Green Mountain National Forest: Difference between revisions

| photo_caption = Green Mountain National Forest in October 2011

| map = USA#Vermont

| map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Vermont

| coordinates = {{coord|43|57|N|73|04|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline, title}}

| area_acre = 399151

| area_ref = &nbsp;federal<br>{{cvt|421889|acre|km2}} other<ref name=acreage>{{cite web |title=Land Areas of the National Forest System |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |date=January 2012 |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/LAR2011/LAR2011_Book_A5.pdf |access-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref>

| established = April 25, 1932<ref>{{cite web |title=The National Forests of the United States |publisher=ForestHistory.org |url=http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |access-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028014355/http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2012 }}</ref>

[[Image:Gmnf-map.PNG|200px|thumb|Map of Green Mountain National Forest]]

'''Green Mountain National Forest''' is a [[United States National Forest|national forest]] located in [[Vermont]], a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]] typical of the [[New England/Acadian forests]] ecoregion. The forest supports a variety of wildlife, including [[North American beaver|beaver]], [[eastern moose|moose]], [[eastern coyote|coyote]], [[American black bear|black bear]], [[white-tailed deer]], [[wild turkey]], and [[ruffed grouse]]. The forest, being situated in Vermont's [[Green Mountains]], has been referred to as the granite backbone of the state.

Established in 1932 due to uncontrolled [[overlogging]], fire and flooding, the forest originally consisted of {{cvt|102100|acre|km2}}; however, only {{cvt|1842|acre|km2}} were federally owned, while the remaining {{cvt|100,258|acre|km2}} within the national forest boundary were not federally owned or administered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outdoor.com/places/national-forests/green-mountain-and-finger-lakes-national-forests/ |title=Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests |publisher=Outdoor.com |date=2007-04-25 |access-date=2011-03-12}}</ref> {{Asof|2011}}, the forest boundaries included {{convert|821040|acre|km2}}, of which {{cvt|399151|acre|km2}} were federally owned and administered.<ref name=acreage/> GMNF is one of only two national forest areas in [[New England]], the other area being the [[White Mountain National Forest]] in [[New Hampshire]].

In descending order of land area, GMNF is located in parts of [[Bennington County, Vermont|Bennington]], [[Addison County, Vermont|Addison]], [[Rutland County, Vermont|Rutland]], [[Windham County, Vermont|Windham]], [[Windsor County, Vermont|Windsor]], and [[Washington County, Vermont|Washington]] counties.<ref name=acreage/> The forest headquarters are in Mendon, Vermont, alongside those of [[Finger Lakes National Forest]] though that forest is in [[New York (state)|New York]] state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2007/TABLE_6.htm |title=Staff |website=www.fs.fed.us |access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>

The forest contains three nationally designated trails, including parts of the [[Appalachian Trail]] and the [[Long Trail]], as well as the Robert Frost National Recreation Trail. The forest also includes three alpine ski areas, seven Nordic ski areas, and approximately {{cvt|900|mi}} of multiple-use trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and bicycling.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150122201215/http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/greenmountain/about-forest "About The Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests"] (archive). ''fs.usda.gov''. [[United States Department of Agriculture]], [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]].</ref>

The forest benefited from the [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009]]. Forest revenue is generated by recreation fees (such as at [[Mount Snow]], [[Stratton Mountain Resort|Stratton Mountain]] and [[Bromley Mountain]] ski areas) and timber sales. About {{cvt|42|acres}} were set aside for forest regeneration in 2009. Planned expenditures include road construction, recreation and heritage, and [[wildlife management]]. Projects in the latter category include: land/water modification in support of ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, bear, trout, salmon, [[Bicknell's thrush]], and the plant [[Polemonium|Jacob's ladder]]. The [[emerald ash borer]] is a threat to Vermont's trees.

There are eight officially designated [[wilderness area]]s in the Green Mountain National Forest (from north to south):

{| class="wikitable"

|+

! scope="col" style="width: 16em;" rowspan=2 |

! scope="col" style="width: 10em;" colspan=2 | Approximate area

! rowspan=2 | Created by

|-

!acres

!ha

|-

| scope=row | [[Bristol Cliffs Wilderness]]

| {{convert|3750|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Eastern Wilderness Areas Act]] of 1975

|-

| scope=row | [[Breadloaf Wilderness]]

| {{convert|24986|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984]]

|-

| scope=row | [[Joseph Battell Wilderness]]

| {{convert|12336|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[New England Wilderness Act of 2006]]

|-

| scope=row | [[Big Branch Wilderness]]

| {{convert|6725|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984]]

|-

| scope=row | [[Peru Peak Wilderness]]

| {{convert|7825|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984]]

|-

| scope=row | [[Lye Brook Wilderness]]

| {{convert|18122|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Eastern Wilderness Areas Act]] of 1975

|-

| scope=row | [[Glastenbury Wilderness]]

| {{convert|22400|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[New England Wilderness Act of 2006]]

|-

| scope=row | [[George D. Aiken Wilderness]]

| {{convert|4800|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984]]

|}

Each of these wilderness areas is wholly located in Vermont and is managed by the [[United States Forest Service]] as part of the [[National Wilderness Preservation System]]. As such, these areas are off-limits to all motorized and mechanical vehicles, including bicycles.

==Recreation areas==

There are two officially designated [[National Recreation Area|recreation areas]] in the Green Mountain National Forest (from north to south):

{| class="wikitable"

|+

! scope="col" style="width: 20em;" rowspan=2 |

! scope="col" style="width: 10em;" colspan=2 | Approximate area

! rowspan=2 | Created by

|-

!acres

!ha

|-

| scope=row | [[Moosalamoo National Recreation Area]]

| {{convert|15857|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[New England Wilderness Act of 2006]]

|-

| scope=row | [[White Rocks National Recreation Area]]

| {{convert|36400|acre|ha|disp=table}}

| style="text-align: center;" | [[Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984]]

|}

The latter includes both the Big Branch Wilderness and Peru Peak Wilderness within its boundaries.

*[[List of U.S. National Forests]]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Green Mountain National Forest| ]]

[[Category:Protected areas established in 1932]]

[[Category:1932 establishments in Vermont]]