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Development Review

two people on a dock overlooking the Clyde River

The department is responsible for protecting critical fish and wildlife habitat by providing review assistance for a variety of regulatory processes.

Some of the regulatory processes include: Land-use Development Law Act 250Vermont’s Section 248 Process - Certificate of Public GoodVermont's Endangered Species LawVermont Wetland RulesCorps of Engineers General PermitStream Alteration and Stream Crossing Permit, and Dam Safety Permitting.

Preliminary Assessment

A preliminary assessment involves staff review of known wildlife and fisheries resources of interest and the potential for these resources to occur in the project area or adjacent properties. The department provides a preliminary response indicating the potential for impacts and/or request further on-site investigation.

The department reviews for potential impacts to:

  • Necessary wildlife habitat for a variety of species: bear, deer, Bicknell’s thrush, great blue heron, grassland birds, reptiles and amphibians
  • Rare, threatened and endangered species
  • Significant natural communities (may be considered rare and irreplaceable natural areas in Act 250 and Section 248)
  • Riparian buffers
  • Streams, shorelines and aquatic habitats and passages
  • Department investments, such as public lands and public access points
  • Wildlife travel corridors
  • Forest fragmentation and habitat connectivity

Vermont Natural Resource Atlas

Preliminary review can be done using the online Vermont Natural Resource Atlas. The department’s resource layers of interest are found by selecting layers and expanding Fish and Wildlife header. These data layers should not be interpreted to offer a complete inventory of the natural resources of interest. OPLA layer turns on many of the layers of interest to regulatory review.

View Tutorial on Using ANR Atlas         View Other Useful ANR Atlas Tutorials

Pre-Permitting Project Review Instructions

Email (preferred) or mail a brief project description and map with site and project locations clearly marked, preferably on a USGS map or Aerial photo, to the appropriate contact indicated on the map. Indicate the regulatory process the project is going through. Site plan(s) may be requested if there are potential resource constraints of interest to the department.

View Map of Wildlife Division Contacts for Regulatory Review

The review areas pertain to the District Environmental Commission (districts). Large complex projects may need agency-wide coordination by the Agency of Natural Resources Regulatory Review Coordinator, Jen Mojo. Jennifer.Mojo@vermont.gov, 802-923-6647.

Projects involving or adjacent to water resources (lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, etc.) are reviewed by fisheries division staff.

View Map of Fisheries Division Contacts for Regulatory Review

Contacts for Regulatory Review

Barre District Office - 802-476-0199
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 5 Perry Street, Suite 40, Barre, VT 05641

Essex District Office - 802-878-1564
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 111 West Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Roxbury District Office - 802-485-7566
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 3902 Roxbury Road, Roxbury, Vermont 05669

Rutland District Office -802-786-0040
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 271 North Main Street Suite 215, Rutland VT 05701

Springfield District Office - 802-289-0603
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 100 Mineral Street, Suite 302, Springfield, VT 05156

St. Johnsbury District Office - 802-751-0100
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 374 Emerson Falls Rd, Suite 4, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

Additional Resources

Guidelines

Deer and Bear

Bats

Wind and Cell Towers

Beech Mast

Bird Habitats

Whole Tree Chipping

Riparian Areas and Stream Crossings

Species Inventorying and Monitoring

Other Documents

Natural Heritage Inventory Lists

Links