Forest Service Faces Opposition Over Controlled Burn Strategy in Green Mountains

The U.S. Forest Service is set to implement a controlled burning plan over the next 15 years in Vermont, specifically near popular recreation areas like Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake. This initiative has sparked public opposition, with a comment period concluding this week.

The project, known as the Northern Escarpment Ecological Restoration and Fire Resilience, aims to enhance the region’s resilience against wildfires, pest infestations, and drought. Covering four areas across 2,770 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest, the project will take place in the towns of Leicester, Middlebury, and Salisbury in Addison County, with activities commencing in the spring of 2027.

According to Ethan Ready, the U.S. Forest Service’s Public Affairs Officer, the project is expected to reduce flammable materials and foster the growth of rare native plant communities that thrive on regular, low-intensity fires. This includes species such as early azalea, natural red pine, and oak, as detailed in project documents.

Ready noted, “Decades of fire suppression have allowed other plant species to move in, increasing competition and fuel buildup such as leaf litter, needles, and woody debris.”

However, many residents have expressed concerns regarding the potential impacts of prescribed fires on local flora and fauna. There are also worries about the use of herbicides and their effects on wildlife and water quality.

Galina Chernaya, a resident of Goshen, highlighted her concerns about the project’s proximity to popular trails like Chandler Ridge Trail and Blueberry Hill. She questioned whether the ecological impacts of prescribed burns are justified for wildfire mitigation.

Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, who chairs the House Environment Committee, echoed these concerns in her public comments. She expressed worries that prescribed burns could lead to property damage, erosion, and water contamination, noting that azalea populations have actually increased in the area over the past 25 years.

Brandon resident Karen Rhodes, who attended a public meeting on the project, questioned the Forest Service’s active management strategy. “They want to burn back what they call problem trees and invasive trees which are also part of that habitat: hemlock, pine, different shrubs and herbs. They just want to burn it back so that the oak trees will thrive,” she said. “Why are they picking certain trees when nature seems to be taking care of itself?”

Vicki Disorda, another attendee, criticized the process for lacking transparency and adequate public input. She questioned the timing and location of the public meeting, which was held on a snowy evening in Rutland County rather than in Middlebury, where the project is centered.

In response, Ready stated, “Although the meeting was held in Rutland County, the Town of Brandon borders the project area and provided an accessible location and facility.”

Bob Zaino, a natural communities ecologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, emphasized the rarity of the dry, rocky landscape in the Escarpment area. He noted that its susceptibility to lightning strikes and natural fires makes it an ideal candidate for the project. “The reintroduction of fire can be a way to bring that process back to those places,” Zaino explained.

Prescribed burns may require multiple cycles to restore fire-adapted species, such as red pine and blueberries, which flourish post-fire, according to Zaino.

Zack Porter, executive director of the forest conservation advocacy organization Standing Trees, acknowledged some ecological benefits of the project but criticized its broad and aggressive approach. He stated, “What they’re proposing to do is just significantly broader and more aggressive than what would seem to be ecologically justified.”

If the prescribed burns fail to achieve the desired outcomes, the project allows for the use of herbicides, including glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. This has raised alarms among public commenters concerned about potential harm to wildlife, humans, and water quality.

Glyphosate is classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains that it is unlikely to harm humans.

Ready assured that the U.S. Forest Service would adhere to product labels and state and federal laws if herbicide use becomes necessary.

Porter expressed concern over the potential risks of glyphosate contaminating waterways like Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake. “These are all public waters, and the Forest Service is proposing to put those waters in greater danger by using herbicides,” he stated.

This story was originally published by VTDigger and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The U.S. Forest Service is set to implement a controlled burning plan over the next 15 years in Vermont, specifically near popular recreation areas like Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake. This initiative has sparked public opposition, with a comment period concluding this week.

The project, known as the Northern Escarpment Ecological Restoration and Fire Resilience, aims to enhance the region’s resilience against wildfires, pest infestations, and drought. Covering four areas across 2,770 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest, the project will take place in the towns of Leicester, Middlebury, and Salisbury in Addison County, with activities commencing in the spring of 2027.

According to Ethan Ready, the U.S. Forest Service’s Public Affairs Officer, the project is expected to reduce flammable materials and foster the growth of rare native plant communities that thrive on regular, low-intensity fires. This includes species such as early azalea, natural red pine, and oak, as detailed in project documents.

Ready noted, “Decades of fire suppression have allowed other plant species to move in, increasing competition and fuel buildup such as leaf litter, needles, and woody debris.”

However, many residents have expressed concerns regarding the potential impacts of prescribed fires on local flora and fauna. There are also worries about the use of herbicides and their effects on wildlife and water quality.

Galina Chernaya, a resident of Goshen, highlighted her concerns about the project’s proximity to popular trails like Chandler Ridge Trail and Blueberry Hill. She questioned whether the ecological impacts of prescribed burns are justified for wildfire mitigation.

Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, who chairs the House Environment Committee, echoed these concerns in her public comments. She expressed worries that prescribed burns could lead to property damage, erosion, and water contamination, noting that azalea populations have actually increased in the area over the past 25 years.

Brandon resident Karen Rhodes, who attended a public meeting on the project, questioned the Forest Service’s active management strategy. “They want to burn back what they call problem trees and invasive trees which are also part of that habitat: hemlock, pine, different shrubs and herbs. They just want to burn it back so that the oak trees will thrive,” she said. “Why are they picking certain trees when nature seems to be taking care of itself?”

Vicki Disorda, another attendee, criticized the process for lacking transparency and adequate public input. She questioned the timing and location of the public meeting, which was held on a snowy evening in Rutland County rather than in Middlebury, where the project is centered.

In response, Ready stated, “Although the meeting was held in Rutland County, the Town of Brandon borders the project area and provided an accessible location and facility.”

Bob Zaino, a natural communities ecologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, emphasized the rarity of the dry, rocky landscape in the Escarpment area. He noted that its susceptibility to lightning strikes and natural fires makes it an ideal candidate for the project. “The reintroduction of fire can be a way to bring that process back to those places,” Zaino explained.

Prescribed burns may require multiple cycles to restore fire-adapted species, such as red pine and blueberries, which flourish post-fire, according to Zaino.

Zack Porter, executive director of the forest conservation advocacy organization Standing Trees, acknowledged some ecological benefits of the project but criticized its broad and aggressive approach. He stated, “What they’re proposing to do is just significantly broader and more aggressive than what would seem to be ecologically justified.”

If the prescribed burns fail to achieve the desired outcomes, the project allows for the use of herbicides, including glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. This has raised alarms among public commenters concerned about potential harm to wildlife, humans, and water quality.

Glyphosate is classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains that it is unlikely to harm humans.

Ready assured that the U.S. Forest Service would adhere to product labels and state and federal laws if herbicide use becomes necessary.

Porter expressed concern over the potential risks of glyphosate contaminating waterways like Lake Dunmore and Silver Lake. “These are all public waters, and the Forest Service is proposing to put those waters in greater danger by using herbicides,” he stated.

This story was originally published by VTDigger and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.