Vermont Land Trust

11/06/2026

Who loves Norton's Brousseau Mountain trail? 🌄 Anyone who's been lucky enough to hike it.

“Brousseau Mountain is my favorite hiking destination to share in all of the Northeast Kingdom. With expansive views to Canada and northern Essex County of Vermont, and northern Coos County of New Hampshire, Brousseau stands out for its remote and wild beauty.” - Maria Young, NorthWoods Stewardship Center Executive Director

NorthWoods Stewardship Center runs summer camps and outdoor programs that regularly include the trail and the summit. Earlier this year, the Town of Norton conserved the land after buying it from Ann Sage and Victor Peters, who'd long hosted the trail and wanted to see the trail protected for good.

“The Brousseau Mountain Trail is such an important part of our community. It’s a great hike and a beautiful view. We are thrilled that it’s protected and will be enjoyed for generations.” - Stephane Thibault, Norton Selectboard

Learn more: https://vlt.org/newsroom/couple-town-secure-popular-trail-northeast-kingdom-vermont/

11/05/2026

Check out this WCAX story about our engineered logjam project with the Vermont Agency of Transportation along Route 117 in Jericho.

To help address floodplain loss and embankment erosion from Mill Brook, the engineered logjam will help slow floodwater, catch sediment, and stabilize the roadway embankment while supporting floodplain health.

This project is possible thanks to many years of partnership with Jericho Settlers Farm, which owns the land where the work is taking place. Their support, flexibility, and on-the-ground expertise have been invaluable in helping advance this innovative approach.

Also, a shout-out to SLR Consulting for their design expertise, DirtTech, LLC - Civil Consultant Services for construction, and to the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation for providing funding. Friends Of The Winooski River is an ongoing tree planting partner.

🔗 Watch now: https://www.wcax.com/2026/10/28/engineered-log-jam-protect-route-117-embankment-jericho/

Construction is underway to shore up the embankment along Route 117 in Jericho.

11/04/2026

🦉 Whoo goes there?

We are thrilled to be partnering with the North Branch Nature Center to set up an owl banding station this season at Pratt Refuge in . Gavin Young, a licensed owl ba**er and UVM student, is leading efforts at Pratt’s station. Huge thanks to Gavin for hosting VLT staff to learn more about owl banding and these tiny Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Why is banding owls important? Northern Saw-whet Owls are a rare treat to spot, even though they're common in our forests. Banding can help scientists better understand the health of this elusive species.

Hosting this research station at Pratt Refuge honors Fred Pratt’s legacy and his vision for the property: using it as a classroom to connect people, young and old, to the wonders of nature through birds. 🐦

Please note: all handling of birds is overseen by trained, USGS licensed professionals.

11/02/2026

What if our landscape could hold more water during floods, and keep it there to sustain us during droughts?

That's one vision behind riverscape restoration: healthier streams, cleaner water, more wildlife, and communities that are better protected from flooding.

At VLT, that work includes protecting stream corridors, planting native trees, removing aging dams, restoring wetlands, and welcoming beavers to do their natural work.

🔗 Read more: https://vlt.org/2026/09/23/restoring-our-riverscapes/

10/30/2026

Tiny backpacks for butterflies? Count us in! Check out the incredible work underway at Vermont Center for Ecostudies, which will help scientists understand more about the epic migration monarchs undertake every year, and what we can do in Vermont to help them succeed.

10/30/2026

Don’t let the cold keep you inside! Vermont’s winter season is full of opportunities to explore, from skiing to snowshoeing and beyond.

Join Vermont Land Trust, Catamount Trail Association, Green Mountain Club and Rikert Outdoor Center on Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. for a free online event packed with tips, inspiration, and ideas for getting outside this winter. Register today and get ready to make the most of winter!

👉 https://vlt.org/events/winter-preview-how-and-where-to-recreate-this-winter/

We unite land and lives for the enduring benefit of people and the place we share.

10/29/2026

👋 If they're not overwintering, they're probably leaving for warmer climes by now! The later birds leave, the farther north they overwinter. Birds who leave in October and November tend to winter in the mid-Atlantic or southeastern U.S, rather than flying all the way to South or Central America.

Can you name these four travelers? And have you spotted any of them recently? Let us know in the comments 👇

(Careful, spoilers below!)

📸 Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird, and Song Sparrow by Patrick LaClair, taken in Vermont.

10/28/2026

🍂🍄 Fall colors aren't limited to the leaves. From vibrant purple coral fungi to iconic red-and-white fly agarics, Vermont's forests are full of surprising mushrooms in autumn.

Mushrooms are a fascinating part of our ecosystem, often helping recycle nutrients back into the forest. Did you know? Oyster mushrooms are carnivorous, preying on microscopic worms to produce nitrogen.

🔗 Explore our field guide before your next walk: https://vlt.org/2022/08/11/forest-mushrooms-in-vermont/

10/27/2026

Thank you, Ann Sage and Victor Peters — for making sure the Brousseau Mountain Trail in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom will stay open.

For decades, Ann and Victor welcomed hikers, camps, and outdoor programs to enjoy the trail across their property in Norton. The beautiful trail is known for its sweeping views of Little Averill Lake and the surrounding forests.

Earlier this year, Ann and Victor sold their land to the Town of Norton, which then conserved it. The couple helped ensure this beloved trail will always be open to the community.

Gratitude also to the Town of Norton, the Norton community, and the NorthWoods Stewardship Center that has maintained and cared for this trail for years, and will continue to do so.

Learn more: https://vtdigger.org/2026/10/16/popular-brousseau-mountain-trail-in-essex-county-conserved-for-peregrine-falcons-and-future-generations

10/26/2026

When we remove a major dam, what happens after the earth-moving is just as important as the excavation itself.

Ahead of construction at the dam removal site in , VLT ecologist Allaire Diamond is harvesting native plants and seeds from the site. They'll be replanted along newly restored stream channels and riverbanks, helping prevent erosion and giving wetland plants a head start as the ecosystem re-establishes itself.

🌿 Plants like speckled alder, boneset, water bur-reed, sallow sedge, and blue vervain, and nodding beggars-ticks, and rattlesnake mannagrass will all help restore this natural wetland.

📸: (1) Speckled alder, (2) Boneset, (3) A bouquet including water bur-reed, sallow sedge, blue vervain, nodding beggars-ticks, and rattlesnake mannagrass.