Information and Education

a. Situation

The need exists to better inform the public of Forest Service activities and the role of such areas in the multiple use concept.

b. Planning Assumptions

1. The Backwoods Area offers opportunities to gain public understanding and support of Forest Service programs and activities.

2. The interest in the area will generate interest in other Forest Service activities.

II. Coordination requirements

The Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area is established as a Special Area and Recreation Composite for planning purposes.

Management will be directed toward maintaining the scenic views, natural ponds, plant life, and public enjoyment of its primitive qualities. Special emphasis will be given to protection of the municipal watershed. Timber harvest will be permitted. Improvements will be limited to simple facilities necessary for public use. Access will be limited to foot travel only, except for timber harvesting needs and administrative or emergency purposes.

Resource Coordination

Recreation

1. Dispersed camping will be permitted in the area to the extent that resource values are not adversely affected.

2. All developments are to be primitive in nature, such as Appalachian shelters, picnic tables, fire grates, and pit or sealed vault toilets.

3. Visitors will be directed to remove all nonburnable trash from the area. Suitable disposal facilities will be provided at all access points.

4. Special uses will not be permitted.

5. Public use of mechanical transportation or motorized equipment will not be permitted within the area. Mechanical transportation and motorized equipment may be used under close supervision for timber resource management activities, including harvesting by contract. Administrative use of motorized vehicles off the access roads will only be authorized for the protection of human life or where resource values are significantly being threatend by insects, diseases, fire, or other causes. In the event of danger to human life or threat from fire, the District Ranger will have authority to take action. In the event of threat by insects, diseases, or other causes, the Forest Supervisor may grant approval on a case-by-case basis..

6. Visitor-use will be regulated to prevent damage to the soil, water, or vegetative resources. Camping will be limited to the developed capacity of each site. Camping/campfire permits will be required for all overnight use. Camping will be limited to no more than ten days for each visit.

Timber

1. The Forest Supervisor will approve all prescriptions for timber operations. 2. Timber stands will be managed on a longer than normal rotation; 140 years with a 20-year cutting cycle.

3. Winter logging will be encouraged.

4. Mill sets will not be permitted.

5. Slash will be removed from within 50 feet of the edge of all permanent roads, trails, and developed sites. Within 50 to 200 feet of permanent roads and developed sites, slash will be lopped to within 4 feet of the ground. Within 50 to 100 feet of trails, slash will be lopped to within 4 feet of the ground. Burning of slash will not be permitted.

6. Girding of trees to be removed as part of stand improvement will not be permitted within 100 feet of a permanent trail or developed site.

7. Trash and debris resulting from timber harvest and improvement operations will be removed from the area.

Wildlife and Fish

1. Fish and game harvest will be in accordance with State regulations.

2. Cooperation will maintained with the State Fish and Game Department and U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for fish stocking and advice on

wildlife management. The Forest Supervisor may authorize the use of mechanical equipment to stock fish.

3. Clearings and temporary roads will not be maintained to reduce management activity interference.

Watershed

1. Timber harvest will not be permitted within 500 feet of the edges of Gilmore and North Ponds. Timber stand improvement will not be permitted with 100 feet of a stream channel.

2. Roads or log landings will not be permitted within 500 feet of the edges of Gilmore and North Ponds.

3. Large trees along stream banks which are tipped or which may tip and rip out stream banks will be harvested.

4. Slash within 25 feet of a stream bank will be removed.

5. Logging equipment will not be permitted to cross streams except on installed structures.

6. Logging debris will be removed from all streams.

Minerals

1. Ultimate protection of scenic and ecological values will require that the United States acquire all mineral rights in any future acquisition of lands adjoining the area.

2. Except for National emergencies, consent will be withheld on all requests for permits to mine or extract minerals, including common varieties of sand and gravel. Coordinating Requirements for Supporting Activities

Impoundments

1. No impoundments will be constructed within the area.

Fire

1. Camping/campfire permits will be required for all overnight use in the area. Campfires will be permitted only at designated sites during the time snow is not on the ground.

2. Burning of slash resulting from timber harvest operations will not be permitted.

3. In control of wildfires, the values involved and objectives of the area will be considered in determining suppression action.

Insect and Disease Control

1. Control of insects and diseases, when necessary, will be obtained through biological means whenever possible. Trees killed by insects or disease will be removed only if their presence is a definite threat to adjacent lands, a hazard in developed sites or along roads or trails, or as part of a normal timber harvest or improvement operation.

Improvements

1. Special uses of any type will not be permitted. Transportation

1. In keeping with the objectives of the area, no new permanent or through roads will be constructed, except those indicated on the current transportation system.

2. The Copeland and Gilmore Pond roads will be given "special service” designation and public vehicular use restricted.

3. Parking facilities will be provided at suitable locations on the Copeland and Gilmore Pond roads and other suitable locations on the periphery of the

area.

4. A system of hiking and interpretive trails will be developed in the area. Such trails should be designed, if possible, for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

5. Trail bridges, if needed, will be of primitive design, and construction will be out of native materials to blend in with the surroundings.

