A.                Summary

Historic and Cultural Resources and Facilities

The Addison Region with its varied topography and wealth of natural resources has an equally rich collection of historic and cultural resources. The character and history of the Addison Region is reflected in the sites, structures, events and traditions built or established by residents over more than 250 years. The importance of these cultural and historic resources is reflected in their ability to provide a sense of continuity between generations and a connection to place.

 

There are a wide range of historic sites and structures in the Addison Region, several thousand of which are listed on the Vermont Register of Historic Places. There are approximately 60 buildings or sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and three historic districts in Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes are also nationally recognized.

 

There are nearly 35 libraries currently operating in the Addison Region, many of which are school libraries. However, most communities in the region continue to have a public library. There are more than ten museums currently operating in the region ranging from large attractions to small local history museums. There are two state historic sites in the region. Middlebury College has a Museum of Art that hosts traveling shows, as well as displaying items from its permanent collection. There are numerous venues for performances throughout the region.

 

The cultural, artistic and historic resources described above play an important role in the culture of and way of life for residents of the Addison Region. However, there is a wide range of other components that woven together to form the character of the region's communities. These components are incredibly numerous and diverse, ranging from the qualities of the land itself and the economic forces that have shaped the region's communities to the influence of local gathering places and events that create and maintain a sense of community among residents.

Governmental and Administrative Facilities

Each of the 21 municipalities in the Addison Region has a municipal office and a clerk who, among other duties, maintains the records stored in each office's vault. The municipal offices are the repositories for all land records, vital records like birth, marriage and death certificates, and voter registration lists. In addition to the municipal office, most communities have a larger hall-type building that is used for town meeting and other large community events. Most of the municipalities in the region also have a building for storing highway equipment and materials. Several communities have a shared garage facility with the fire department and a couple share space with state highway maintenance facilities.

 

There are a large number of historic cemeteries throughout the Addison Region and a smaller number still in use. These cemeteries are administered either by municipalities through a Cemetery Commission with appointed representatives or by private, nonprofit Cemetery Associations. Finding funds to maintain historic cemeteries, no longer actively used and with no income stream is an ongoing struggle for the commissions and associations.

 

Municipalities in the Addison Region also own a variety of other lands and facilities such as tax sale lands, old school lots, town forests, housing facilities and old road rights-of-way. Many municipal plans provide a detailed inventory of municipally owned structures, land and rights-of-way.

Recreation Resources and Facilities

The Addison Region, bounded on the west by Lake Champlain and on the east by the Green Mountains, is rich in recreation resources. The region's year-round recreation opportunities attract visitors and contribute to the quality of life for residents.

 

There are a number of trails or trail systems within the Addison Region. In addition to the trails on state or federal land, there are trails on municipal and private land. There are trails in the region for a variety of activities and many trails are shared among different users.

 

Bicycling is one of the most popular outdoor recreation activities in the region. Bicycles also serve as a mode of transportation for region residents. The Addison Region offers cycling opportunities for those who want to peddle around the gently rolling terrain of the Champlain Valley, to test their endurance biking up one of the mountain gaps or careen down a wooded trail on a mountain bike.

 

The Addison Region has miles of shoreline on Lake Champlain, Lake Dunmore, Otter Creek, the Middlebury River and the New Haven River, as well as numerous smaller ponds and streams. These water bodies are used for a range of recreation activities including boating of all types, swimming, year-round fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Summer camps and second homes line some areas of shoreline, bringing seasonal residents and visitors to the region.

 

All forms of wildlife-based recreation including hunting, fishing and bird watching have a long history in the Addison Region. These are traditional outdoor activities and are evidence of the region's historic strong land connection and ethic.

 

 

 

B.                Goals and Objectives

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission establishes the follow­ing goals and objectives for the Addison Region through this plan.

Historic and Cultural Resources Goal A.

