Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science Forest:
Establishment of the Nulhegan Basin Lowland Spruce-Fir Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change study site began this December. Crews are harvesting trees within a 700-acre project site. Cutting is following two differing silvicultural prescriptions designed to improve a forest's ability to adapt to a changing climate.


For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Predicting Density and Occurrence of Keystone (Snowshoe hare) and Umbrella (American marten):
Twenty-one camera traps were randomly deployed within different structural conditions across seven 20 ha spruce-fir stands in the Nulhegan Basin Division in December. The camera deployment is a component of a research project evaluating forest conditions that provide habitat for a high diversity of species including snowshoe hare and American marten Snowshoe hares prefer young forest, while American marten require mature forest conditions. This research addresses a hypothesis that suggests high biological diversity is maintained where these two species co-occur.


For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative Project:
An international research collaboration led by the University of Maine to better understand the migratory ecology of the American woodcock along the Eastern seaboard is using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track the seasonal movement and habitat selection of American woodcock as they travel from their breeding grounds in Canada and northeastern U.S. to their wintering areas in the southern part of the U.S. A total of six woodcock from the Nulhegan Basin Division were captured and outfitted with GPS units in October. Visit www.woodcockmigration.org to follow tagged birds as they migrate to southern wintering grounds.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Plantation Red Pine Overstory Removal:
The Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte Refuge implemented a treatment identified in its Habitat Management Plan this December. A remnant red pine plantation was harvested from a lowland spruce-fir site. Lafoe Logging LLC of Orleans, Vermont were meticulous in protecting the existing spruce and fir regeneration, which will allow a new overstory of native trees to flourish.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

 Lewis Pond Electrofishing:
Historically, Lewis Pond was a native brook trout pond. In the 2000s, smallmouth bass were illegally introduced into the pond. In October, refuge staff assisted Vermont Fish and Wildlife staff with sampling the aquatic diversity of Lewis Pond. The pond was electro fished as a means to collect and identify the diversity of fish in the body of water. Unfortunately, smallmouth bass have spread throughout the pond and 100% of the fish caught during the electrofishing event were smallmouth bass. Discussions are ongoing on the merits of restoring the pond.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Research Through INSPIRES Provides Valuable Data:
INSPIRES (Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resilience) is a project funded by the National Science Foundation, which features a large, interdisciplinary team of scientists and educators across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The goal of the INSPIRES sensor network is to provide relevant data that advances science and monitoring of resilient forests, particularly in areas historically underrepresented by research investments, such as managed spruce-fir forests. As part of the larger INSPIRES network, sensors were installed in the spruce-fir forest that dominates the Nulhegan Basin Division. These sensors gather data that allow researchers to investigate seasonal changes in snow pack, soil moisture, and nutrient availability. Understanding how these metrics change under a changing climate will aid in understanding potential impacts to net ecosystem production and terrestrial carbon storage.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Predicting Density and Occurrence of Keystone and Umbrella:
Refuge staff are working with a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vermont to identify and predict structural conditions that are critical for both snowshoe hare (early successional) and American marten (late successional). The landscape scale data will be used to directly inform forest management in the region. In October, vegetation data from spruce/fir stands was collected as a part of the research project.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

American Woodcock Satellite Transmitter Deployment:
The Nulhegan Basin Division was one of two capture sites in Vermont for the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative, an international research collaboration led by the University of Maine to better understand the migratory ecology of the American woodcock along the Eastern Seaboard. This study is using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track the seasonal movement and habitat selection of American woodcock as they travel from their breeding grounds in Canada and northeastern U.S. to their wintering areas in the southern part of the U.S. A total of six woodcock from the Division were captured and outfitted with GPS units in October. Field work was led by PhD students from the University of Maine. Visit www.woodcockmigration.org to follow tagged birds as they migrate to southern wintering grounds.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Bringing Conte Corner To The North:
Conte Refuge is excited to announce our new formal partnership with the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, VT. As part of the partnership, we will establish a “Conte Corner” at the museum, which, through exhibits and activities, will demonstrate the role the Conte Refuge plays in the natural history, ecology and conservation of the northern part of the watershed.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Applied Silviculture For Climate Change:
In compliment to the Applied Silviculture for Climate Change experiment being established at the Nulhegan Basin Division, a network of sample points have been established across the Division to study landscape-scale cold air pooling and its influence on vegetation and carbon dynamics. Temperature loggers will record soil and air temperature - data which will be combined with vegetation and soil samples to better understand climate-related changes occurring within the Basin.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Yellow Branch Boardwalk:
The Northwoods Stewardship pro-crew constructed an accessible elevated boardwalk overlooking the Yellow Branch of the Nulhegan River. The new boardwalk is part of the existing auto tour route at the Nulhegan Basin Division.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Road Upgrades:
September is the fourth and final month of an extensive road upgrade project at the Nulhegan Basin Division. Nearly ten miles of gravel roads were upgraded to better accommodate heavy equipment used in prescriptive habitat management treatments. In addition, the road upgrades will directly benefit passenger vehicles that use the road network for recreational purposes.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

