Land Use and Conservation   

The CCCA has been from it's beginning concerned with land use and preservation. As an organization we strive to find ways to mitigate the continued fragmentation of our land which threatens both the local population of wildlife as well as the migratory birds. In areas such as Hartland Vermont large mammals such as bear, moose, bobcat and even deer are no longer to be found due to development. Certain development practises can also bring about a degredation to our quality of life such as clean water, the beauty of our meadows, forests and mountainsides, the lack of objectionable noise and air pollution.

Goal 1 of the Cavendish Town Plan states our collective desire - "To encourage development so as to maintain the rural atmosphere of the community and historic settlement pattern of compact village centers separated by rural countryside."

Conservation Incentive Program

for Land Owners.

Click here.

One area our community has deemed important to protect is The Black River Corridor in Cavendish.

One of Cavendish’s most scenic and treasured natural assets is the Black River Corridor. The Cavendish Town plan describes this area as “a significant and essential scenic resource that runs through the town. The Black River Corridor travels east from the intersection of Route 103 to Weatherfield along the Black River and includes Scenic Route 131 which was designated one of three State Scenic Highways in 1998.”  The town plan calls for protection of this area and preservation of open space between and surrounding the two village areas.  This protection includes working with existing land trusts or creation of a new land trust to purchase significant natural and aesthetic resources.  Of particular interest to CCCA is the protection,  either through conservation easements or purchase, of the remaining undeveloped parcels of open field between the two villages, some of which have served as areas where flood waters can spread out and thus reduces pressure on developed areas along the river.  These areas also have served as important access for recreation use of the river for fishing and other pursuits.