For the historic and cultural resources of the Addison Region to continue to be preserved and strengthened while remaining vital components of the region's economy, its communities and residents' way of life.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

a.       For the historic, cultural and artistic resources of the region to be open, accessible and welcoming to the region's residents and for residents to partake of those resources to enrich their lives.

b.       For the region's schools to continue to incorporate local historic and cultural resources into their curriculum.

c.       To fully realize the potential of the region's creative, artistic, cultural and historic resources to enhance the character of the region's communities.

d.       To support cultural heritage tourism in the region to the extent that it is welcomed by the region's communities and does not infringe upon the ability of residents to enjoy local places, traditions and events.

e.       To encourage communication and cooperation among the region's historic, arts and cultural organizations.

f.        To preserve and promote adaptive reuse of the region's historic structures.

g.       For the region's farm buildings to serve to provide a vital connection between the region's residents and its agricultural history and traditions.

h.       To continue to have incentives available to encourage public and private property owners to appropriately maintain and improve historic structures.

i.         To support local efforts to designate historic districts and participate in initiatives like the Vermont Downtown and Village Center programs.

j.         For the significant archaeological resources of the Addison Region to be protected and studied so that they can continue to provide a clearer picture of the region's history.

Municipal and Administrative Facilities Goal B.

For municipalities in the Addison Region to continue to provide local administrative facilities in a manner that is affordable to local taxpayers, that meet the communities' needs and that help build a sense of community among residents.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

a.       To actively support retention of municipal offices and other municipal facilities within existing village centers.

b.       To encourage the location of municipal service facilities within or in close proximity to village centers while striving to limit adverse impacts on surrounding properties.

c.       For the region's municipalities to use long-term budgeting and planning to meet each community's present and future needs for administrative facilities.

d.       To continue the tradition of maintaining municipal records at the local level, which serves to strengthen resident's connections to their communities.

e.       For the region's communities to explore and participate in mutual aid pacts to provide local services in a cost-effective manner.

Recreation Goal C.

To maintain, improve and ensure access to the recreation resources of the Addison Region for future generations to enjoy.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

a.       To foster communication and cooperation between schools, municipalities and sports organizations to build a coalition of recreation interests in small communities.

b.       To encourage every municipality in the region with navigable water bodies to create local public access to those resources.

c.       For future improvements to main local roads and state highways to provide for safe bicycle and pedestrian use.

d.       To encourage municipalities to retain control over unused road and railroad rights-of-way, Class 4 roads, trails and similar resources that could provide future opportunities for trail systems throughout the Addison Region.

C.                Recommended Actions

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission recommends that the following actions be incorporated into its annual work plans, as issues or opportunities arise, to move towards accomplishing the objectives and meeting the goals outlined above.

Historic and Cultural Resources

1.                  Continue to support initiatives such as the Celebration Champlain and Lake Champlain Bikeways that highlight the region's historic and cultural resources.

2.                  Assist municipalities interested in developing regulations that promote adaptive reuse of historic structures, establishing historic advisory review boards, or in designating historic, downtown or village center districts.

3.                  Assist municipalities or organizations in developing GIS maps and data related to historic structures or from historic maps.

4.                  Support the mapping of the historic fabric of the region's communities.

5.                  Support and assist municipalities or organizations with grant writing.

Municipal and Administrative Facilities

1.                  Assist municipalities interested in developing and adopting capital budgets and programs.

2.                  Support and assist municipalities or organizations with grant writing for community facilities within village centers.

3.                  Aid municipalities in coordinating and drafting mutual aid pacts.

Recreation Resources

1.                  Assist municipalities or organizations in developing GIS maps and data illustrating the region's recreation resources.

2.                  Support municipalities, schools and organizations with grant writing for development, improvement or protection of the region's recreation resources.

3.                  Aid municipalities and local organizations in developing and linking trail systems in the region.

D.                Documentation and Analysis

Historic and Cultural Resources and Facilities

The Addison Region with its varied topography and wealth of natural resources has an equally rich collection of historic and cultural resources. The character and history of the Addison Region is reflected in the sites, structures, events and traditions built or established by residents over more than 250 years. That period represents only a brief portion of a much longer history of human habitation in the region going back more than 10,000 years.