6. Road and trail signs will be of standard design, except where special interpretation requires a different style.

Research

1. Both formal and informal study of the natural sciences will be encouraged to the extent that the primitive values are not adversely effected.

2. A special use permit may be required for the purpose of collecting vegetative or geologic samples. The collection of animal life will be in conformance with both State and Federal regulations governing wildlife. The collection of artifacts or treasure trove will be in conformance with Federal regulations.

Information and Education

1. Visitor Information Service facilities, signs, and brochures are methods of communicating Forest Service objectives to the public as well as interpreting the

area.

2. The role that the area has in multiple use concept will be explained to the public as part of the interpretive program.

III. Development plan

No specific program for development is included in the plan at this time. Such a program will be prepared after an intensive survey of the area by a variety of disciplines, such as soil scientists, hydrologists, landscape architects, engineers, recreation planners, and others. This will be a part of the Forest's Program of Work for fiscal year 1974, starting July 1, 1973.

The emphasis will remain on a minimum of development to retain the primitive recreative characteristics of the area.

IV. Acquisition and Boundary Adjustment Needs

The presently delineated Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area comprises 3,818 acres owned by the United States in fee title. This is within a peninsula of the National Forest Proclamation Boundary created by Bristol Town Road No. 23 on the west, State Highways 17/116 and Bristol Town Road No. 3 on the north, Lincoln Town Road Nos. 1, 6, and 25 on the east, and the Little Notch Road No. S on the south. The remaining land within this exterior boundary comprises approximately 4,680 acres, of which approximately 4,125 acres is privately owned. Excluding the presently developed land within this boundary, which is used primarily as residential and agricultural properties, it would be desirable to acquire the balance and add it to the area. Of primary concern is the western boundary of the area adjoining State Highway 116 just below the escarpment. This area could serve as a primary Visitor Information Service facility, with parking, interpretive trails, and signing. Of secondary interest are the lands in the southern part of the area, which would serve as additional protection to the municipal watershed.

Approximately $1 million will be required to complete the acquisition program for protection and management of the area. This cost figure is based on 1972 values. Under the Plan for establishing the area, acquisition will be given special emphasis to protect the primitive values. As the area is an approved recreation composite, acquisition would be authorized primarily through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is anticipated that needed interests would be obtained through a willing buyer and seller relationship, subject to the usual Town and State approvals.

REPORT ON THE PROPOSED BRISTOL CLIFFS WILDERNESS, GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL

FOREST, VT.

(U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Eastern Region, February 1973)

RECOMMENDATION

This proposal recommends that approximately 3,863 acres of the Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area and approximately 2,637 acres of contiguous private and public lands within the Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont, be designated as the Bristol Cliffs Eastern Wilderness under provisions of "The Eastern Wilderness Amendments of 1973" proposal.

The designated area would be called the Bristol Cliffs Eastern Wilderness and would be administered in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964, "The Eastern Wilderness Amendments of 1973" proposal, and the Regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture.

1. SUMMARY

The so-called Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area does not possess the true wilderness resources of the quality and quantity necessary to meet the requirements of Section 2(c) of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-577).

Past studies and public input have stressed the need for areas within the Eastern United States where visitors could find solitude and remote experiences as a part of the multiple use management of the National Forest System. The Bristol Cliffs area does posses a near-natural environment and most of the disturbances of man are of a temporary nature and could be controlled or modified to a suitable degree.

With such modification and controls as may be required by the proposed amendment to the Wilderness Act and Regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, the area would be suitable for designation as an Eastern Wilderness. Location

The Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area is located within the Middlebury Ranger District of the Green Mountain National Forest. It is seven miles northeast of Middlebury and immediately adjacent to and southeast of the Village of Bristol. It is a part of the Town of Bristol and Lincoln, Addison County, Vermont. Natural resources

This area is primarily commercial forest land with timber, wildlife, water, and recreation resources. The northern hardwood timber has significant commercial value. Bristol Cliffs and the natural ponds are significant scenic resources. Lack of recent human activity has given the area its potential for a wilderness-like quality.

Public involvement

A public listening session was held in December 1971 to discuss Forest Service management of the Bristol Cliffs Backwoods Area. The local public agreed the area should be managed for its primitive features, as well as its natural resources. However, the consensus was against a formal designation. Later involvement by the New England Area Planning Task Force and Forest Service with a regional and national public found more interest in a formal designation. Land base

This report recommends additions of land to be acquired to protect the scenic values and increase the capability of the area to support wilderness objectives. These land acquisition proposals have not had the benefit of public involvement.

General description

II. THE AREA

Bristol Cliffs was initially delineated as a "Backwoods Area" about ten years ago for what was then felt as a need to designate certain areas of the National Forest for a primitive recreation experience. In April 1970 the revised Forest Recreation Management Plan provided for establishment of so-called backwoods areas where this type of experience could be obtained in a near natural environment where there is a minimum of disturbance by man. Subsequently, the area was established as a Management Unit in the Forest's Multiple Use Management Plan and a Recreation Composite in the Land Adjustment Plan. The following table summarizes area and ownership for the proposal.