Dear Catamount Recreation Guests,
As you may know, VELCO owns and operates the electric transmission line that exists within the Catamount property. We have 9 (nine) sets of wood poles that have seen their useful lifetime and need to be replaced in September.
Starting in May, you’ll notice VELCO and its contractors performing work within the Catamount Community Forest property and along a few of the trails. We will begin preparation work first to ensure that our equipment and materials have access to the poles in order for us to deliver materials, install temporary construction matting in sensitive areas, dig/drill new holes and make safe working areas around the poles.
Our pole replacement work occurs in phases and we encourage you to check Catamount’s website daily before planning your recreational activities to see if our work impacts any trails that day. In general, we hope to keep trails open but will appreciate your patience and understanding, and request all trail users to maintain a safe distance from any work areas near the trails. On days that select trails are closed, please read and respect signage placed at trail intersections.
Any vehicle or heavy equipment traffic associated with our maintenance work will enter the Catamount parking area off of Governor Chittenden Road and travel through the parking area to traverse to the VELCO Right of Way. Catamount Recreation traffic should not see significant delays from our presence but we do appreciate your patience if you notice us loading or unloading equipment or materials.
Upon completion of the pole replacements in September, the restoration process will begin, including removal of the retired poles, matting, and seeding/mulching of affected areas.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we perform this vital maintenance work and we thank you for helping us continue to provide safe and reliable electricity to Vermont.
- Please use caution while recreating within the Catamount Community Forest near VELCO’s ROW and the parking area.
- Please be on the look out for signage.
- Please give space to work areas/crews.
- Please check Catamount’s website daily for updated occasional trail closings.
For more information, please contact Ally Brown directly at 802-770-6357 or abrown@velco.com.
Thank you.