NH/VT Recreational Hunting And Fishing Plan Finalized:
On September 1st, the Conte Refuge released its recreational hunting and fishing plan for the states of New Hampshire and Vermont. The plan expands and more closely aligns recreational opportunities across the Connecticut River watershed in NH and VT.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Pollinator Panels:
Refuge staff developed educational panels for the Nulhegan Basin Division Visitor Center pollinator garden. The panels provide information about the importance of pollinators, and steps landowners can take to improve pollinator habitat in their backyard.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Makes Upgrades To Its Roads:
The road system throughout the Nulhegan Basin Division has received a considerable amount of work in 2021. The road upgrade project started in May and will continue until the end of September. The majority of the primary public-use roads within the division have received needed improvements since the start of the project.


For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Receives Congressional Visit:
Staff members of Senator Patrick Leahy’s office visited the Nulhegan Basin Division in August. A tour of the refuge was provided to showcase ongoing biological research projects, upcoming habitat management treatments, infrastructure upgrades and public access improvements.


For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Controlling The Invasive Phragmites:
Refuge staff are actively working to reduce the distribution of non- native invasive plants across the northern part of the Connecticut River watershed. In August, invasive plants at the Blueberry Swamp, Nulhegan Basin and Pondicherry Divisions were removed through chemical and mechanical treatments.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Meet Our Seasonal Staff:
Northwoods Pro Crew Constructs Viewing Platform Along the Nulhegan River:
The Northwoods Pro Crew based out of the Nulhegan Basin Division, has been upgrading accessible recreation infrastructure at the refuge. In July, the crew upgraded the Mollie Beattie Bog boardwalk and constructed a viewing platform at the Stone Dam parking area along the Nulhegan River.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Road Improvement Project:
In July, over 2,500 yards, or 7 million pounds, of gravel were spread on roads at the Nulhegan Basin Division. The primary public roads are being upgraded to improve access and drainage. The road work will continue into August with an additional 1,000 yards of gravel being spread. All of the roads at the Nulhegan Basin are being graded in 2021.


For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Breeding Loons at the Nulhegan Basin Division:
Non-breeding loons and mergansers are a common site on Lewis Pond in the summer months. So it was a surprise to see two adult loons and chicks on the pond this year. This is the second time that loons have nested on Lewis Pond. Loons attempted nesting in 2020, but the eggs were depredated.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

Partnership With Native Fish Coalition and Vermont Fish and Wildlife:
The Conte Refuge has partnered with the Native Fish Coalition and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife to educate the public about the importance of native brook trout in Vermont. The education campaign includes signs at public access points that provide information about the importance of protecting the unique resource and efforts that anglers can take to limit their impact on native brook trout.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Auto Tour Route Interpretive Panels:
As part of the auto tour route at the Nulhegan Basin Division, interpretive panels are being designed and installed to provide refuge visitors a better understanding of the biological, ecological and historic importance of the Northeast Kingdom. Interpretive panels will be located at each of the waypoints along the auto tour route.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Functional Diversity, Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Service Resilience in the Northern Forest:
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire are beginning a project to characterize the functional diversity of degraded stands at the Nulhegan Basin Division. Stands were assigned a degradation metric based, in part, upon their current overstory tree species; their relative size; and a number of other quantitative measures. Surveys of understory vegetation, small mammal communities, bird communities, and other measures will be used to better understand the functional diversity within these stands.

