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Boyce Hill viewshed clearing completed Sept. 27; commission explores goats and alternative mowing
Summary
Viewshed clearing and chipping at Boyce Hill finished Sept. 27; commissioners reported mixed machine performance, discussed using goats for grazing or a side‑arm mower, and announced tours Oct. 23–24 for UVM students and Vermont Land Trust.
Commissioners reported that viewshed management clearing at Boyce Hill was completed on Sept. 27 and that chipping and mowing were largely finished, though some brush piles still need to be spread for soil augmentation. They said the snow cat performed well on grasses and raspberries but was less effective on steeper slopes and year‑old poplar stems, creating rough areas in places.
The commission discussed alternative approaches, including using goats to graze (which may better preserve ground‑nesting bird habitat) and exploring a side‑arm mower for ditch and trail‑edge work; Woody Dugan and Peter Colgan also asked whether brushhogging might produce a neater cut than mulching with the snow cat. Two days of Boyce Hill tours were scheduled beginning Oct. 23, with UVM students (Oct. 23) and Vermont Land Trust (easement holders) visiting on Oct. 24.
