Shadowing of GMC

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Shadowing of GMC

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Title: Slide 1 Author: Nicole Rowand Last modified by: Nicole Rowand Created Date: 6/20/2003 1:14:57 PM Document presentation format: On-screen Show – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Shadowing of GMC


1
  • Shadowing of GMCs Susan Shea
  • By Nicole Rowand

2
GMC Facts
  • Founded 1910, James P. Taylor
  • Nearly 9000 members nationwide, although focus is
    statewide
  • Primary focus is preservation and protection of
    Vermonts Long Trail
  • Also safeguard Vermonts other hiking trails
  • More than 800 volunteers work to maintain,
    manage, and protect the Long Trail System
  • Long Trail constructed from 1910-1930
  • Oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country,
    inspiration for the Appalachian Trail
  • 270-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails, and
    nearly 70 primitive shelters

3
GMC Mission
  • MISSION To make the mountains of Vermont play a
    larger part in the life of the people by
    protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System
    and fostering, through education, the stewardship
    of Vermonts hiking trails and mountains.
  • The state of VT has declared GMC the "founder,
    sponsor, defender and protector" of the Long
    Trail System and develops policies and programs
    for "the preservation, maintenance, and proper
    use of hiking trails for the benefit of the
    people of Vermont."

4
GMC Fundraising
  • Yearly membership dues Individual 27, family
    35, sponsor 45, Protector 100
  • State grants
  • Other grants donations
  • Sale of publications, maps, merchandise
  • Fees for education workshops outings

Tshirts
5
Long Trail Bound
  • Education program
  • MISSION The goal of Long Trail Bound is to
    create a connection and understanding between
    your students and the mountains, by teaching
    travel, environmental, and stewardship skills
    through the participation in these activities and
    the preparation and execution of a safe and
    enjoyable day hike on the Long Trail.

6
Long Trail Protection Campaign
  • Launched 1986 to acquire land or easements where
    the trail crossed private land
  • Prior to 1980s land agreements made with a
    handshake
  • Also in 1986, seven mountaintops in northern
    Vermont, complete with ridgeline views, thirty
    miles of the Long Trail, and historic shelters
    were for sale
  • Landowners closed sections of the trail, creating
    a 2.5 mile road walk for hikers
  • Goal is to have 1000 foot wide corridor for the
    Long Trail
  • Susan Shea, Director of Land Protection

7
Land Acquisition Challenges
  • Jonesville tower built on ridge and house built.
    Builders response, sorry. Hikers must hike
    around this. Plan to relocate trail.
  • Need to build foot bridge over river, still need
    some key land, railroad permission, local permits

8
Long Trail Land Acquisitions
9
Land Negotiations
  • Johnson Waterville GMC outbid by Mo Harvey,
    who built a camp
  • Adjacent land, outbid again by homeowners
    (Browns)
  • GMC acquired nearby land and ended up trading
    this for the land they wanted (Harvey-Brown
    Agreement)

10
Land Negotiations
  • Acquire land with state money, so must buy at
    appraised price
  • Sellers often ask for more
  • Negotiations can last for years
  • Negotiations can include land splits, logging
    before sales
  • GMC representatives must be subtle, but strong
    negotiators

11
GMC Milestones
  • Bolton Mountain Uplands, 2.5 mi LT, 1080 ac,
    Bolton, 03
  • Jay Peak, 1.8 mi LT right-of-way, Jay, 02
  • Smuggler's Notch, 1 mi LT right-of-way, Stowe, 02
  • Elbow Gap, 1 mi LT, 58 ac, Killington, 01
  • Bear Hill, 0.2 mi LT, 98 ac, Johnson, 01
  • Mad River Glen, 1.5 mi LT right-of-way, Fayston,
    01
  • Black Falls, 3764 ac, Richford, Montgomery,
    Westfield, 01
  • Elbow Road, 113 ac, .25 LT, Mendon, 01
  • Hazen's Notch, 110 ac, Westfield, VT, 00
  • Dry Ridge, 0.2 LT relo, 20 ac, Johnson, VT, 00
  • Eden Crossing, 0.2 LT, 20 ac, Eden, 00
  • 58 miles of Long Trail
  • 14 miles of side trail
  • over 23,500 acres protected
  • 72 projects completed

12
Change in Method?
  • 22 parcels left to acquire
  • Prefer legal agreements with private landowners,
    or purchase of land
  • Have taken conservation easements
  • Lately, have gone after right of passage

13
Land Acquisition Methods
  • Quarterly newsletter goes out to landowners to
    increase awareness
  • Susan tries to write a letter and call these
    landowners once/year
  • Yearly phone calls are too much contact for some
    more sensitive individuals
  • Anything more aggressive than the newsletter and
    phone call would not work
  • Subtleness, sympathy is effective

14
Choosing Battles
  • 1980s, pressure to pursue national scenic trail
    designation mainly for fed govts condemnation
    authority
  • Chose not to pursue because did not want
    increased traffic on Long Trail
  • 1990s, looked again because people not happy
    with rate of progress
  • Decided to pursue with Dean and state
    legislators support
  • Backed out because state money supply was
    threatened and there was not a good chance of
    winning with Clinton and the current Congress

15
Choosing Battles
  • 1930s opposition to Green Mountain Parkway, GMC
    and VT citizens win!
  • 1958 US Air Force want to build military facility
    on Mt. Mansfield, plans dropped, another win for
    GMC!
  • Current issue wind power, official stance of GMC
    is neutral because visual impact is not large
    enough
  • Instead, GMC is offering input on the lighting of
    the gt200ft structures

16
Key Partnerships
  • VT Dept of Forest Recreation new commissioner
    recently to adjust to, land gets transferred
    after GMC buys it
  • VT Housing Conservation Board have given grants
    and funded employees of GMC
  • Nature Conservancy
  • VT Land Trust

17
Themes Summary
Works?
Doesn't Work?
  • Quarterly newsletter, member dues
  • Subtle begging
  • Making partners
  • Tradition sympathy
  • Battle selection
  • Personal reminders of trail etiquette when you
    hike
  • Downright demanding
  • Forcing people of their land
  • Making ANY enemies
  • Aiming too high on projects to tackle
  • Relying on state grants
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