For more information contact: Jeremy_Goetz@fws.gov

Fish Sampling In The Connecticut River Watershed:
Refuge staff assisted the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife with sampling the fish in McConnell Pond. The purpose of sampling the aquatic resources in the pond is to determine the species that are present in the body of water. Yellow perch, white sucker, chain pickerel and pumpkinseed were among the species that were observed in the pond.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Adaptive Silviculture For Climate Change:
The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science - a collaborative effort among the U.S. Forest Service, universities, conservation organizations, and the forest industry has begun work on the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte Refuge to establish a study site in lowland spruce-fir forests. The University of Vermont is collaborating with refuge staff to develop and evaluate forest restoration and adaption strategies that promote ecological complex forest conditions to sustain forest-dependent wildlife species under changing climate and disturbance regimes. UVM students have established long-term monitoring plots within the Nulhegan Basin Division spruce-fir forests to collect vegetation, bird and micro-environmental data. Breeding bird data will be used to evaluate the bird community response to various adaptive silviculture strategies. We are specifically interested in the response from refuge focal species, including Canada warbler and rusty blackbird. Pre-treatment breeding bird data were collected using breeding bird point count surveys in June. Permanent plots have been established to monitor change over time following a treatment designed to improve forest resilience, resistance, and adaptation to climate change in some of the Division's spruce-fir forests.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Northwoods Pro Crew Expands Universal Access Auto:
A Northwoods Pro Crew is working at the Nulhegan Basin Division for a second year to upgrade the auto tour route. The crew improved the public parking areas at Lewis Pond and Mollie Beattie Boardwalk. They are currently working on upgrading the Mollie Beattie Boardwalk to allow for better access to the observation platform.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Vermont Non-lead Partnership:
On June 26th, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife held a public range day to discuss the use of non-lead ammunition. The program was provided by the North American Non-Lead Partnership, a coalition of hunters, anglers and other conservationists dedicated to improving ecosystem and wildlife health by choosing non-lead options. Conte Refuge staff were present at the public meeting to highlight the refuge’s support of the conservation partnership. The Conte Refuge supports the voluntary use of non-lead ammunition and fishing tackle.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Road Work:
The Conte Refuge received Deferred Maintenance funds to improve many of the gravel roads throughout the Nulhegan Basin Division. The road work took place throughout the month of June and included roadside ditching, culvert replacements and rock removal. The Nulhegan Basin provides more than 40 miles of gravel roads for wildlife dependent recreation. The road system is used year round for wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, environmental education and numerous other priority public uses. Thank you to Paul Thibodeau, Jason Young, Chad Roderick, Joe Bertrand, Jeremy Goetz, and Darren Stover for working on this project.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan River Phenology Trail:
Twenty-five North Country High School students monitored two phenology trails recently established on the Nulhegan Basin Division Nulhegan River Trail. Students monitored and recorded the phonological stages of various species of trees and shrubs. This data will be entered into the National Phenology Network Nature’s Notebook platform to track and compare phenology changes over time. Students learned about phenology, climate change, and species identification.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

