Conservation and Recreation Visioning
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Community Forum at Lareau Forest & Farm Pavilion, more details here!
Join us for our 4th Community Forum (even if you haven’t attended before), a discussion on balancing outdoor recreation and ecological integrity.
Potluck & cash bar 5 - 6 PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share, as well as a plate and utensils to help keep this a sustainable event.
Share your perspectives with Steering Committee members! In addition, get a personalized demo of the CRV online mapping tool created by Arrowwood Environmental. Look at your land or a favorite spot to see what key ecological features and public trails might be on or near areas you enjoy.
Meeting 6 - 8 PM. We will present the CRV Shared Vision, Values and Guiding Principles for Ongoing Collaboration and hope you will read it in advance.and be ready with questions. Many thanks to our Steering Committee members for their tireless work during the past 3 years!
Engage one-on-one with CRV partner organizations to learn how they are integrating CRV goals into their work and future plans, and explore ways to get involved. Attendees will be asked for input on four near-term priorities: developing a Code of Ethics for MRV recreation users; CRV outreach efforts to private landowners; gathering and sharing additional science-based information on the ecological health of the valley and the effects of trails and recreation to inform future management decisions; and, the ecological effects of dogs on trails.
Another CRV deliverable will be presented via a short play featuring Steering Committee members: CRV Recreational Trail Development Process Guide
Goal of CRV: Through an inclusive process, a set of maps, shared goals, guiding principles, and best practices that together will provide a well-supported vision for balancing ecological integrity with recreation and trails across the Valley. These resources below are intended to help the Valley community build a shared foundation as we move forward with the work of CRV:
Third Community Forum: Bring your friends, Weds. 10/9/24
Pre-meeting Packet, please read these items ahead of the meeting:
Article including the Agenda (NOTE: Arrowwood Environmental had a scheduling conflict and a staff member will not be present.)
Key Ecological Features (there will be an opportunity to learn more about this on Oct. 9)
Draft Desired Conditions September, 2024
Mapping tool for existing trails and Key Ecological Features
Second Community Forum: 5/29/24
First Community Forum: 6/15/23 review the report here!
Background on CRV from October 2023
Many thanks to Mad River TV for filming various sessions. With questions or to be added to our mailing list: madrivercrv@gmail.com
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CRV: Help us find ways to balance a great trail network with a healthy ecosystem!
Approximately fifteen local trails and conservation groups have been working together since 2022:
Duxbury Rep/Duxbury Land Trust: Alan Quackenbush
Fayston Conservation Comm: Brian Litmans
Friends of the Mad River: Ira Shadis
Mad Dog Trout Unlimited: Clark Amadon
Mad River Path: Misha Golfman
Mad River Riders: Bob Kogut
Mad River Ridge Runners: Eric Baruzzi
Moretown Rec Committee, Stark Mountain Foundation & MRV Bear Initiative: Chris Stephenson
MRV Backcountry Coalition: Mark Haberle
MRV Chamber of Commerce: TJ Greenwood
MRV Planning District (open)
MRV Recreation District: Laura Arnesen
Sugarbush Resort: Joey Carey
Waitsfield Conservation Commission: Phil Huffman
Warren Conservation Comm: George Schenk/Jim Edgecomb -
Background: Community Learning Sessions
12/7/23, overview of Recreation and Ecology with two speakers: Gus Goodwin of The Nature Conservancy and Drew Pollak-Bruce of Communities, Recreation, Open Space Planning and Design. Watch the session here!
2/6/24 The Effect of Trails on Wildlife by Meredith Naughton, Wildlife Biologist with the Green Mountain-Finger Lakes National Forest: Watch the session here!