 

The importance of these cultural and historic resources is reflected in their ability to provide a sense of continuity between generations and a connection to place. A shared sense of history and cultural pride creates stronger communities and encourages connections between people. Historic and cultural sites, buildings, and events can also provide economic benefits from the reuse of existing structures as unique community gathering places for the enjoyment of music, theater, and other cultural performances.

a.      History of the Addison Region

The long and complex history of the Addison Region cannot be fully captured in these short few paragraphs, but the following history attempts to provide some context for the discussion of the region's historic and cultural resources.[69]

 

When the first Europeans came down Lake Champlain and established a temporary presence on the shore at what is now Chimney Point in the Town of Addison, they arrived at a place that had been home to Native Americans for thousands of years. These first residents of the Addison Region farmed, hunted and fished throughout the region. The first European explorers followed their travel routes from the lake up Otter Creek, the Lemon Fair and other streams into what is now the Addison Region.

 

For much of the next century, the history of the region would be characterized by conflict - between Europeans and Native Americans, between France and England, and between the colonies and England. Lake Champlain and the Addison Region played crucial roles in deciding the outcome of these conflicts. Historic remnants of these conflicts can be found throughout the region - the Crown Point Military Road, Mount Independence and Arnold's Bay. Although no standing structures remain from before the close of the Revolution, archaeological sites - many not yet discovered - provide evidence of the original inhabitants and the first colonial settlers of the region.

 

After the Revolutionary War settlement of the Addison Region got underway in earnest and the region's population boomed. The first communities of the region to be settled were the areas with flat, fertile soil for farming along Lake Champlain and the Otter Creek valleys. Early settlers made use of the abundant natural resources to derive subsistence and soon developed a local economy based on agriculture and water-powered industry. The stately Federal period houses and smaller Cape Cods found throughout the region remain as a vital link to those early settlers. While the remnants of early industrial activity are represented by the mills and their ruins clustered around the falls that generated their power.

 

The period of early growth ended about the time of the War of 1812. The war and the earlier embargo forbidding trade with Britain and its colonies stimulated local trade and industry. During this time the patterns for future growth were stamped upon the landscape. By the early 1800s, much of the cultivatable land in the region had been cleared and was being farmed - a significant amount of which remains in agricultural use to this day. Villages were growing up near industries at important crossroads, providing goods and services for the surrounding farms. Today many of the old houses, taverns, shops, churches and other public building still stand in these centers.

 

The opening of the Champlain Canal in 1823 and a tariff encouraging American manufacture and trade had a major effect on the region. Traffic on the lake escalated and the ferry landings on the shore became important centers of commerce. The remains of ferry landings and several stone warehouses along the shore are evidence of the once bustling lakeshore traffic.

 

In the 1830s, the region gained renown for its Merino sheep and by 1840 Census there were more than 260,000 sheep in grazing in fields throughout the region. A number of mills were constructed to make cloth from local wool. Proceeds from the sheep and other agricultural products paid for many of the fine Greek and Gothic Revival style farmhouses and associated barns and outbuildings still standing in the region.

 

In 1849, the railroad cut its way through the Addison Region, opening new markets for farm and manufactured products. The rise of the railroad also shifted the focus of trade and commerce away from the lakeshore communities into the center of the region. Agricultural practices also shifted away from sheep to dairying - making butter and cheese to ship by rail to cities in southern New England - raising beef cattle and breeding Morgan horses. Today, a handful of railroad stations and other rail-related structures remain along the tracks still in used by freight trains. In rural areas, larger cow and horse barns were built to make specialized agriculture more efficient.

 

During the last decades of the 1800s, the mountain towns boomed as logging operations proliferated and fueled associated wood products manufacturing. The growing lumber industry resulted in the development of villages in the hill towns and the construction of new buildings, many in the Queen Anne style. While the hill towns boomed, most of the agricultural towns in the region had steadily declining populations as residents moved westward to newly opened lands. The population decline continued into the first half of the 1900s. The drop in population can be seen by the absence of residential construction, except for a small number of homes - including bungalows - built in the larger villages.

