Home / Environment / Vermont Unites Snake Mountain: 70-Year Land Split Healed
Vermont Unites Snake Mountain: 70-Year Land Split Healed
25 Aug
Summary
- Vermont plans to reunite land and timber rights at Snake Mountain.
- An additional 256 acres will expand the wildlife area by 25%.
- Transactions expected to conclude by early 2027 for conservation.
A conservation effort initiated nearly seventy years ago is set to culminate in a new phase for Vermont's Snake Mountain. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, with support from the Trust for Public Land, plans to unify land ownership and timber rights across 949 acres of the Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
This initiative also includes acquiring an additional 256 acres in Addison and Weybridge. This expansion represents nearly a 25% increase to the popular natural area, with both transactions projected for completion by early 2027. The reunification will enable a more coordinated management approach.
Snake Mountain WMA, currently spanning 1,215 acres, is vital for biodiversity, hosting diverse wetlands and forests that support numerous species, including endangered bats and nesting peregrine falcons. The planned expansion and reunification are expected to enhance habitat connectivity and climate resilience.
Funding for these acquisitions comes from a mix of local, state, federal, and private sources, including a $1.35 million grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The A. Johnson Co., LLC, the current owner of the timber rights, is selling them to the state.
Further strengthening the protected landscape, The Nature Conservancy is expected to donate two parcels totaling 88 acres in 2026, known as Willmarth Woods Natural Area, which boasts one of the Champlain Valley's largest mature forest stands.
