Bounded by Interstate 91 on the west and by the Massachusetts border on the south, Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) consists of 1,401 acres in the towns of Guilford and Vernon. The WMA is broken up into 11 separate parcels ranging in size from 10 to 995 acres. The largest parcel borders the Vernon Town Forest (465 acres) thereby creating a 1,460-acre contiguous piece of public land.
The majority of the WMA is owned by the State of Vermont in fee simple, and managed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. However, timber rights were retained by the previous owners on 370 acres, and the Department owns only hunting rights on 37 acres.
Access is limited due to the presence of I-91 and a lack of rights-of-way through the private lands on the remaining borders. Access is further complicated by the fragmented nature of the WMA. Several of the smaller disjointed parcels have no developed accesses. The larger parcel can be entered on foot through the Vernon Town Forest. The Town Forest provides parking at the end of Basin Road. This parcel may also be accessed via an unmaintained right- of-way located off West Road.
Roaring Brook is situated in the southernmost portion of the Southern Vermont Piedmont biophysical region. Due to its location, many of the natural communities on the property are unique to Vermont and are more like those found in Massachusetts. Plant and tree species such as rhododendron, mountain laurel, scarlet and white oak, and American chestnut can found on the property.
There are several wetlands within the WMA, and Roaring Brook flows through the center of the main parcel. The WMA is mostly forested with a mixture of hemlock and hardwood trees. A significant percentage of the hardwoods are white and red oak which provide an important food source for many wildlife species. Five hundred sixty-five (565) acres of the WMA function as deer wintering area.
Jefferson’s salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonium) is a rare species that occurs here.
Significant natural communities found on Roaring Brook WMA are vernal pools, wetlands, red maple-black gum swamp, and sugar maple–ostrich fern riverine floodplain forest.