 

The final shift in transportation away from rail and towards the automobile led to construction of garages, gas stations and roadside commercial buildings. The automobile also encouraged construction of lakeside summer camps and further development another industry in the region - tourism. Changing dairying practices due to electrification, refrigeration and bulk milk tanks led to construction of large ground level barns, silos and milk houses - many of which are still in use today.

 

The long history of the Addison Region is vividly reflected in its architecture. There is an abundance of historic evidence in the buildings of every community. The region's historic architecture and resources provide residents and visitors with a rich cultural environment in which to live, work and play.

b.      Historic Resources

There are a wide range of historic sites and structures in the Addison Region, several thousand of which are listed on the Vermont Register of Historic Places. These sites and structures include military sites and covered bridges, churches and community buildings, grand mansions and one-room schoolhouses, farmhouses and their outbuildings, as well as industrial and commercial buildings. There are approximately 60 buildings or sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places and three historic districts in Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes are also nationally recognized. More detailed information on these historic resources is available at ACRPC's office and from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

 

The Vermont Register is used in the division's legally mandated reviews of projects requiring Act 250 permits and those involving state or federal funds, licenses, or permits. Sites listed in or determined eligible for the Vermont Register are considered under criterion 8 of Act 250 for projects that require land use permits. Permits may be denied for projects that have an undue adverse effect on historic resources. Properties that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places are further protected from adverse impact by projects that are federally funded, licensed, or permitted.

 

A number of Addison Region communities have active Historical Societies that work to protect these resources, maintain collections, do research and promote greater awareness of local history and historic resources. Several have also developed walking tours that highlight their historic resources. While most of the region's historic resources are privately owned and not open to the public, some are public structures still used for a civic purpose, a few are open as museums, and others have been converted to inns and restaurants.

c.       Libraries

There are nearly 35 libraries currently operating in the Addison Region, many of which are school libraries. However, most communities in the region continue to have a public library. These libraries range in size with the larger municipalities - Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes - having the largest facilities. However, even in small communities the local libraries provide a range of services and activities such as children's programs, reading groups, literacy education, use of public computers and internet access, community meeting space and more. In additional to their own collections, patrons of libraries throughout the region have access to materials from libraries throughout Vermont via interlibrary loan.

d.      Museums

There are more than ten museums currently operating in the region ranging from large attractions like the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to small local history museums like the Bristol Historical Society Museum. There are two state historic sites in the region, Mount Independence and Chimney Point. There are several historic house museums in the region including the John Strong DAR Museum, the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History and the Rokeby Museum.

e.      Galleries and Exhibits

The Addison Region is home to a number of artists and craftspeople that exhibit and sell their work from their home or studio. There are also galleries and shops that market art and craft items from a number of local artists. Middlebury College has a Museum of Art that hosts traveling shows, as well as displaying items from its permanent collection.

f.        Performances and Events

There are numerous venues for performances throughout the region ranging from informal concerts held on summer evenings on town greens to professional theatrical productions at the Vergennes Opera House. Many communities have local festivals, parades or similar events on holidays or other specially designated week or day. While there seems to be more activity in the summer, events like coffeehouse performances and barn dances occur regularly during the winter as well. Some of the highlights include performances of the Bristol Band on the Bristol Green, Middlebury's weeklong Festival-on-the-Green and the annual Addison County Fair and Field Days in New Haven.

g.      Culture and Community

The cultural, artistic and historic resources described above play an important role in the culture of and way of life for residents of the Addison Region. However, there is a wide range of other components that woven together form the character of the region's communities. These components are numerous and diverse, ranging from the qualities of the land itself and the economic forces that have shaped the region's communities to the influence of local gathering places and events that create and maintain a sense of community among residents.

