Park Agriculture Changes Considered
by Nancy Wood,
June 3, 2010, page 1.....

The Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge Oversight Committee (the “Park” Committee) is rewriting the management plan for the park, including the section on agricultural uses. The current five-year lease to Robert Mack is due to expire on December 31, 2010, providing an opportunity to review the lease provisions. The lease currently includes 115.3 acres of the park, at $20 per acre.
The Park Committee and Selectboard spent an hour on May 24 discussing issues such as buffering wetland and drainage areas, timing of mowing and the protection of grassland bird habitat. They will continue the discussion at a later meeting on the lease provisions. The draft management plan includes the following proposed new language: “A conventional corn/hay rotation has been in place since the park’s inception, however, expanding the breadth of agricultural practices will enhance productivity and better protect the scenic, recreational and wildlife habitat values of the park. Other crops and practices, such as biofuels, orchards, agroforestry and progressive diversified grazing should be considered.”
Jenny Cole, who is the Selectboard representative on the Park Committee, said the board is exploring options to the one five-year lease/one farmer approach. Selectboard members expressed concern about a too-restrictive approach and noted that there may not be more than one farmer interested.