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Background
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has been working closely with the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association to make additional state land under the jurisdiction of the Department available under license agreement to sugar makers for maple sugaring. In cooperation with the Association, we have developed an application process along with tapping guidelines and license requirements. The Department has currently identified eight new sites on state forest or state park land that will become available for maple sugaring by interested sugar makers.
Application Process
The Department is currently soliciting applications from sugar makers interested in sugaring on any of the eight new sites that have been identified for this purpose. A separate application for each sugaring site is required (i.e., a single application cannot be submitted for multiple sites). Applications for any sites other than the eight sites currently being offered will not be considered at this time. Applications must be received by the Department by July 10, 2009 in order to be considered for a sugaring license (.pdf) (.doc).
One completed copy of the application must be submitted to:
Mike Fraysier,
ANR Lands Director
VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation
103 South Main Street, 10 South
Waterbury, VT 05671-0601
802-241-3682
mike.fraysier@state.vt.us
Applications can be emailed or sent via traditional mail, but in either case, must be received by the Department by 4:00 p.m. on July 10, 2009. Applications received after this date may not be considered by the Department.
The Department will review the applications, with the goal of selecting the best applicant for each site by August, 2009. Awarding of sugaring licenses will be based on how the applicant addresses the following criteria within the application:
- Sugarbush Management and Operations: Compliance with Department approved tapping guidelines and current sugarbush management and operations standards. Demonstrated commitment to sound resource stewardship and management as articulated in the application.
- Expertise, Ability, and Capacity of Applicant: Prior sugaring experience, ability to move forward in timely manner, demonstrated financial capacity to undertake the proposed work, etc.
- Miscellaneous: Location of applicant to licensed area, level of necessary supporting infrastructure (power, storage building(s), road and trail network), completeness and quality of application, educational values of proposal, applicants’ financial/legal standing with the State, etc.
In the event that more than one applicant for a sugaring parcel is qualified, submits their application on time, meets all necessary requirements, and if the Department believes there is no obvious benefit to the State in awarding the sugaring license to a particular party, then the successful applicant will be determined by lottery.
A license agreement will be developed with the successful applicant for each of the available sugaring sites. The Department’s goal is to execute these license agreements by early fall, 2009 so that sugar makers can complete most of their work on site prior to the onset of winter and the upcoming sugaring season.
Tapping Guidelines and Licensing Requirements
All new sugaring licenses for Department lands issued under this program will require compliance with the provisions contained within the “Guidelines and Licensing Requirements for Tapping and Collecting Sap from Maple Trees on Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Lands”. It is extremely important that sugar makers interested in submitting an application to the Department under this program carefully review this document beforehand!  In addition to identifying what trees can be tapped and should not be tapped, this document addresses tree and forest health issues, use of vehicles to access the sugarbush, practices to protect soil and water resources, requirements for access trails, and guidelines for buildings and equipment. Applicants should make sure their applications specifically addresses how their proposal will comply with these tapping guidelines.
This document also outlines the role of the Maple Advisory Board, describes the criteria and process for awarding sugaring licenses, summarizes how license fees will be assessed, and outlines other key license provisions. Generally, license terms will be for a period of five years, with the option to renew for an additional two terms (for a maximum license period of 15 years). License fees will include a one-time $50 administrative fee as well as an annual per tap fee based on 25% of the average price per pound between bulk Vermont Fancy Grade maple syrup and Vermont Commercial Grade maple syrup.
Site Information
The Department has identified eight new sites on state forest and state park land that will now be made available to sugar makers under license agreement. These sites are generally located as follows: Groton State Forest (Town of Groton); Elmore State Park (Town of Elmore); Mt. Mansfield State Forest (Town of Stowe); Coolidge State Forest (two sites – Town of Plymouth); Okemo State Forest (Town of Mount Holly); Putnam State Forest (Town of Grafton); and Quechee State Park (Town of Hartford).
It is the applicants’ responsibility to be familiar with the sugaring site(s) they are interested in and to address any site-specific concerns within their application. Applicants are strongly  encouraged to conduct a site visit and visually inspect the site(s) they are interested in before submitting their application(s) to the Department. Note: The most practical means of accessing the Elmore State Park and Mt. Mansfield State Forest sites may be across adjacent private lands. Applicants must obtain landowner permission to cross any private lands to access this site. Department staff will not be available to accompany applicants on site visits. Also, applicants should realize that while these sites are generally depicted on the maps, they have not been flagged or otherwise marked on the ground. Precise boundaries of each sugaring area will be established by the Department prior to executing any sugaring license.
Please note: While other state park or state forest lands may eventually become available for sugar making, the Department is only soliciting applications on these eight sites at this time. Applications or requests for sugaring other sites on Department lands will not be considered at this time. State lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Environmental Conservation are not available for maple sugaring.
Contact Information
For general information, on this program contact:
Mike Fraysier, ANR Lands Director
VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation
103 South Main Street, 10 South
Waterbury, VT 05671-0601
802-241-3682
mike.fraysier@state.vt.us
For specific information on a particular sugaring site, contact:
Ginger Anderson, Chief of Forest Management
VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation
103 South Main Street, 10 South
Waterbury, VT 05671-0601
802-241-3675
ginger.anderson@state.vt.us
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