 

This culture is greatly valued by the region's residents. Some of these things - such as citizens discussing current events while sitting on a bench at their general store or going to a pancake supper at the firehouse, are difficult to characterize but they are important nonetheless. These and many other components of local culture and community character contribute to the quality of life in the Addison Region.

Governmental and Administrative Facilities

a.      Municipal Offices

Each of the 21 municipalities in the Addison Region has a municipal office and a clerk who, among other duties, maintains the records stored in each office's vault. The municipal offices are the repositories for all land records, vital records like birth, marriage and death certificates, and voter registration lists. The clerk and municipal office serve as the basic unit of local government in most of the rural towns in the Addison Region. In the smallest towns, the office is essentially the only public building and serves a number of community and civic functions. In additional to office space, many municipal offices are used as community meeting spaces.

 

A number of offices in the region are in historic buildings originally constructed for civic purposes - some as town halls, churches or schools - in the mid-1800s. Many of these buildings, which have served their function as town office well for a half-century or more, are beginning to encounter difficulties. A number of offices in the region lack adequate vault space for additional records, a problem that has been exacerbated in recent years as the amount of paperwork to be recorded has increased exponentially. Others do not have sufficient space for regular board or committee meetings, or for office use as the number of employees working for the town has increased. Additionally, a few buildings have issues such as lack of handicap accessibility, or insufficient wastewater or drinking water infrastructure.

b.      Community Buildings

In addition to the municipal office, most communities have a larger hall-type building that is used for town meeting and other large community events. Sometimes this is a separate building, other times it and the municipal office are part of the same structure. While a few town halls were constructed for civic use as a meeting hall, many are former schools, churches, granges or other similar structures.

 

In recent years, a number of communities throughout the region have constructed or are planning projects to develop community buildings that can serve multiple functions. Some towns are considering reuse of existing historic structures in their village centers, while others have plans for new construction. A common theme of most of these projects is to revitalize a community center by having a building with space that can serve multiple purposes ranging from town offices, library, meeting rooms, childcare or preschool, medical clinic and recreation. Many of these projects began from the town recognizing a specific need - such as additional vault space or expansion room for a library - and realizing that several problems could be addressed through a broader project.

c.       Highway Garages

Most of the municipalities in the region also have a building for storing highway equipment and materials. Several communities have a shared garage facility with the fire department and a couple share space with state highway maintenance facilities. Many towns are also facing a lack of space for equipment storage, as towns have needed to house more and larger equipment. Additionally, changes to federal and state law related to stormwater are currently being implement that will require all salt and salted sand piles to be covered. A number of municipalities in the region will need to construct a storage shed for road salt and sand in the near future to meet these requirements.

d.      Cemeteries

There are a large number of historic cemeteries throughout the Addison Region and a smaller number still in use. These cemeteries are administered either by municipalities through a Cemetery Commission with appointed representatives or by private, nonprofit Cemetery Associations. These commissions and associations are responsible for laying out the cemeteries, selling lots, and maintaining the grounds and records.

 

Finding funds to maintain historic cemeteries, no longer actively used and with no income stream is an ongoing struggle for the commissions and associations. The Vermont Old Cemetery Association works to encourage the restoration and preservation of neglected and abandoned cemeteries throughout the state and supports the work of local organizations. Volunteer labor, local fundraising and philanthropic donations are used to maintain and repair cemeteries throughout the region. The difficulty of funding and maintaining old cemeteries is evidenced by the 19^th century family cemetery that has been eroding into the Otter Creek in Weybridge. The problem has worsened in recent years leading to graves being washed out into the creek. However, at this point no funding has been found for the needed bank stabilization project.

e.      Other Municipal Facilities

Municipalities in the Addison Region also own a variety of other lands and facilities such as tax sale lands, old school lots, town forests, housing facilities like Weathervane West in Lincoln, and old road rights-of-way. Many municipal plans provide a detailed inventory of municipally owned structures, land and rights-of-way. 

