Spring Update
Spring at Merriam Woods - Photo Credit: Jay Knower
As the edges of the snowbanks recede, we are SO EXCITED for spring.
One call to action and some important notes regarding Merriam Woods.
For Woodstock Residents & Landowners: The next meeting of the Woodstock Conservation Commission (WCC) is April 11th at 4pm.
If you are interested in how recreation is managed at Merriam Woods, please consider attending. Friends of Merriam Woods (FoMW) has already asked to be on the agenda for this meeting, so we can share some of our spring strategies with the WCC for feedback. Members of FoMW have been brainstorming and consulting with the USFS and Access fund to see what we might do to better manage parking and limit overuse. We hope to make a difference right out of the gate here, as the hiking and climbing seasons ramp up.
More details for that meeting can be found HERE
Also a huge thank you to the residents of the Town of Woodstock for listening and debating an important question regarding the use of climbing saftey equipment at Merriam Woods.
At the annual meeting on March 14th, the majority of town residents voted that climbers should be allowed to continue to use safety bolts on the Merriam Cliffs. This was a non-binding vote, because the WCC manages the property, but the commission wanted to discuss the issue and gather opinions of residents. Many members of FoMW attended the meeting and spoke and voted on the question of safety bolts. Eloquent voices presented strong points on both sides of the issue, and we are thankful to our Woodstock friends and neighbors for for engaging in this discussion, and as always, for the privilege of recreation on this land.
Though the question of bolts has been debated, everyone agrees on the most important goals of preserving the land and making sure that when we hike, ski, climb, hunt, watch birds, or otherwise go out to play in the forest Merriam Woods, we need to minimize our impact, practice carry in / carry out ethics, and respect the intent of the Merriam Family and the management of the WCC.
If you are planning to head out to Merriam Woods this spring, please remember that there was a major spike in use last year. Now that so many more people know about this tract of land, it’s crucial that we work together to figure out strategies and guidelines to avoid damaging this conservation area. For now we ask that everyone still respects the voluntary climbing closure. After the April 11 WCC meeting, Friends of Merriam Woods hopes to have an update on the closure. We will also be sending out a form so those who are interested can work together in stewardship of the land. The WCC is also considering a management plan that we can use to further define stewardship efforts.
CLIMBERS! Please respect the moratorium on new route development, which will remain in effect until this issue can be fully addressed in the WCC management plan. We also will continue to work with the Audobon Society and let you know of any cliff closures for Peregrine nesting.
