Restoration and Innovation at the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest
Tuesday, September 22 7:00 – 8:30 PM

You're invited to join the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee, the Chittenden County Forester, US Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy for a virtual event discussing innovative restoration efforts at the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest (LHTF), a 301-acre conserved municipal forest owned by the Town of Hinesburg since 2007.

The LHTF is a unique area, featuring forests, wetlands and floodplains around the headwaters of the LaPlatte River. The health of forests in and around the LHTF are compromised by invasive exotic plants (primarily shrub honeysuckle and common buckthorn), while historic floodplain and wetland areas have failed to naturally revert from hayfield to forest due to several factors, including the presence of exotic invasive reed canary grass and a regionally high deer population. All of these factors contribute to decreased water quality and aquatic habitat quality in the LaPlatte River.

To address these threats to the LHTF's ecosystem health, improving the wildlife habitat, water quality and other ecosystem services it provides, the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee has partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), US Fish and Wildlife Service and Vermont Fish and Wildlife to restore floodplains and wetlands using a combination of innovative and experimental approaches. including planting a variety of native trees and shrubs, installing deer exclosures, and plowing and direct seeding of native floodplain species.

In forested portions of the LHTF, the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee is actively controlling invasive exotic plants with revenue generated from a demonstration forest management project at their other Town Forest, the 864-acre "Hinesburg Town Forest." They are also closing the LHTF to recreational use for portions of the 2020 deer hunting seasons to encourage hunters to take deer from the area, hoping to lower the impact of deer overpopulation on the LHTF's sensitive ecology.

Taken together, these projects constitute a major restoration effort on the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest, and one that will provide massive demonstration value as it showcases a model for responsible stewardship of our ecosystems, including those impaired by human land use.

This event is virtual, free, and open to all. It will feature an hour of presentations from TNC, US Fish and Wildlife and the Chittenden County Forester, followed by time for questions. You can pre-register for the event here:Registration link: https://tnc.zoom.us/j/99252932208

The 2019 Management Plan for the LHTF can be found at http://www.hinesburg.org/lhtf/.

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Empowering and Engaging VT's Woman Landowners
September 24th 9-10 am

.Join us for a webinar conversation to explore the women who own Vermont's forestland. In 2019, Vermont Woodlands Association (VWA), Vermont Coverts, UVM Extension, VT Forests, Parks, and Recreation, VT Fish & Wildlife and Vermont Land Trust (VLT) joined forces to form VT's Women Owning Woodlands Network (WOW-VT). Over the last year, WOW-VT has worked collaboratively to identify the needs of women landowners. This webinar will share what we've learned from women landowners and provide tips and best practices for practitioners in helping women landowners overcome barriers and challenges women face as forest landowners. We hope our insights into the growing, yet under-served audience will spark conversation, questions, and discussions as we discuss ways we can meet their needs.

To register - https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2842527138699376142
For more information about this event, please contact Kate Forrer, katherine.forrer@UVM.edu

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VLT Invasive Plants Series: Intro to Invasive Plants
Wednesday, September 16 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Learn about the most common invasive plants and what to do about them. There will be 15 minutes of presentation, followed by 45 minutes of Q&A, so bring your invasive plant questions! This program is part of the VT Land Trust fall event series. To learn more and register go to: https://vlt.org/events

AARP Smart Driver Course

Nov 16, 2024, 11 AM to 3:30 PM

Mystery Book Group: "The Murder of Mr. Wickham"

Nov 18, 2024, 10 to 11 AM

Regular Selectboard Meeting Nov. 18

Nov 18, 2024, 6:30 to 9 PM