenever any person's property is taken for the use of the public, the owner ought to receive an equivalent in money.

 

            15.       recognizing that farm and forest land may be the principal or exclusive form of holding life savings for rural landowners who earn their living by growing farm and forest products, and recog­nizing that the continued economic viability of that land is necessary or desirable if the public benefits their land provides are to be maintained, encourage that any planning strategy regard­ing that land not convert those public benefits into private liabilities, and be mutually beneficial to both the landowner and the general public.

 

 

            CULTURAL RESOURCES POLICIES

 

            It is the policy of the Regional Planning Commission to:

 

            1.         advance the cause of cultural resources by working to achieve greater recogni­tion of the values of cultural resources; in particular, the Commis­sion encourages greater use of and interaction with the local media.

 

            2.         encourage the conservation of historic resources, including the adaptive reuse of historic structures and townscapes.

 

            3.         encourage the creation of a regional consortium of local historical societ­ies.

 

            4.         facilitate the organization and execution of cultural resource projects involving more than one municipality.

 

            5.         facilitate the organization of multi-town meetings on cultural resourc­es.

 

            6.         encourage greater recognition of the Region's landscape and public lands as cultural resources.

 

            7.         promote community and citizen awareness about the existence and impor­tance of the Region's cultural resources and their role in its economic, recreational, educational, aesthetic and environmental web.

 

            8.         encourage the integration of cultural resources protection with on-going environ­mental and natural resource protection programs being carried out by Federal, state, town and non-profit efforts.

 

            9.         encourage responsible ownership and protection of significant cultural resources, be they private, public or not-for-profit.

 

            10.       provide help, upon request, to towns in establishing local strategies and tools to protect their historic and archeological resources, including local historic district ordinances, easement programs, and transfer or sale of development rights.

 

            11.       encourage on-going programs to identify, document, map, evaluate and publicly interpret sites and buildings of historic, and architectural impor­tance.

 

            12.       encourage towns to use the archeological sensitivity maps developed by Jack Rossen working with the Middlebury District Office, SCS, and the State Division of Historic Preservation in planning of archeological resourc­es.

 

            13.       encourage towns and the Regional Planning Commission to make these maps readily available so that property owners can be aware of potential archeological locations, and use them in planning for use of their land.

 

 

 

 

            SCENIC RESOURCES POLICIES

 

            No Policies have been developed at this time.

 

 

            MINERAL RESOURCES POLICIES

 

            No specific policies have been developed at this time.

 

 

 

NATURAL RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS

(Subject to future review by the Natural Resources Committee)

 

 

            NATURAL & FRAGILE AREAS AND THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES

 

 

            a.         Encourage the use of positive incentive programs for landowners and education of the public to promote cooperative respect & protection of these resources (natural areas).

 

            b.         A priority system for the protection of natural resources should be agreed upon (Text contains an outline of a suggested priority system).  The Natural Resources subcommittee, together with Natural Heritage staff, landowners and others should draft the priority system and generic management plans.

 

            c.         All species on the Federal & State threatened and endangered list should be considered regionally significant resources, and their generalized locations identified in the Regional Plan.  Protection measures for State and Federal Threatened and endangered species should be identified for use at Act 250 hearings, local development hearings, and educational programs

 

            d.         Further work remains to be done on designation of natural and fragile areas of regional significance.  Beyond the 12 areas designated as regionally significant areas, are listed nineteen areas which are either in public/private ownership, or in private ownership which may be of regional significance, however, more work will be done before this determination is made.  Owners of the properties will be invited to participate in the determination.  In addition criteria for inclusion will be developed and the owners will be notified according to Regional Plan policies.

 

 

 

            WILDLIFE RESOURCES

 

            e.          Towns, the Regional Commission and the Department of Fish and Wildlife should work together to identify those deer wintering areas which are regionally significant, particularly those on private property and then provide incentives to landowners to incorporate protection of the wintering area as part of their farm or forest management plans in ways that are mutually beneficial to the landowner and the general public.

 

            f.          Property owners having development plans may benefit from contacting Vermont Fish and Wildlife staff to determine boundaries of deer wintering areas and necessary buffers before plans are drawn, or significant costs incurred.

 

            g.         Efforts should be made to work with landowners when critical bear habitat areas are identified.  Positive incentives could then be provided to encourage landowners to include these areas in their land management plans.

 

            h.         In cooperation with landowners & the Department of Fish & Wildlife, habitat protection measures should be instituted or maintained according to the Plan's policies, for those species that are critical, but not yet "Endangered" or "Threatened."

 

            i.          According to this section's policies, Towns, landowners, the Regional Commission and State Agencies should work together to maintain a biologically and culturally stable species population in the Addison Region, since it is important to provide for habitat management which provides for a biologically and culturally stable population of the various game species.  Particularly, this means continuing provision for winter habitat, breeding areas, and/or food sources for deer, moose, black bear, turkey and upland game (per section's policies).

 

            j.          Town Plans should identify wildlife habitats which are important to their citizens, as well as threatened and endangered habitats, and provide methods to protect those resources in way that are mutually beneficial to land owners and the general public.  Particularly important is the clustering of development to leave larger areas for habitat.