Diane Newton, submitting this piece on behalf of "the friends and neighbors of Hamilton Falls," adds: "If you want to be part of the effort to preserve Hamilton Falls Natural Area, please sign this petition: change.org/hamiltonfalls."
WINDHAM-The Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation recently released a draft master plan for the Hamilton Falls Natural Area in Jamaica.
Three scenarios proposed all include the construction of a connector trail, viewing platform, stairs, gate, and fencing in the Natural Area.
We are encouraging the Department to take into consideration the original goals of this Natural Area as laid out in the 1988 Hamilton Falls Land Management Plan.
This plan provides context to the significance of this area and establishes for current and future land managers a long-term vision to the management of these lands.
The primary purpose is "to protect the waterfalls and immediate environs." The secondary goal is to allow public enjoyment of the falls through compatible recreational activities.
Emphasized throughout the plan is minimum disturbance to this area - even to the extent that it specifies that trees be cut only when they pose a threat to the safety of visitors.
Recreational activities were not actively encouraged in that plan because of the existing hazardous conditions at the falls.
These goals are reinforced under Vermont statute, which says that natural areas are to be managed for the preservation of their natural condition.
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The uniqueness of this area requires more vigilance and care than the Department is recommending.
Cobb Brook is the only stream in Vermont to be reclassified to Class A for its entire length. The Water Resources Board noted in its 1991 reclassification decision that only about "50 pristine-like streams [exist] in the entire state" and that Cobb Brook is of "higher value than most of those streams."
The board also wrote that "Hamilton Falls is among the highest naturally occurring waterfalls in the state."
The proposed infrastructure would promote use of and be incompatible with the established goals of this natural and spectacular area. A way to achieve safety is not to encourage use. There is precedent in managing state and national parks to protect special areas from over-use by limiting access to them.
The Department's draft plan seems to be an overreaction to the use that this Natural Area experienced during the pandemic. The efforts made by the Department then worked to mitigate the impacts of overuse.
These improvements included limiting parking, increasing signage, and having an intermittent ranger on site. It is now common to have just a handful of cars in the parking area.
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Instead of the proposed infrastructure, we are urging the department to:
• repair the landslide on the West River Trail in Jamaica to continue to encourage hiking to the Natural Area.
• have an intermittent ranger on site as needed.
• keep the parking limited.
These actions would be a better and more effective use of limited tax dollars. They would also protect people and this remarkable resource.
This Voices Viewpoint was submitted to The Commons.
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