Shelburne Pond Natural Area Expanded with Land Acquisition

UVM and Nature Conservancy Continue 30-year Partnership

Shelburne, VT—4 November 2004—The Nature Conservancy announced today the acquisition of a 37.4-acre parcel from Joe and Marguerite Maille, as part of an ongoing effort to protect Shelburne Pond, located only 10 miles from Burlington. Continuing a history of collaboration between the Conservancy and the University of Vermont, the acreage will be transferred to the H. Laurence Achilles Natural Area owned and managed by UVM. Acquisition of the parcel at Shelburne Pond was part of a broader initiative involving the Vermont Land Trust and the Town of Shelburne which has also conserved 100 acres of farmland.

Shelburne Pond, over a mile long and covering 432 acres, is the largest, undeveloped body of water in Chittenden County, and supports a rich variety of aquatic plant and animal life. Protecting the pond requires a land buffer to absorb run-off from agriculture and development in the surrounding area, which is under increasing pressure from expansion to the south of Burlington. Conservation of Shelburne Pond has been a goal of the Conservancy in collaboration with the University of Vermont and the town of Shelburne since the 1960’s. With this addition the Conservancy has protected 1,047 acres of shoreline, wetland and upland forest, the majority of which has been transferred to the H. Laurence Achilles Natural area for management by UVM.

"Shelburne Pond has a wild and pristine quality, especially impressive so close to a metropolitan area," said Hub Vogelmann, co-founder of the Vermont Chapter of the Conservancy and retired Chair of UVM’s Botany Department. "Spring wildflowers make their first appearance here on the south-facing limestone ledges, heralding the better days that lie ahead. I am heartened and encouraged by the Nature Conservancy’s continued commitment to protecting this special corner of Vermont."

Conservation, recreation and research co-exist peacefully here, working together to maintain the pond’s wild character. With an easy, one mile loop trail maintained by UVM, and boat access maintained by the state fish and wildlife department, visitors have an opportunity to explore the serenity of Shelburne Pond while fishing, canoeing, bird watching or simply strolling around. UVM science students have been studying here for almost half a century, with hundreds of future botanists, zoologists and geologists cutting their teeth on the flora, fauna and geological formations found here.

Conservation activities are funded by the Shelburne Pond Fund, initially created with a generous donation from H. Laurence Achilles in the 1970’s and maintained through membership and donations to the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy.