FieldLabs

Shelburne Pond

Natural Area: Shelburne Pond

About Shelburne Pond

Body

The H. Laurence Achilles Natural Area at Shelburne Pond, often simply called Shelburne Pond, is the largest of UVM’s natural areas and the largest undeveloped body of water in the Champlain Valley. This unique ecosystem provides opportunities to research a diverse range of topics, including water health, stream ecology, and forest ecosystems.  

Shelburne Pond is open for recreation, including fishing, kayaking, and waterfowl hunting. A small trail loop runs through the southwest corner of the lakeshore.  

Research

Body

Shelburne Pond serves as a critical site for long-term aquatic and terrestrial research due to its status as one of the largest undeveloped bodies of water in the Champlain Valley. Researchers from the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory established a sophisticated aquatic monitoring program in the past utilizing a specialized buoy that tracked weather and water quality parameters every 15 minutes. This data was shared globally through the Global Lakes Ecological Observatory Network. Additionally, the area hosts significant archaeological research, with discoveries along the north shore including Woodland Era pottery, projectile points, and ancient dugout canoes. 

Education

Body

The natural area functions as an expansive outdoor laboratory where students and faculty engage in diverse hands-on learning activities. Rubenstein students have participated in critical habitat restoration efforts, such as bank stabilization and native plantings, to protect the pond's shoreline. Education at the site is further enriched by annual "bioblitz" events, which challenge students to conduct intensive species inventories.  

Outreach

Body

UVM maintains a collaborative stewardship model at Shelburne Pond by partnering with organizations like The Nature Conservancy to expand and protect the 1,000-acre landscape. The University also coordinates with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain the public boat access and shoreline trails utilized by local anglers and boaters. 

Property Description

Body

Shelburne Pond is a large body of water located in Shelburne, Vermont.  It is one of the largest remaining undeveloped ponds in the Champlain Valley and only eight miles from Burlington and the University campus.  The pond itself is considered “waters of the state”, but the University manages over 1,000 acres around the pond including extensive wetlands and upland habitat.  These lands contain considerable natural community and species diversity.  Wetlands include cattail marshes, shrub and tree dominated swamps, wet sedge meadows and bogs.  The uplands are typical of the region with mixed hardwood forest of maple, beech and oak dominating with interesting cedar limestone bluffs occurring along the eastern shoreline.  

 

There are recognized important archeological sites along the north shore of the pond where Woodland Era projectile points, pottery shards and even several dugout canoes have been discovered.  Researchers from the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory have begun an aquatic monitoring program with plans to install a monitoring buoy on the pond in the near future.  Rubenstein students and faculty are also involved in habitat restoration efforts along the pond shore and conduct annual “bioblitz” species inventory events at the natural area.  

History

Body

Since 1973, the University with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy has been acquiring land at Shelburne Pond.  Dozens of parcels totaling over 1,000 acres have been protected to date as the H. Laurence Achilles Natural Area at Shelburne Pond.  Mr. Achilles bequeathed a sizeable fund for land purchase around the pond.  The Nature Conservancy maintains this fund and acquires land when it becomes available, transferring the land to the University with conditions that it be managed appropriately as a natural area.  Approximately 80% of the pond’s shoreline and just about the entire associated wetland acreage have been protected with plans to acquire additional land once it becomes available. 

Ongoing Monitoring & Research

Body

The Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory had a buoy on the pond measuring weather and water quality in real time; find this data here. 

Dr. Mindy Morales Williams has recently utilized the site for a USGS Research Project. 

Site Access, Maps, and Facilities

Body

Directions to Shelburne Pond via Google Maps  

 Parking and Directions  

296 Pond Access Rd, Shelburne. Please park away from the shore along the sides of the access area. 

Trail Map (In Development)  

Facilities:  

Parking and boat launches available along the south shore of the lake.  

Site Characteristics

Body

  • Size: 1,000 acres 

  • Temperature: 

  • Average summer high: 80.4 

  • Average summer low: 57.2 

  • Average winter high: 27.2 

  • Average winter low: 13.1 

  • Elevation: 330-450m/400-670ft 

  • Precipitation: 34.4 inches annually 

  • Soils: Peat, clay, and rocky loam 

Stakeholders, Partnerships, and Resources

Body

Stakeholders and Partnerships

  • The Nature Conservancy 

  • VTF&W 

  • Town of Shelbourne Planning Office 

  • Town of Shelburne Conservation Commission 

Past Research

Body

A full PDF of past research at Shelburne Pond is in development.