Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions

In February 2017, the town of Georgia along with help from Vermont Land Trust purchased and conserved a property now called Silver Lake Woods. The land is comprised of 179 acres of predominantly forested land located in East Georgia at the end of the Class IV section of Silver Lake Rd. The land ranges from level or mildly sloping to quite steep among some small cliffs and ledge outcroppings. The parcel includes several forest types including a mixed pine-hemlock-hardwood community, a hemlock forest, a northern hardwood forest, and a red pine and Norway spruce plantations. The property had a couple dead end trails on it and in 2019 the Georgia Conservation Commission worked with VYCC to build a connector trail to complete a large loop around the property. Many people ask about the property, but some are afraid of going off trail, without someone leading them. The trail marking and signs should help this.

The Georgia Conservation Commission focused on improving the trail leading up to the property last year. We bid out the job and hired Rabbit Tracks, a contractor, to remove a damaged culvert and replace it with a ford crossing, as well as ditch the trail and add water bars. This was after getting approval from several state agencies. The commission members built two small bridges for water crossings, and installed a kiosk. We also purchased trail paint and marked four trails in Silver Lake Woods. Most recently we got some instructive signs. Due to the pandemic the trail usage went way up in 2020, and continues to be high in 2021. The local elementary school took several classes on a field trip in Silver Lake Woods recently too.