The Waitsfield and Fayston portions of the project have been completed and a similar project starts up in Warren next. The results of the inventory study will provide complete information about the denizens of the forests and puddles with whom we share The Valley.
That information is valuable for a variety of reasons. First, it helps planners making land use decisions. Secondly, it helps communities make decisions about where development is appropriate and what types are appropriate. And finally, it helps residents to know their four-legged, finned and winged neighbors.
But it's also appropriate to look at who and what lives where in The Valley if we're going to look at where we might site wind towers or where we might harvest wood for wood chips.
We need to know what lands we might identify for residential growth and what lands we might map out for future road networks and what land we need to set aside for growing our food. We need to know who/what lives there now.
We need to know what wetlands can help us clean water we've used or gathered in stormwater runoff and we need to know where the opportunities for microhydro exist. Similarly, we need to know what creatures are currently using those pools and streams.
The Natural Heritage Inventory is a great tool for those working on the question of whether The Valley could feed or power itself. It's a great first step and great sign of spring. The Natural Heritage Inventory will be presented on May 10 and the Imagining Our Common Future (feeding and powering ourselves) event takes place May 12.
Both are worth attending.
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