Natural Resources

Interacting with the Natural Community

The Winooski Valley Park District collaborates with local ecologists, students, and colleges, in its effort to inventory and maintain the ecological quality of its natural areas. With the exception of trail construction and maintenance, invasive species removal, agricultural uses, and tree planting and removal, the Park District manages its natural areas with a hands-off approach. The Park District believes that this should allow nature to run its course to develop natural communities and ecosystems that are based upon the land and climate and support a high diversity of native plant and animal species. Allowing the parks to evolve into their natural states will offer the community an opportunity to view ecological succession at work, and give visitors the benefit of learning of natural succession and community types.

Please enjoy a sampling of the ecological studies performed at Park District properties. The contributions of ecologists and volunteers have allowed the Park District to maintain a dynamic working list of animal and plant sightings and record of park vegetative communities. Questions regarding the studies, methods, or results can be directed to the Park District.

Enjoying the Natural Landscape

Visitors to the parks will find a wide range of landscapes. If a pastoral setting is what you are seeking, try hiking the trails near the hay fields of the Ethan Allen Homestead, Colchester Pond Natural Area, or Old Mill Park. To spot spring wildflowers such as trillium, bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, trout lily, and hepatica, try the Winooksi Nature Trail or Old Mill Park.

The Park District's Guide to Common Spring Wildflowers is available in the brochure boxes at many parks and may enhance your visit with its introduction to the natural plant community. If you wish to walk below a towering overstory of cottonwoods and quaking aspens in a mature floodplain forest, try Woodside or Muddy Brook Parks. For a close look at duckweed, skunk cabbage, marsh marigold, and other wetland plants, take a walk along the two elevated boardwalks at the Ethan Allen Homestead.

Remember, please don't pick the plants. They are there for all of us to enjoy. Nature at the Parks: take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Plant and Animal Database

Local ecologists and volunteers have worked at Park District natural areas to compile a non-comprehensive assessment of the plants and animals at the various parks. Visitors can identify at which parks they can find a plant or animal of interest by using the drop-down boxes, below.

Colchester Pond Natural Area Delta Park Derway Island Donohue Sea Caves Essex Overlook Park Ethan Allen Homestead Park Heineberg Wetlands Macrae Farm Park Mayes Landing Millyard Canoe Access Muddy Brook Park Old Mill Park Salmon Hole Park Valley Ridge Winooski Gorge Winooski Nature Trail Woodside Park

For plant-specific information, the Park District recommends viewing species information in the USDA Plant Database.

Invasive Species

A troublesome probem for much of Vermont's landscape, invasive plant species have become established at some of the Park District's natural areas. Non-native to this area, these plants are able to dominate their new environment due to a lack of the natural predators and climactic controls that keep them from exploiting their native habitat. When established in Vermont, the invasives overcrowd a site and create monocultures by out-competing native vegetation for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Invasive plant monocultures create a foreign habitat for animals, adversely impacing nesting and foraging.

In order to preserve the native habitats that are enjoyed in Vermont and a keystone of the Park District's mission, a great stewardship effort is needed. The Park District continually seeks volunteers to help with invasive plant removal. Please see the stewardship page for more information regarding contributing to the Park District's removal efforts as a volunteer.

For information on other organizations spreading the word about invasive species, visit the Nature Conservancy's Wise On Weeds program.

Follow the links below to learn more about a few of the invasive species the Park District is actively working to remove:
Common Buckthorn
Japanese Knotweed
Phragmites
Purple Loosestrife