Hardwick Lake

Hardwick Lake and the immediate surrounding landscape are composed of a variety of natural features that provide diverse ecological systems. The wetlands, marshes, open water, lakeshore, streams, and intact softwood and hardwood forests on the eastern side of the lake, blend together to create a variety of habitats for many plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and other fauna. Even though the landscape was once cleared for agricultural and forest purposes, the natural communities and associated wildlife are now thriving.

In fall 2011 representatives of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation with support of the Town of Hardwick sought funding for a re-evaluation of the Jackson Dam, Hardwick Lake and the Lamoille River in the Hardwick area. The last such evaluation was done as part on the Lamoille River Basin Water Quality Management Plan in 2009.

At about the same time, the Northern Rivers Land Trust (NRLT) re-evaluated its mission as a resource for its seven community members on critical environmental issues and conservation opportunities within their boundaries. A specific goal of the revised mission is to research and provide public information on the status of important land and water areas of significant public interest in each of the member towns.

The Northern Rivers Land Trust commissioned Professor Farley Anne Brown and her students from Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT to do this work.