Recreation Resources and Facilities

The Addison Region, bounded on the west by Lake Champlain and on the east by the Green Mountains, is rich in recreation resources. The region's year-round recreation opportunities attract visitors and contribute to the quality of life for residents.

a.      Public Trails

There are a number of trails or trail systems within the Addison Region. In addition to the trails on state or federal land, there are trails on municipal and private land. There are trails in the region for a variety of activities and many trails are shared among different users.

1.The Trail Around Middlebury              

The Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) is an 18-mile multi-use trail system surrounding downtown Middlebury. The TAM provides access to wooded and open recreation paths, connecting residential areas, the town center and the Middlebury College campus to each other and to surrounding natural areas. The Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT) has developed and maintains the trail system with the assistance of many volunteers. The TAM is funded mainly through grants and private donors and most of the trail is on private land. Now that the trail fully encircles downtown, MALT is working to connect to East Middlebury and perhaps eventually to trail systems coming out of Bristol and Vergennes.

2.VAST Trail System

There are eight VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers) clubs with hundreds of miles of trails in the Addison Region. While VAST is a statewide organization, the local clubs are responsible for clearing trails of brush and debris, securing permission from landowners and grooming the trails once the snow falls. These trails, generally located in the more rural parts of the region are used primarily by snowmobiles, but they also support other activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The trails are enjoyed by region residents and are also heavily used by visitors to the region, offering a source of revenue for tourism-based businesses in the winter months. This existing network of winter trails offers potential for developing into year-round multi-use paths in some locations.

3.The Long Trail

The Long Trail corridor passes through the Addison Region on a combination of public and private lands. There are a number of connecting trails that link the Long Trail to other resources in the region such as Silver Lake and the Moosalamoo area. An especially popular section of the Long Trail runs between Breadloaf and the Appalachian Gap.

4.Other Trails

Other communities in the Addison Region have begun developing trails or trail systems in their communities, while others are just starting to plan for possible corridors. Vergennes has plans for and is seeking funding to construct trails around the city. Bristol has a number of town-owned parks and has begun thinking about connecting those, its downtown and other near-by natural areas with a trail system. Many of the smaller village centers have begun thinking about sidewalks and trails that would provide recreation for residents and a safer way for children to walk and bike to community facilities. Leicester and Whiting have considered the abandoned rail bed running from Leicester Depot west to Lake Champlain as a potential trail corridor. Snake Mountain, located primarily in the towns of Addison and Weybridge, is popular hiking area in the region and additional trails there have also been identified as desirable. The cross-country ski trails located at Middlebury College's Snow Bowl are another winter trail resource in the region.

5.Trail Use Conflicts

All these trails and trail systems in the region have had to resolve issues related to conflicts between users - be they snowmobilers and cross-country skiers or mountain bikers and horseback riders. Most of the trails are successfully used by a variety of users. In recent years, two user groups, ATV riders and horse riders, have raised additional issues with shared use.

 

Currently, ATVs are the most pressing issue for trail providers and users throughout the region. All-terrain vehicles are increasing in popularity. However, areas and trails have not been identified as appropriate for ATV use. In fact, ATVs are prohibited on state and federal land, thus pushing them onto private land. This has led to conflict between ATV enthusiasts, other recreation users and landowners. ATV enthusiasts are beginning to form an organization, similar to VAST, that will work to ensure that trails are available for their use and to educate users about responsible and safe riding.

 

Trail riding on horseback is also increasing in popularity in the region, as the number of people in the region with horses rises. Horse riders have not yet become organized, but as more people become interested in trail riding another user group will likely form. In addition to the potential conflicts with other users, horse riders need amenities, such as access points that can accommodate a horse trailer and truck. 

