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Proposed Designation:
National Recreation Area
Towns:
Stratton, Somerset, Searsburg, Woodford
Acreage:
38,000
Topography:
Lowlands, rolling terrain, and mountainous slopes
Water:
The headwaters of the Deerfield River
Natural Features:
Rare lower elevation habitat and riparian areas
Points of Interest:
Popular winter recreation destination
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The proposed Robert Stafford National Recreation Area (NRA) will provide one of the finest areas for backcountry recreation east of the Mississippi. The proposed NRA will link together 38,000 acres of non-wilderness conservation lands with nearly 65,000 acres of existing and proposed wilderness, and incorporate sections of the Appalachian, Long, and Catamount Trails. It is a large area of mountains, lakes, trails, secluded bogs and blueberry barrens, and an outstanding array of wildlife habitat.
The Robert Stafford NRA will include the headwaters of the Deerfield River, and will connect four vital wildland areas: the George Aiken Wilderness and the proposed Lamb Brook Wilderness in the south, the proposed Glastenbury Wilderness to the west, and Lye Brook Wilderness to the north. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to protect an entire landscape with immense benefits for wildlife and unsurpassed opportunities for recreation.
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In addition, the proposed NRA surrounds approximately 15,000 acres of land, formerly owned by the power-company NEPCO and now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric. This includes the Somerset Reservoir, a beautiful lake surrounded by the towering peaks of Mount Snow; Stratton Mountain; and Glastenbury Mountain, with views down the valley into Lamb Brook. The high ridge to the east and Glastenbury Mountain to the west offer a sense of seclusions that is nearly unmatched in New England.
The proposed NRA would create a protected area spanning approximately 100,000 acres of forest. The non-wilderness portions of the NRA would be managed much like the existing White Rocks NCA, allowing snowmobile use on designated trails, while the remainder would be managed as wilderness. Commercial logging would be prohibited.
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Proposed Wilderness Areas and Additions, NRAs, and NCAs
Romance Mountain Wilderness
Glastenbury Wilderness
Lamb Brook Wilderness
Lye Brook Additions
Robert Stafford NRA
Moosalamoo NRA
Abbey Pond NCA
The Cape NCA
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