In 2023, four floods between July and December threatened the existence of GMHA.
One of the ways to protect GMHA would be to control, if we could, the amount of water coming onto the property from the Kedron Brook. We believe this could be done by flooding (temporarily) the hayfield adjacent to GMHA to the south in the event of a major flash flood event, then allowing the water to disperse over the following days. This would protect not only GMHA‘s property but also our downstream neighbors in South Woodstock and beyond. We have retained engineers who are working on a definitive plan to look into this idea and GMHA has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the State of Vermont to advance the work and apply for permits. The only problem is that the hayfield does not belong to us.
The hayfield and open land beyond have been used by GMHA with permission from its owners for many years for cross country courses, driving marathons and trail access. After nearly a year of discussions, the final piece of our plan has fallen into place. The owner has offered to sell us 35 acres, including the hayfield and open land beyond, which we are already using- the acreage also includes about 17 acres of woods on the hillside on the opposite side of Kedron Brook.
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS BOTH TRANSFORMATIONAL AND EXISTENTIAL
- It will increase the footprint of GMHA by over 60% and add potentially buildable land on the hillside out of the flood plain.
- It will protect forever the open lands we have already been using and which our programs have come to rely on.
- It will gain us access to the hayfield which will help protect the rest of the property from future flood events.
- And if we don’t buy it, someone else will, threatening many of our programs!
PLEASE HELP US RAISE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY!
WE NEED SUPPORT NOW!
We have an agreement to purchase this land which will require $2 million to complete.
$1 million is due by October 2024. Every gift helps reach this goal!
To donate directly, click here.
For more information, please contact Bruce Perry or call 802.457.1509.
https://gmhainc.org/centennial-bridge-to-the-future-campaign/
