TOWN-GOWN GEOLOGY: PRESERVATION OF SITES IN NW VERMONT

Vermont's history of land stewardship helps preserve geologic sites for public access and natural science interpretation. Most geologic preservation sites result from the collaboration between academic researchers and interested landowners or citizens.

Geologic preservation sites are typically 1) university-owned natural areas, 2) state or municipally-owned parks, 3) conservation land, or 4) privately-owned natural areas. Most sites are preserved for academic purposes with users ranging from K-12 groups to university faculty and students to the general public.

The University of Vermont maintains ten sites as natural areas for public natural science educational use. Examples with exceptional geology include: Redstone Quarry in Burlington (Cambrian Monkton Quartzite with sedimentary features), Lessor's Quarry in South Hero (Ordovician Glen's Falls fossiliferous limestone with faults), and Centennial Woods in Burlington (modern stream environment).

In addition, local municipal or state parks with noteworthy geology include: Salmon Hole Park in Burlington, Red Rocks Park in South Burlington, Shelburne Bay Park (Allen Hill) in Shelburne, and Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte (all with Cambrian Monkton Quartzite and other associated carbonates and/or shales).

Conservation planners set aside Fisk Quarry in Isle La Motte (Ordovician reef carbonate) while privately owned lands such as Lone Rock Point in Burlington (Cambrian Dunham Dolostone thrust over Ordovician Iberville Shale), The "Beam" in South Hero (Ordovician imbricated micrite band in Cumberland Head Shale), The Hinesburg Thrust in Mechanicsville (Cambrian Chesire Quartzite over Ordovician Bascom carbonates), and "Crash Bridge" in Lincoln (Cambrian Pinnacle basal conglomerate on Proterozoic Lincoln Massif Gneiss and Amphibolite) provide great access to local geology.

The UVM Perkins Geology Museum offers "Guidelines for Safe Use" for many of these geologic sites. Four sites are also part of a commemorative series called the "Rolfe Seaton Stanley Teaching Outcrops," and have formal interpretive brochures. Other printed interpretations include Introductory Geology laboratory materials, peer-reviewed journals, Science and Technology Governor's Institute brochures, and NEIGC (New England Intercollegiate Geologic Conference) guidebooks.