Conservation Commission – Aug 20 – MINUTES
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Woodbury Conserva�on Commission (WCC) Mee�ng Minutes
August 20 , 2026
Present: Sara Hedrick; Chad Wohler s; Paul Council; Michael Gray; Natalya Zahn; Libby Case
Agenda Items – Town Forest Plan ; Associa�on of Vermont Conserva�on Commissions (AVCC) request for list of
conserved land in Woodbury; Phragmites; Peregrine Update; Cranberry Meadow Sign; Speaker Series; Black
Ash Observa�on
Approval of 06.18.2026 WCC Mee�ng Minutes - Minutes are approved.
Peregrine Update – Michael shared that it was a confusing year for peregrine observa�on. Both sites that
ini�ally had peregrines nes�ng, failed, and there seems to be litle presence of peregrines in the area. that
have data bases of conserved land
AVCC Request – AVCC requested that the WCC provide a lis�ng of land in Woodbury that had conserva�on
easements. Sara took up this task and shared her search results. Sara started with the list WCC members came
up with of town owned parcels and other private parcels they were aware of. Sara then searched the data
bases of several other organiza�ons that have data on conserved land, such as the Department of Forest, Parks
and Recrea�on and the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Her research turned up several parcels that are
conserved in Woodbury and also shed light on town owned parcels that had been thought to have
conserva�on easements but do not. Sara also shared that a large parcel of E.B. Hyde land in Woodbury had
recently acquired a conserva�on easement. From Sara’s work, it appears all land in Woodbury with
conserva�on easements have been accounted for.
Phragmite Control – The WCC briefly reviewed the discussion with Colleen Bloom and Noreen Bryant at the
previous June mee�ng when they met with the WCC and shared their work in Calais atemp�ng to control the
spread of phragmites. Work by Annie Dalton at Nichols Pond also was men�oned. The WCC feels it would be
good to begin documen�ng and crea�ng a map of sites in Woodbury where phragmites are present.
WCC Sponsored Speaker Series – Annie Dalton is men�oned as a possible speaker. She has presented her work
with phragmites control to the state’s Lakes and Ponds Associa�on and gave a presenta�on in Hardwick last
year. Natalya men�ons that Ethan Tapper, author of “How to Love a Forest” and a recently published second book, “The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving” will be speaking at the Jeude vine Library in
Hardwick on October 7
th
, as part of a book tour for “The Forest Year”.
Town Forest Management Plan – Paul shares that the town forest management plan is clos e to being
completed. Paul also requested a visit to the town forest from Emily some�me in the fall to begin choosing
possible patch cut sites. The WCC discusses briefly with Natalya the logger she knows of who uses horses as a
poten�al person to do the patch cuts.
Cranberry Meadow Wetland Sign – Kiley has sent the WCC versions of his revision of the wetland map. The
WCC reviews the revisions and chooses the boundary line graphic they prefer and the acknowle dgement text
for the Vermont Housing and Conserva�on Board.
Black Ash Observa�on – Paul had no�ced a die off of black ash on his land and had a state forest pathologist-
Chloe Sardonis - come to inspect the trees. She confirmed at least six black ash trees had succumbed to the
Emerald Ash Borer. This was the first confirmed case in Woodbury . Chloe told Paul the black ash are usually
the first species of ash to die off in an area infested with the EMB.
August 20 , 2026
Present: Sara Hedrick; Chad Wohler s; Paul Council; Michael Gray; Natalya Zahn; Libby Case
Agenda Items – Town Forest Plan ; Associa�on of Vermont Conserva�on Commissions (AVCC) request for list of
conserved land in Woodbury; Phragmites; Peregrine Update; Cranberry Meadow Sign; Speaker Series; Black
Ash Observa�on
Approval of 06.18.2026 WCC Mee�ng Minutes - Minutes are approved.
Peregrine Update – Michael shared that it was a confusing year for peregrine observa�on. Both sites that
ini�ally had peregrines nes�ng, failed, and there seems to be litle presence of peregrines in the area. that
have data bases of conserved land
AVCC Request – AVCC requested that the WCC provide a lis�ng of land in Woodbury that had conserva�on
easements. Sara took up this task and shared her search results. Sara started with the list WCC members came
up with of town owned parcels and other private parcels they were aware of. Sara then searched the data
bases of several other organiza�ons that have data on conserved land, such as the Department of Forest, Parks
and Recrea�on and the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Her research turned up several parcels that are
conserved in Woodbury and also shed light on town owned parcels that had been thought to have
conserva�on easements but do not. Sara also shared that a large parcel of E.B. Hyde land in Woodbury had
recently acquired a conserva�on easement. From Sara’s work, it appears all land in Woodbury with
conserva�on easements have been accounted for.
Phragmite Control – The WCC briefly reviewed the discussion with Colleen Bloom and Noreen Bryant at the
previous June mee�ng when they met with the WCC and shared their work in Calais atemp�ng to control the
spread of phragmites. Work by Annie Dalton at Nichols Pond also was men�oned. The WCC feels it would be
good to begin documen�ng and crea�ng a map of sites in Woodbury where phragmites are present.
WCC Sponsored Speaker Series – Annie Dalton is men�oned as a possible speaker. She has presented her work
with phragmites control to the state’s Lakes and Ponds Associa�on and gave a presenta�on in Hardwick last
year. Natalya men�ons that Ethan Tapper, author of “How to Love a Forest” and a recently published second book, “The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving” will be speaking at the Jeude vine Library in
Hardwick on October 7
th
, as part of a book tour for “The Forest Year”.
Town Forest Management Plan – Paul shares that the town forest management plan is clos e to being
completed. Paul also requested a visit to the town forest from Emily some�me in the fall to begin choosing
possible patch cut sites. The WCC discusses briefly with Natalya the logger she knows of who uses horses as a
poten�al person to do the patch cuts.
Cranberry Meadow Wetland Sign – Kiley has sent the WCC versions of his revision of the wetland map. The
WCC reviews the revisions and chooses the boundary line graphic they prefer and the acknowle dgement text
for the Vermont Housing and Conserva�on Board.
Black Ash Observa�on – Paul had no�ced a die off of black ash on his land and had a state forest pathologist-
Chloe Sardonis - come to inspect the trees. She confirmed at least six black ash trees had succumbed to the
Emerald Ash Borer. This was the first confirmed case in Woodbury . Chloe told Paul the black ash are usually
the first species of ash to die off in an area infested with the EMB.