6.Trail Connections

The state and federal lands in the Addison Region offer a great recreation resource for trail users. Continuing to connect local trails to the larger trail systems, especially those in the Green Mountains, would benefit all users. The Moosalamoo area, located largely in the Addison Region with its miles of trails and backcountry roads connecting Green Mountain Forest land with surrounding privately owned tracts, provides an excellent example of such a public-private partnership. The Long Trail and its associated connecting trails provide another.

b.      Bicycle Facilities

Bicycling is one of the most popular outdoor recreation activities in the region. Bicycles also serve as a mode of transportation for region residents. In many of the region's communities, children use bicycles to ride to school and to other activities in and around the village centers. State routes with heavy traffic and large trucks are often the main roads in these centers, making bicycling on the road unsafe for children. There are few places within the Addison Region with bicycle or multi-use paths; in most of the region cyclists must share the road with vehicular traffic. The Addison County Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan recommends specific projects throughout the region to enhance infrastructure and amenities for bicyclists, including constructing sidewalks or paths that would connect schools, sports fields and other community facilities.

 

The geography and scenic qualities of the region has made it a popular destination for bicycle tourists as well. The Addison Region offers cycling opportunities for those who want to peddle around the gently rolling terrain of the Champlain Valley, to test their endurance biking up one of the mountain gaps or careen down a wooded trail on a mountain bike. Much of the focus of bicycle tourism in the region has been in the Champlain Valley. The two Lake Champlain Bikeways loops in the region are among the most popular of all their loops and six additional loops are in the planning stages for the region. However, the steeper terrain in the eastern part of the region has the potential to attract mountain bikers.

c.       Water-Based Recreation

The Addison Region has miles of shoreline on Lake Champlain, Lake Dunmore, Otter Creek, the Middlebury River and the New Haven River, as well as numerous smaller ponds and streams. These water bodies are used for a range of recreation activities including boating of all types, swimming, year-round fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Summer camps and second homes line some areas of shoreline, bringing seasonal residents and visitors to the region.

1.Lake Champlain

There are three state parks on Lake Champlain in the Addison Region. There are a number of state-owned boat launches and fishing access points on the lake in the towns of Shoreham, Addison, Panton and Ferrisburgh.

 

In addition to state facilities, there are private campgrounds along or in the vicinity of the lake in several towns. There are private marinas in the towns of Orwell, Addison and Ferrisburgh. As the number of boat travelers using Lake Champlain continues to increase, additional facilities and amenities to serve those visitors and means of getting them from the lake into the region's communities will likely be needed.

 

Some of the region's lakeshore towns have local lake access, but for the most part these have not been formally developed. Most of the towns along Lake Champlain have identified a need for a local beach. The towns of Addison and Panton have potential beach locations, but have not yet implemented their plans. The issues associated with developing a site - parking, public restrooms, managing aquatic nuisance plants, etc. - make construction and maintenance of a beach a complicated and costly project. As the lakeshore continues to transition from agricultural to residential use, ensuring public access to Lake Champlain is becoming more challenging, since much of the access has been on private land.

2. Other Water Bodies

Beyond the "big lake" there are a number of water bodies - such as Lake Dunmore, Fern Lake, Cedar Lake, Sunset Lake, Bristol Pond, Otter Creek, the Middlebury River and the New Haven River - currently providing recreation opportunities in the region. The towns in which some of these smaller lakes are located have also identified public access as an important issue. Public access on these lakes is more difficult to secure than on Lake Champlain, since many are ringed by residential development. The issue for public access on streams is similar to that on Lake Champlain. As land leaves agriculture and is developed for other uses, traditional access points can be lost.

3.Water Quality and Non-Native Aquatic Nuisance Species

Improving water quality and controlling nonnative aquatic nuisance species plants and animals is an issue shared by all water users. Algal blooms caused by excess nutrient loading threaten people's enjoyment of water bodies throughout the region. Pathogenic bacteria from natural and human sources also threaten the safe enjoyment of existing beaches and swimming holes. Nuisance species are often spread from water body to water body by recreational boaters. Facilities for cleaning boats as they are removed from the water and continued education for boaters are needed to combat the spread of these unwanted plants and animals.