Road Work At Nulhegan Basin Division:
Annual rock removal has begun at the Nulhegan Basin Division. Every spring, rocks located in the base of the roads migrate to the road surface by daily freeze/thaw cycles. The spring freeze/thaw cycles are capable of incrementally lifting multi thousand-pound rocks out of the ground. Overtime, the exposed rocks rise high enough that they become hazards to motor vehicles. In an effort to create a road system that is accessible for vehicles with low ground clearance, refuge staff strive to remove heaved rocks on an annual basis.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Division Opens Gates For The Season:
The Nulhegan Basin Division is the largest division of the Conte Refuge. The 27,000 acre division is accessible to the public year round for wildlife dependent priority public uses. In the spring, the road system is closed to motor vehicles to prevent the roads from being deteriorated. Annually, the road system is reopened to motor vehicle access for Memorial Day weekend. This year, the refuge gates were opened on May 28th. The road system will remain open to motor vehicles until mid-December.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Jesup’s Milk-Vetch Restoration:
Staff from Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Native Plant Trust planted twenty Jesup’s milk-vetch seedlings on the Silvio O. Conte Refuge. The Refuge, along with a handful of other sites are part of on-going recovery efforts for this endangered plant species. These seedlings will be watered and monitored throughout the summer to ensure their survival into next year.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan River Working Group:
Local landowners and conservation organizations have formed a group to assess the potential designation of the Nulhegan River as a National Wild and Scenic River. The National Park Service is working with the group to help them better understand the designation process and to build an inclusive coalition that includes a multitude of viewpoints and opinions. The Friends of the Nulhegan and the Vermont River Conservancy are co-sponsoring the initiative.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Friends Of Nulhegan Meeting:
The Friends of the Nulhegan held two virtual public meetings in April. The Friends of the Nulhegan is actively working to increase the relevance of the region’s conserved lands to their neighboring communities by fostering an enhanced appreciation for natural places through environmental education and the promotion of site-appropriate outdoor recreational opportunities. In addition, the group offers experiential and employment opportunities for youth, and advances the active restoration of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The group’s collaborative work supports similar conservation, educational, and recreational efforts across the broader Connecticut River watershed.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Conte Refuge Wildlife Biologist Co-author’s Research:
Rachel Cliché, Conte Refuge wildlife biologist, recently co-authored a peer reviewed article in the Journal of Biogeography. The following is an abstract about the publication:
In the face of global change, understanding causes of range limits are one of the most pressing needs in biogeography and ecology. A prevailing hypothesis is that abiotic stress forms cold (upper latitude/altitude) limits, whereas biotic interactions create warm (lower) limits. A new framework – Interactive Range-Limit Theory – asserts that positive biotic factors such as food availability can ameliorate abiotic stress along cold edges, whereas abiotic stress can have a positive effect and mediate biotic interactions (e.g., competition) along warm limits.

For more information contact: Rachel_Cliche@fws.gov

2021 Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Program:
The annual Vermont Federal Junior Duck Stamp art contest was held at the Nulhegan Basin Division office in late March. Students from across Vermont entered waterfowl artwork into the art contest in 2021. Ellery Norwood won the Vermont Best of Show with a painting of a hen mallard. Ellery’s artwork will now compete in the National Federal Junior Duck Stamp art contest.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Snow Track Survey:
Snow conditions were appropriate in March for Refuge staff to conduct a winter track survey. These surveys occur along linear transects within the vicinity of refuge cameras to document occurrence of Canada lynx. Surveyors use snowmobiles and snowshoes to assess tracks placed 48-hours after a snowfall or wind event. All species tracks are recorded. Lynx tracks, if detected are GPSed, photographed and measured. Lynx were not recorded during this year’s survey effort. Snowshoe hare were abundant, and it was noted that moose presence seemed to be low this year.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Nulhegan Basin Camera Trap Survey:
Refuge staff deployed 12 cameras in late fall to track presence of Canada lynx, a federal listed species, as well as competing carnivores such as bobcat. We are also documenting snow depths, a limiting factor for lynx presence, using snow stakes. This photo data is also being combined with other datasets and used by VT Fish and Wildlife Department to track the health of moose populations and used by Universities to track the shifts in species phenology across a range and to document biological diversity across the U.S. These cameras will be deployed until the spring and the data will be added and tagged in a photo database that can be shared among partners.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Inventory and Monitoring Plan At Nulhegan Basin:
Refuge staff are drafting an Inventory and Monitoring Plan for the Nulhegan Basin, Pondicherry and Blueberry Swamp Divisions. The first phase of the planning process is focused on the selection of priority inventory and monitoring efforts in forested habitats. Refuge staff participated in a series of workshops led by the USFWS Division of Natural Resources that stepped through a selection criteria based on the Refuge’s capacity and monitoring needs. The plan will include achievable forest management objectives, associated inventory and monitoring priorities, and selection rationales. The second phase of the planning process will include development of protocols for the selected surveys.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov

Loon Rescue In Vermont:
Refuge staff coordinated the rescue of an adult loon stranded on the ice on Maidstone Lake in Maidstone, VT. A concerned resident contacted refuge staff after observing a loon pushing itself along the ice, unable to take flight. Unlike other waterbirds, loons require a long stretch of open water to take flight due to their relatively heavy bodies. Loons overwinter on the ocean and depart their inland breeding grounds before ice forms. Occasionally loons become trapped when ice development obstructs their departure, resulting in a fatal stranding. The loon was captured and transported to open water in the Burlington Harbor of Lake Champlain by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies Loon Biologist.

For more information contact: Steve_Agius@fws.gov