------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note From the Mount Holly Conservation Commission Star Lake Activities. On September 1, an important step our pursuit of creating a pathway for canoes and kayaks as well as improving the recreation area in and around Star Lake was taken at a meeting in the Community Room in Belmont. Beside several officers from the state Agency for Natural Resources (ANR), all State Senators for Rutland County, the Mount Holly Conservation Commission, and several Mount Holly residents attended. Although no firm decisions were taken, several relevant issues were discussed, and the Conservation Commission came away with a very positive view. We discussed what we consider to be punitive fees required to obtain a permit for harvesting a wider area of Star Lake. It seemed the ANR folks and the legislators were quite sympathetic and several workarounds were discussed. Options discussed included adjusting regulations to remove cost barriers for projects such as this that are in the clear public interest, providing access to grant funding to cover all or most of the cost and, if needed, making statutory changes that remove cost barriers for public good projects. We discussed the ongoing eutrophication of Star Lake and the longer-term effects which are not encouraging. Nevertheless, we believe Star Lake can become again an attraction for recreation in Belmont, Mount Holly. Cider Day Plans. The Conservation Commission is planning to have booth at Cider Days and all are invited to pass by, pick up available literature on our activities, offer to volunteer to assist on activities of interest, or discuss what projects the Commission should undertake. We will also be offering excursions to Star Lake to view the rather amazing harvester and the beginning of our efforts to improve the recreation area. We will post times for this activity. In the ChitChat – as well as here in the Mt Holly Newsflash and Facebook – you’ll see information about the upcoming ‘bioblitz’ organized by our friends, the Mt Holly Conservation Trust. It’s a great way to do your part as a ‘citizen scientist’, helping to record our town’s biodiversity – we hope you’ll join in! Old Syria Farm Hiking Trails Fall is a great time for walking in the woods. We now have a network of trails on the old Syria farm, off Shunpike just up from the intersection with Syria Road. A map is posted where the trails go into the woods. Full directions are on the Commission page of the Town website: www.mounthollyvt.org/conservation-commission/ |
