NEWPORT –Robert Small and Emily Cayer worked with the Vermont Land Trust to conserve 269 acres of managed forest, wetlands and streams in Stannard. The land is almost entirely forested and adjacent to the Steam Mill Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA), over 11,000 acres of land dedicated for wildlife.

photo by Vermont Land Trust
With backgrounds in wildlife biology and natural resources, Small and Cayer bought the property in 2019 and have been managing the land to improve forest health and enhance habitat. They regularly see signs of moose, deer, coyote, bobcat, fisher, porcupine and raccoon.
“We’re fortunate to be stewards of this property,” said Cayer. “We value the richness and biological diversity and the wildlife, and that the area has a lot of big, forested tracts of different ages, and we wanted to ensure it stays protected beyond our lifetimes,” said Small.

photo by Vermont Land Trust
Located in the towns of Stannard, Wheelock, Walden and Danville, the Steam Mill Brook WMA is owned by the State of Vermont and managed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for a variety of species such as moose, deer, turkey, pollinators, bears, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse.
The property includes wetlands and streams, including three headwater tributaries to Stannard Brook flowing north that are part of the Lamoille Watershed. The conservation easement designates water protection areas to ensure that land along these streams and wetlands is kept vegetated for clean water and flood resilience.