State seeks public input on Okemo Forest management plan Public meeting set for Nov. 9 in Ludlow; online feedback accepted

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is seeking public input on a draft Long-Range Management Plan for Okemo State Forest. The plan will guide future decisions about forest management, wildlife habitat, recreation, and conservation across nearly 8,000 acres of public land. Vermonters are invited to review the proposed management activities in the draft plan and submit comments through Thursday, Dec. 10.

An in-person public meeting will be held on from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 at the Ludlow Town Hall, 37 S. Depot St. in Ludlow,  to present the draft plan and gather feedback.

Situated in the southern Green Mountains, Okemo State Forest covers 7,983 acres across the towns of Andover, Ludlow, Mount Holly and Weston. It features large blocks of contiguous forests and important recreation opportunities (e.g., Healdville Trail, Buttermilk Falls, Okemo Mountain Resort) and is home to the Terrible Mountain Natural Area. The forest also functions as a critical link in the Southern Vermont Wildlife Corridor, supporting wide-ranging wildlife species, such as black bear, moose and bobcat.

Long-range management plans guide land management on state-owned public lands for a 20-year period, balancing ecological, recreational, cultural, and economic values. A public scoping meeting was held in December 2025 to provide background information about the Okemo State Forest and gather initial public input that helped inform this draft plan. This call for public comment on the draft management plan is the next step in the process.

The meeting is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. Please visit the Okemo State Forest webpage to read the draft Long-Range Management Plan and learn more about this public input opportunity.

A recording of the meeting and a project StoryMap – an interactive webpage with maps, background information, and management highlights – will be available on the website, along with a form to submit public comments. Public comments may also be submitted in writing at the public meeting or by email to: anr.statelandsplanning@vermont.gov through Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026.