A New Blueprint for the Green Mountains: Telephone Gap Project Balances Timber, Trails, and Old-Growth Protection
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Most Vermont media outlets chose to overlook key points, including that the plan received more than 2,300 public comments, an unprecedented level of engagement that pushed the Forest Service to ultimately adopt a collaborative solution.
After seven years of intense debate and what some participants call a historic level of public engagement, the U.S. Forest Service has approved a landmark management plan for a vast section of the Green Mountain National Forest. The Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project, which was given the green light on June 13, moves forward not as the divisive logging plan first proposed, but as a new, deeply collaborative model that seeks to balance the often-competing demands of timber harvesting, ecological restoration, and recreation.
A Significant Compromise
The final plan, known as “Alternative C,” is the product of extensive negotiations between the Forest Service and a coalition of state conservation groups. It represents a significant compromise, forging a middle path that, while not satisfying all parties, may serve as a blueprint for managing Vermont’s public lands in an era of climate change and increasing recreational pressure.
The project covers a 72,000-acre swath of federal and state land across seven towns, including Killington, Brandon, and Pittsford. At its core, it aims to actively manage the forest to improve wildlife habitat, restore soil and wetlands, and address forest health issues, while also providing timber for the local economy and expanding recreational trail networks.
A Welcome New Model of Ecological Forestry
“This project paves the way for a new model of ecological forestry on the Green Mountain National Forest,” said Jamey Fidel, the Forest and Wildlife Program Director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC). VNRC, along with Audubon Vermont and forestry professor William Keeton of the University of Vermont, worked closely with the Forest Service to develop the approved alternative.
“These are opportunities to go in and do some management to accelerate these forests so that they move towards an old-growth condition even more quickly than if they were left alone,” Fidel explained.
A Deeper Look at the Benefits of the Telephone Gap Plan
While public debate has often focused on the timber harvesting aspects of the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project, a deeper analysis of the final plan—approved after years of public comment and collaboration—reveals a multi-faceted strategy designed to improve forest health, enhance wildlife habitat, and expand public recreation. According to the U.S. Forest Service and its partner organizations, the project is not simply a logging plan, but a comprehensive effort to address long-term ecological challenges in the Green Mountain National Forest.
Enhancing Forest Health and Wildlife Habitat
A primary driver of the project, according to the U.S. Forest Service, is the current condition of the forest. Much of the 72,000-acre project area consists of similarly aged, mature forest, which creates a lack of habitat diversity. The Forest Service’s Final Environmental Assessment found that there are far fewer saplings and young trees than would be ideal in a resilient, well-managed forest. This lack of young growth, known as early successional habitat, has a direct impact on wildlife.
According to Audubon Vermont, many bird species, including some under threat like the wood thrush and black-throated blue warbler, rely on the dense, low-to-the-ground cover that young forests provide for nesting and foraging. By using prescribed burns and creating small canopy gaps through targeted harvesting, the project aims to stimulate the growth of this vital habitat.
Management of Invasive Species and Disease
Furthermore, the Forest Service has identified significant threats from invasive species and disease. The plan includes measures to proactively manage the spread of beech bark disease and the inevitable arrival of the emerald ash borer by removing susceptible trees and promoting the growth of more resilient species.
Pioneering "Climate-Smart" Ecological Forestry
The final version of the plan, Alternative C, was developed in close collaboration with the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) and Audubon Vermont. It introduces management techniques specifically designed to make the forest more complex and resilient to climate change. According to the VNRC's Forest and Wildlife Program Director, Jamey Fidel, the plan pioneers "ecological silviculture" on nearly half the treated acres.
This approach goes beyond traditional timber harvesting. It includes practices such as:
Leaving some cut trees on the forest floor to decompose, which enriches the soil and creates complex habitats for salamanders, insects, and small mammals.
Creating structural complexity by thinning certain areas to allow other trees to grow larger and older, mimicking the natural development of an old-growth forest.
Planting tree species that are better suited for Vermont's future, warmer climate.
"These would be opportunities to go in and do some management to accelerate these forests so that they move towards an old-growth condition even more quickly than if they were left alone," Fidel stated, highlighting that the goal is to actively restore old-growth characteristics.
Of course. Here is a more detailed look at the benefits and collaborative outcomes of the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project, designed to provide the in-depth context necessary to fully understand the plan.
This approach goes beyond traditional timber harvesting. It includes practices such as:
Leaving some cut trees on the forest floor to decompose, which enriches the soil and creates complex habitats for salamanders, insects, and small mammals.
Creating structural complexity by thinning certain areas to allow other trees to grow larger and older, mimicking the natural development of an old-growth forest.
Planting tree species that are better suited for Vermont's future, warmer climate.
"These would be opportunities to go in and do some management to accelerate these forests so that they move towards an old-growth condition even more quickly than if they were left alone," Fidel stated, highlighting that the goal is to actively restore old-growth characteristics.
A Major Boost for Outdoor Recreation
A significant component of the plan, and a major benefit to the public, is the expansion of recreational opportunities. The project authorizes the construction of new trails for both hiking and mountain biking, a key reason it has earned the strong support of groups like the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA). According to the Forest Service, these additions are designed to meet the growing public demand for trail-based recreation and improve the overall trail network in the region. This part of the plan directly invests in Vermont's powerful outdoor recreation economy.
The Power of Public Collaboration
Perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of the Telephone Gap project was the process itself. The plan received more than 2,300 public comments, an unprecedented level of engagement that pushed the Forest Service to conduct a deeper analysis and ultimately adopt a compromise solution. The final approved plan, Alternative C, is a direct result of this engagement.