The Franklin County NRCD's 2024 Maple Producer Workshop Series concluded with an in-person workshop at The Maple Fix Farm in Underhill, VT. The series included a total of four workshops made specifically for Vermont maple producers. Some of the topics covered during FCNRCD's 2024 workshops included funding opportunities, sugar bush management, and organic certification. The final Maple Producer Workshop focused on water quality and acceptable management practices (AMPs) for maple operations.
Participants walked up the steep trails of The Maple Fix Farm sugar bush and viewed exemplary, well-maintained forest trails. The workshop was guided by experts from the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR) Watershed Forestry program. Landowners Adam and Renee Rainville recently implemented AMPs throughout their sugar bush, including water bars at particular intervals depending on the slope of each trail. These water bars help to divert water as it moves down the trail, directing runoff into forest buffers that help to soak up stormwater before it can reach surface waters. The Rainvilles generously answered participant questions about water management in their sugar bush.
In addition to viewing AMPs in the sugar bush, participants were introduced to both the Vermont AMP Manual and the Vermont AMP App. The AMP Manual provides detailed information on methods for maintaining forest trails and roads to protect water quality. Watershed Forester Dave Wilcox gave participants a demonstration of the VT AMP App, which includes a clinometer that can estimate trail slope. The app then calculates the recommended distance between water bars based on trail slope.
Upon returning from the forest, participants were greeted with delicious cookies and coffee, kindly provided by the Rainvilles, to end the evening.
Additional Resources:
Sign up for an AMP site visit with Franklin County NRCD.
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