Current Projects
We center our work on four key initiatives: Loving our Forests and Farms; Expanding Recreation for All; Creating Healthy Habitats; and Creating Community Connections. To learn more about our priorities, read our 5-year strategic plan.
Muddy Moose: A Conservation Trifecta
Muddy Moose in Morristown conserves land while supporting community – it protects an important low-lying forest, expands recreational opportunities, and converts eight cabins from short-term rentals to single-family homes for full-time residents. The property's established trail system, river frontage, and stunning gorge add a true gem to our region’s recreation economy. In partnership with Downstreet Housing & Community Development, the vacation rentals on the property will be converted into permanent homes for local residents.
The 150-acre forest will be protected under a permanent conservation easement to continue its essential work – providing flood resilience for downstream communities, filtering water, absorbing stormwater, and providing sanctuary for wildlife.
Connecting Shutesville & Protecting Wildlife
When traveling between Waterbury and Stowe, you may have noticed various wildlife crossing Route 100. This is not a coincidence. The Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor on the Waterbury-Stowe town line is the only viable connection between the Green Mountains and Worcester Range. With 50% of global species on the move to find suitable and cooler places to live, it is vital to protect intact forests within the corridor.
We are excited to announce our latest contribution to helping safeguard wildlife within the corridor: North Hill Forest! With support from The Nature Conservancy's Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund and two generous neighboring landowners, we conserved an additional 74-acres that adds to the growing patchwork of already conserved land within the corridor. North Hill Forest also protects a bottleneck that wildlife must traverse to move between the two mountain ranges.
Land protection projects like North Hill Forest help keep the wildlife corridor open and safe by permanently protecting the highest priority parts of the corridor. This corridor is a valued part of the Stayed Connected Initiative, which involves an international partnership working to conserve land and protect wildlife.
All told, your previous support of land protection projects has conserved nearly 800 acres in Shutesville, tripling the amount of protected habitat in the corridor since 2018. Together, we are making progress!
Creating Space for Housing & Conservation to Co-Exist
Located along Stagecoach Road, Stagecoach Meadows features sweeping views of the Worcester Mountains and vast open meadows.
The landowners' vision to conserve the property was clear: to protect the wildlife, aesthetic, and ecological values of the property; to continue allowing farming in the meadows; and to maintain access for the Catamount and VAST trails that traverse the land. However, through conversations that brought Downstreet Housing & Community Development to the table, an even more ambitious solution emerged. The family decided to gift the entire property to Stowe Land Trust and allow Downstreet to replace the aging outbuildings with single-family homes for full-time residents.
As a result of this incredibly generous donation, families will be able to live in a home that allows them to step outside and immediately be surrounded by nature. With views of mountains from their windows and trails abutting their homes, families can enjoy all nature has to offer.
Stowe Land Trust will steward the 115 acres in perpetuity, safeguarding wildlife and ensuring public access. The result is a powerful legacy: one of the most beautiful properties along Stagecoach Road conserved forever, with thoughtful development that honors both affordability and the natural character of the land.
Expanding Recreation for All
Did you know that 80% of the more than 7,100 acres of land and water we have helped protect is open for public access, including all six properties Stowe Land Trust owns and manages: Wiessner Woods, Kirchner Woods, DuMont Meadow, the Mill Trail, Page Forest, and Shutesville Ledges?
Our commitment to conserved land doesn't stop once a place is protected: we're out in the field year-round making sure its trails are in great shape and its conservation values are being protected.
Right now, we're giving SLT-owned lands some extra TLC. From puncheon replacement and bridge repair to keeping trail tread stable and culverts clear, we are working with partners, individuals, and groups of volunteers to make your experience outdoors even better. Interested in getting involved? Visit our volunteer page to learn more about how you, your friends and family, and your workplace can help us keep Stowe special.