You’re Invited to an Open House and Public Meeting to discuss Molly’s Falls State Park

Who: Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and members of the public who have an interest in Molly’s Falls/ Marshfield Reservoir

When: Thursday April 21, 2016

5:30- 7:00pm: Open House and Public Comment

7:00-9:00pm: Presentation and Public Comment
Where: 3^rd Floor Auditorium, Town Offices, Cabot Vermont

Do you live in Central Vermont? Have you used Molly’s Falls in the past? Do you care about the management of Vermont’s natural resources?

This is a great chance for the public to be involved in the management of our newest state park, Molly’s Falls, to ask questions and to comment. Attendees and members of the public will also have the opportunity to complete a survey on how they use the reservoir and surrounding area.

Molly’s Falls Pond (Marshfield Pond) is a reservoir located just 14.8 miles from Barre, VT in the rural town of Cabot in north-central Vermont. The area is a working landscape of farms and forests, and is home to the 26,000-acre Groton State Forest, which boasts 7 state parks, numerous lakes, ponds and bogs, recreational trails, and hunting and camping opportunities.

Molly’s Falls Pond property consists of 1064 acres including the 411-acre pond. U.S. Route 2 traverses the northern edge of the property and there is a dam at the western end of the reservoir that is owned by Green Mountain Power Company. A Vermont Fish and Wildlife Access Area at the northern end of the property includes a concrete ramp for trailered boat access to the pond and two fishing platforms for shore fishing.

This 411-acre lake is largely undeveloped and is an excellent spot for swimming, boating and fishing. Anglers will find a variety of fish including rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, pickerel, small mouth bass and yellow perch here.  Camping and picnicking along the shores has been a long tradition with the informal development of approximately 10 sites.

There is a wetland along the southern shore that is a spruce-fir wetland that is not ecologically state-significant. The shoreline provides access for wildlife such as moose, deer and shoreline nesting habitat for waterfowl. The Common Loon has been on the pond for a number of years. There is important ecological linkage with the mostly forested habitat for wildlife between the pond and Groton State Forest to the south.

The primary values of this property are for its recreational uses and wildlife habitat values.

Come out on Thursday to talk to FPR and Fish & Wildlife staff, and participate in the conversation! Contact: Susan Bulmer, Northeast Parks Regional Manager at   susan.bulmer@vermont.gov

***Even if you don't go to the meeting, we still want your opinions on Molly's Falls! Click here to complete the survey.