Towns:
Sunderland, Stratton, Winhall

Acreage:
10,000

Topography:
Most of the land is more than 2,000 feet in elevation

Water:
A complex series of wetlands and ponds

Natural Features:
Rare natural communities

Points of Interest:
Popular hiking trails to Stratton Pond

The Forest Service acquired much of the land forming the proposed Lye Brook Addition from International Paper in 1986. It did this with the help of a bridge loan from The Nature Conservancy, which held the land for a year until federal funding was secured. Essentially roadless, the area includes the lower hills, valleys, and wetlands around Stratton Pond, and other wetlands near Branch, Beebe, and at least nine other smaller ponds. Valuable riparian areas exist by the streams of the Black Brook, the east branch of the Deerfield River, and near the North Alder Brook.

These lands are heavily forested with beech, birch, balsam fir, maple, and scattered apple trees. The dense interior forest in the area is valuable black bear habitat, some of which has been designated as "critical" by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Several rare animal, plant, and natural commun-ities are found in the proposed Lye Brook Addition. The Vermont Natural Heritage Program has documented a very rare dwarf shrub bog near Stratton meadow bog, consisting of plants such as leatherleaf, labrador tea, bog laurel, small cranberry, hare's cotton grass, and flowered sedge. Birds frequenting this natural community include the Lincoln's sparrow, common yellowthroat, rusty blackbird, and northern harrier. Several uncommon dragonfly species and meadow voles also live here.

Near the Winhall River, which forms the border of the current Lye Brook Wilderness and the proposed Lye Brook Addition, there is another uncommon natural community, the poor fen, which includes among its plant life the sweet gale, bog rosemary, tawny cotton grass, and white beakrush. A rare plant, the fall dropseed muhly, and an uncommon bird, the rusty blackbird, frequent the Winhall River area.

The proposed Lye Brook Addition provides extensive opportunities for backcountry recreation, including hiking, camping, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. More than seven miles of the Long Trail/Apalachian Trail cross the area. Stratton Pond, the largest pond on the Long Trail, is a popular spot for swimming and fishing, and receives the heaviest overnight use of any campsite on the trail with more than 2,000 users per year. Because of the large number of visitors, the VWA proposes that Stratton Pond become part of the Robert Stafford National Conservation Area.

A central principle of conservation biology is that larger wilderness areas will likely become more biologically diverse. Increasing the size of the Lye Brook Wilderness to 25,000 acres, and joining it with another large natural area, the Robert Stafford National Conservation Area, will provide lasting benefits to wildlife and ensure a variety of recreational opportunities for the many people who seek a wilderness experience.