VERMONT’S ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT Agency of Natural Resources An introduction to town planning for natural resources
Feb 23, 2016
VERMONT’S ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Agency of Natural Resources
An introduction to town planning for natural resources
Vermont is 75% Forested
Some estimates are 20%
1750
1800
1850
1900
1950
2000
(Bountied in 1779)(Bountied in 1779)
CaribouElkWolverineBison
Mountain LionWolfMarten
LynxWhite-tailed DeerBeaverFisherMooseTurkeyCoyoteVirginia Opossum
Black Bear
(concern of too many)
(Population numbers drop precipitously)
Wildlife History
Forest Cover Across the State
Forest (71%)Non-Forest (21%)Water (8%)
Losing Habitat Vermont designated one
of “America’s most endangered places.”
Rate of development is 2.5 times rate of population growth.
1997 - 2007, 75 square miles were developed in VT (7X the area of Burlington). Vermonters for a Sustainable Population
Land-based Culture?
Fewer jobs tied to the land Land based economy has
shifted to tourism and recreation
Compact town design in Bellows Falls
“Photo from Above and Beyond.“ Campoli, J., Humstone, E., & MacLean, A. 2002.
Changing Growth PatternsSt. Albans Vermont, 2002
Development Patterns
dispersed, auto-dependent
development outside of
compact urban and village
centers, along highways, and
in rural countryside.
(SmartGrowth Vermont)
Sprawl
“Photos from Above and Beyond." Campoli, J., Humstone, E., & MacLean, A. 2002.
Pattern Matters
More intense fragmented forest in a rural community
Less fragmented forest in a rural community
Forest Fragmentation
Parcelization
"Above and Beyond: " 2002. Campoli, J., Humstone, E., & MacLean, A. Planners Press. Chicago, Illinois.
1950s 1960s 1970s
1980s 1990s
81% of Land in Vermont is Privately Owned
Privately Held Land in Vermont
Private
Public
Auto Dependent Employment
□625,741 people in VT
□67.9% or 424,899 Vermonters are in the workforce
□Of the working Vermonters 75% or 318,600 drive alone
□Most drive 10 – 25 miles each way
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 74.9% 74.3%
Car Pool 9.5% 9.9%Public Transportation
1.3% 1.4%
Work at Home 7.4% 6.2%
Population and Housing Trends
By 2030, Vermont’s population is expected to increase by 14% with and additional 86,000 residents.
U.S. Census, 2010. Vermont Housing Finance Agency, 2009. Transition Vermont, 2009
Since 2000, there have been approximately 1,400 new households annually.
Development Outpaces Population
Economic Contributions
Outdoor recreation supports 35,000 jobs $4.1 million from hunting, fishing and wildlife
watching $187 million annually in state tax revenue $2.5 billion annually in retail sales and
services
Biological Diversity in Vermont
□ There are between 24,000 – 43,000 species in Vermont.
□ Most species we know little about
Vermont Biodiversity Project
Loss of Wetlands
Fragmentation hurts ecological function
Invasive Species on the Rise 2/3 of VT’s trees are at risk to 3 invasive tree
pests Non-native plants are outcompeting native ones,
reducing biodiversity Water quality and recreation are impacted by aquatic
invasives
Pollution
Phosphorus Concentrations in Lake Champlain affects water quality, recreation, transportation and aesthetics
Map: Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force: Recommended Actions in Support of a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, October 5, 2010.
Changes in Precipitation
Climate Change Forecasts
From Union of Concerned Scientists – Confronting Climate Change in the Northeast (NECIA 2007)
Current: Temperatures have increased 1.8°F since 1970, with winter rising faster.
Projected: Average temperatures are projected to rise 9°F to 13° F in winter by late-century.
Current: Precipitation has increased 15-20% over the past 50 years with 67% of this falling in heavy precipitation events.
Projected: Winter precipitation will increase on the order of 20-30% with less snow - more rain.
Projected: Short-term summer droughts are projected to occur 2x as often
Changing Climate Trends
More frequent hot (over 90), humid days Longer growing seasons Worsening of air quality in areas where problems
already exist Increased heavy downpours More frequent winter thaws and earlier springs Less winter precipitation falling as snow and more
as rain Earlier spring snowmelt resulting in earlier peak
river flows More frequent short-term droughts in late summer
and fall
Ecosystem resiliency
Connect areas of physical
landscape diversity for
climate change adaptation
A Resilient Landscape has space for dynamic natural processes
Watersheds
Habitat Blocks
Areas of natural cover
surrounded by
roads, development and
agriculture□Interior forest habitat and intact
ecological processes
RaccoonHareCoyoteSmall rodentPorcupineBobcatCottontailBeaverBlack bearSquirrelWeaselMinkFisherWoodchuckDeerMuskratMooseRed foxSongbirdsSharp-shinned hawkBald eagleSkunkCooper’s hawkHarrierBroad-winged hawkGoshawkKestrelRed-tailed hawkHorned owlRavenBarred owlOspreyTurkey vultureTurkeyReptilesGarter snakeRing-neck snakeAmphibiansWood frog
Wildlife present in Forest Patches
RaccoonHare Small rodentPorcupine
CottontailBeaver
SquirrelWeaselMink
WoodchuckDeerMuskratMooseRed foxSongbirdsSharp-shinned hawkBald eagleSkunkCooper’s hawkHarrierBroad-winged hawkGoshawkKestrelRed-tailed hawkHorned owlRavenBarred owlOspreyTurkey vultureTurkeyReptilesGarter snakeRing-neck snakeAmphibiansWood frog
RaccoonHare
Small rodentPorcupine
CottontailBeaver
SquirrelWeaselMink
WoodchuckDeerMuskrat
Red foxSongbirdsSharp-shinned hawk
SkunkCooper’s hawkHarrierBroad-winged hawk
Kestrel
Horned owl
Barred owlOspreyTurkey vultureTurkeyReptilesGarter snakeRing-neck snakeMost AmphibiansWood frog
RaccoonHare
Small rodentPorcupine
CottontailBeaver
SquirrelWeasel
Woodchuck
Muskrat
Red foxSongbirds
Skunk
Most ReptilesGarter snakeRing-neck snakeMost Amphibians
Raccoon
Small rodent
Cottontail
Squirrel
Muskrat
Red foxSongbirds
Skunk
Most Reptiles Most Amphibians
Tier 1Undeveloped
Tier 2500-2500
acre blocks
Tier 3100-500 acre
blocks
Tier 420-100 acre
blocks
Tier 51-20 acre
blocks
From Above and Beyond." Campoli, J., Humstone, E., & MacLean, A. 2002.
(DeGraaf & Rudis 1986)
Moose 1,280 - 12,800 acBlack Bear19,200 ac
(SGCN)
Bobcat5,760 ac(SGCN)
Fisher 4,747 - 9,600 acRiver Otter15-30 linear miles(SGCN)
Area Dependent Mammal Species
Vermont Biodiversity Project
Does conservation in your town adequately address? • Elevation zones• Bedrock & Surficial
geology zones• Diversity in the
physical landscape
Conserved Land by Elevation