Table of Contents Executive Summary 2

Site Description

Vermont topography varies throughout the state, which has led to the state being divided into six physiographic regions: the Green Mountains, the Taconic Mountains, the Valley of Vermont, the Champlain Lowlands, the Vermont Piedmont, and the Northeast Highlands. The Green Mountains run the entire north-south length of Vermont, down approximately the middle of the state, and contain the highest peaks in Vermont. The Taconic Mountains are located in southwest Vermont and are lower, rounder, and older than the Green Mountains. The Valley of Vermont is a flat, narrow strip of land that runs between the Green Mountains to the west and the Taconic Mountains to the east. It is essentially an extension of the Champlain Lowlands, which is the area including Lake Champlain and its surrounding, fertile, relatively flat basin. The Champlain lowlands are bordered to the west by the Green Mountains, to the east by the Adirondack Mountains, and to the south by the Taconic Mountains. Due to the moderating effects of Lake Champlain and the protection offered by the mountain ranges on three sides, this area experiences the mildest climate in the state. The Vermont Piedmont runs the north-south length of the state to the east of the Green Mountains, comprising the foothills of the Green Mountains and characterized by rolling hills, wide valleys, and many lakes. Finally, the Northeast Highlands are located in the northeast corner of Vermont and are actually an extension of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, making them quite different from any other region in Vermont. Here, the climate is second in severity to only the highest peaks of the Green Mountains (Johnson 1998).

Generally, the climate of Vermont is considered humid continental-cool summer, which is characterized by average temperature of the coldest month (January) < 32º F and average temperature of the warmest month < 72º F. In Vermont, the temperature is influenced more by altitude in the summer, by latitude in the winter, and varies with topography statewide. The average length of the growing season also differs depending on topography, from approximately 90 days at higher elevations and in small, low valleys to 150 days near Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain has a considerable buffering effect on the climate of the Champlain Valley (Meeks 1986).

Precipitation patterns mirror those of temperature, again varying with topography. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 32” to 52”. In general, higher elevations (Green Mountains) receive more precipitation, as do the southern part of the state and the Northeast Highlands. Vermont is also one of the cloudiest places in North America; the amount of solar energy that falls on Vermont is nearly the smallest amount in the United States (Meeks 1986).

Dominant vegetation can be approximated into four primary zones. Northern hardwoods (birch, beech, and maple) dominate below 2,000 feet, except in Northeast Vermont. The central Champlain Valley is characterized by oak-hickory forest. Above 2,000 feet and in the Northeast Highlands, the primary vegetation communities consist of spruce-fir. Finally, on the few peaks close to 4,000 feet, there are scattered spots of alpine vegetation. In many of the lower elevations, such as in Franklin and Addison Counties, dairy farms still comprise a large portion of the landscape, so these areas may be less forested than other locations in the state (Meeks 1986).

Vermont remains one of the most rural states in the nation, with an estimated 2001 population estimate of 613,090 people. In 2000, the average number of persons per square mile was 65.8. Population is most dense in the Greater Burlington/Chittenden County area, and also in the Rutland, Brattleboro, and Montpelier areas (U.S. Census Bureau website). The 9, 250 square mile land area is traversed by a total of approximately 15,009 miles of roads (14,305 miles of state public roads and 704 miles of the National Highway System). In 2002, the grand total of urban and rural annual vehicle miles of travel was 9,573.8 (VTrans website). Although it is difficult to summarize traffic statistics, for there is too much variance between different roadways, a generalization that may be made is that traffic decreases in intensity from Interstate highways; down through Class I, II, III, and IV state highways; to town highways. However, this is only a generalization, for town roads in more urbanized locations may experience greater traffic intensity than state highways in more rural locations.