Conservation science

1 06, 2023

Restoring Watersheds in the North Country

2024-01-02T10:56:54-05:00June 1st, 2023|Conservation science, Highlights, News, Watersheds|

As the ground thawed and spring ephemerals emerged, the Spring Watershed Crew traveled throughout Vermont and New Hampshire on their first projects of the year. From the humble yarrow (Achillea millefolium) to the mighty red maple (Acer rubrum), the crew worked to plant over 5,600 native trees and 300 native plants to help improve water quality throughout the Memphremagog and Upper Connecticut River Watersheds. By restoring riparian buffer zones and installing rain gardens, these projects help to improve surface water quality by filtering and slowing down runoff from uphill areas like [Read More...]

31 05, 2023

Seed Spotlight: Salicaceae Family

2023-08-23T10:09:22-04:00May 31st, 2023|Conservation science, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands|

You may have noticed that there is a bunch of fluff floating around in the air right now. This is because quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is currently sending out seeds, and many other species in the Salicaceae family - such as shrub willow (Salix spp.), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata), and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) - are about to follow suit. All of these species release millions of seeds surrounded by tufts of long, soft, white hairs annually that are carried along in the wind to be dispersed [Read More...]

28 04, 2023

Heard about Hydroseeding?

2024-01-02T10:56:53-05:00April 28th, 2023|Conservation science, Forest Stewardship Institute, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands|

Hydroseeding is a direct seed application method that sprays large concentrations of seed on the land by using a trailer-mounted tank and sprayer system.The machine sprays out a slurry of seeds and water and sometimes (but not always) mulch and fertilizer. The sprayer is used to apply seed in a manner that minimizes the potential for movement of seeds from the site. This method is commonly used to quickly revegetate roadside excavation sites using conservation mix and grass seed.  Although it is a more common use, this method isn’t limited to [Read More...]

21 04, 2023

Watershed Program Coordinator Kaitlin Alford

2023-08-23T10:09:44-04:00April 21st, 2023|Con Sci Staff, Watersheds|

Kaitlin Alford earned a degree in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Virginia, then went on to pursue positions in the conservation field ranging from teacher naturalist to biology lab manager to communications coordinator for Vermont State Parks. She is excited to expand her conservation skills through her work as Watershed Program Coordinator at NorthWoods. Outside of work, you can find Kaitlin frolicking in the forests near Hardwick with her partner and their dog, paddling the Lamoille River, or volunteering with The Civic Standard.

22 03, 2023

Help the VT Reptile & Amphibian Atlas find Frogs in Newport City!

2023-04-03T15:35:49-04:00March 22nd, 2023|Conservation science, Education, Highlights, News, Science|

From our friends at the VT Reptile & Amphibian Atlas: Your help is Needed to Document the Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians in Vermont   Wood Frogs have been photographed in nearly every town, city, gore, and grant in Vermont except for Newport Town! The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas is seeking photo submissions or recordings of Wood Frogs from Newport Town.  They have reports of Wood Frogs from all towns, cities, gores, and grants in Vermont except Newport Town.  They have reports of Wood Frogs within Newport City [Read More...]

21 03, 2023

2023 Riparian Lands Crew Join the Team

2023-03-23T11:40:47-04:00March 21st, 2023|Con Sci Staff, Conservation science, Highlights, News|

We are excited to welcome two new members to the Riparian Lands Crew, Alex Sehl and Jake Gallinger. Riparian Lands Crew Member Jake Gallinger Jake recently graduated from SUNY College of Envionmental Science and Forestry with a degree in Wildlife Science and will be joining the Conservation Science Department for the first time after serving as the Youth Conservation Corps Crew Leader for the Moosehorn NWR crew last season. They love spending time outdoors and engaging in activities such as hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and camping. Riparian Lands [Read More...]

21 02, 2023

Staff Visit the NY State Tree Nursery in Saratoga

2023-08-23T10:10:02-04:00February 21st, 2023|Conservation science, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands, Science|

This month, Jess Colby (Riparian Lands Project Coordinator) and Brooke Fleischman (State Seed Coordinator for the Intervale Conservation Nursery) visited the New York State Tree Nursery in Saratoga to learn more about their seed collection, processing, and storage techniques. The Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery is the oldest state forest tree nursery in the country. The nursery currently produces more than 1.5 million seedlings annually and maintains more than 200 acres of seed production areas and orchards across the state. More than 6 million seedlings, representing over [Read More...]

31 01, 2023

Riparian Lands Crew Members Featured on Restoration Podcast

2023-08-23T10:10:18-04:00January 31st, 2023|Conservation science, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands|

If you've been curious to hear a little more about our staff's seed collection efforts you are in luck! In December, Riparian Projects and Forestry Outreach Coordinator Jess Colby and Riparian Lands Crew members Rob Fitch and Rhona Thomson were interviewed about their recent work on wild seed collection with the Restoration Roundup podcast. This watersheds and restoration-focused podcast is hosted by Cate Krieder and Alison Adams and is funded by the EPA and operated by the UVM Extension and the Lake Champlain Sea Grant. In this series, the hosts interview [Read More...]

15 12, 2022

Invasive Plant Control in the Clyde River Watershed

2023-08-23T10:10:56-04:00December 15th, 2022|Conservation science, Forest Stewardship Institute, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands, Watersheds|

Project Overview The NorthWoods Stewardship Center, located in the Clyde River Watershed in East Charleston, Vermont is an organization with a strong sense of place. As a conservation and educational organization in the North East Kingdom of Vermont, many of our programs and projects emphasize the importance of local stewardship to promote healthy ecosystems. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Habitat Stamp funded invasive plant control completed in the Clyde River Watershed was a collection of projects that addressed the spread of non-native plants in the area. These projects were completed [Read More...]

13 09, 2022

Seeding Conservation – Staff Highlight: Jessica Colby

2023-08-23T10:11:14-04:00September 13th, 2022|Conservation science, Forest Stewardship Institute, Highlights, News, Riparian Lands, Science, Staff|

Jess Colby knew since she was a kid that she wanted to work in conservation. Currently working as our Riparian Projects & Forestry Outreach Coordinator, Jess brings expertise from her degree at UVM, plus years working and volunteering with various conservation agencies and organizations to her work at NorthWoods in riparian restoration work and wildlife conservation.  One of her early introductions to the world of conservation was working with NorthWoods' YCC crew at the Pondicherry division of the Silvio O Conte NFWR as a teenager. "I've always been pretty set on [Read More...]

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