4.Water Use Conflicts

Water-based recreation users also face the issue of resolving conflicts between user groups. The use of non-motorized boats in the Addison Region's lakes and streams is increasing. At the same time, the number of motorized boats, especially personal watercraft, is rapidly increasing. With smaller, faster and more powerful boats and personal watercraft, motorized boats are now being used in places that used to be accessible only to non-motorized craft. Additionally, there has been conflict over use of the state's boat accesses by non-motorized boaters, which are partially funded motorized boat registration fees. In the water near congested access areas, the speed and power of motorized boats can lead to additional conflicts. Also, as more of the region's shorelines become developed, conflict can occur because new owners are not aware that public use of the shore is allowed under state law between the water and the mean high waterline, if accessed legally.

d.      Wildlife-Based Recreation

All forms of wildlife-based recreation including hunting, fishing and bird watching have a long history in the Addison Region. These are traditional outdoor activities and are evidence of the region's historic strong land connection and ethic. This wildlife-based sporting community, through years of license purchases, has provided the funding for much of the current outdoor recreation infrastructure, such as fishing and boat accesses. In addition to the state-owned access points, there are also 11 state-owned Wildlife Management Areas in the region. 

 

Hunting has traditionally relied on private landowners allowing the use of their property. As land ownership patterns in the region change and large parcels are developed, areas that have been open to use by hunters are being posted and closed. With less private land to hunt on, increased numbers of hunters on the remaining land removes much of the solitude and wild land experience most hunters seek. A private hunting preserve has been developed on property in the Town of Shoreham, illustrating the demand for and continuing decline in land available for hunting.

 

Shooting sports as a recreation are increasing in popularity in the Addison Region. At the same time, traditional use of the "back forty" for shooting becomes more problematic as the amount of development in those former fields increases. Shooting ranges have increasingly come under criticism for their noise and safety concerns. Due to local opposition and the difficulty of starting up any new facilities, fish and game clubs have closed their ranges. Currently, no ranges open to the public exist within the Addison Region.

 

The fishing resource of the Addison Region is well known to the areas residents. Native trout abound in the upland streams and the lakes are home to both warm water and cold-water species. Ice fishing is becoming increasingly popular, making the region a year-round fishing destination. Access to the water is becoming increasingly difficult in some areas and many shoreline fishing opportunities have been eliminated due to changing patterns of land ownership.

 

The Addison Region's bird watching resource includes a variety of habitats including alpine tundra, wetland and forest. As with the fishing and hunting communities, wildlife viewing depends on suitable habitat to support the varied animal communities. Access to suitable viewing areas is limited by many of the same constraints as faced by hunting and fishing enthusiasts.

e.      Campgrounds

In addition to campgrounds on or near Lake Champlain, there a number of additional private campgrounds in the region. There is also an additional state park, Branbury on Lake Dunmore in Salisbury.

f.        Public Parks

Many communities throughout the region have local greens, parks and sports fields. These municipal facilities range in size, amenities and activities supported.

g.      Municipal Recreation and Organized Sports

In the Addison Region, the municipalities of Bristol, Middlebury, Monkton and Vergennes have active, organized recreation departments or committees. Other communities have groups focused on town greens or ball fields, which could grow into recreation committees. Several Addison Region towns have had recreation committees that were active for a couple of years or formed around a specific issue and then fizzled when volunteer interest declined.

 

A sign of the demand for municipal recreation is the rapid growth of Bristol's Recreation Department, which serves residents of the five towns of Bristol, Lincoln, Starksboro, Monkton and New Haven. Middlebury and Vergennes similarly provide recreation opportunities for residents of surrounding communities. For these larger centers, there are concerns on how non-residents can share the cost and whether residents should have priority use of the facilities or programs.

 

Several of the town plans of smaller communities in the region note their dependence on another community to provide recreation facilities, but also point out the importance of having local recreation opportunities more conveniently located for residents. Some plans also point to the use of state parks and facilities located in their community and the fact that while those are a valued resource, community facilities are still desirable.

 

Smaller towns also rely on their schools to provide recreation facilities, especially sports fields and playgrounds. Often the school and associated fields, form a community center for recreation. The region also has a number of organized sports leagues for both youth and adults.

Endnotes