Conservation Commission

The tree is located on the Robert Strang property
on the Jericho/Essex town line, Vermont Route 15, and has remarkably survived the
ravages of both Dutch Elm Disease and the ubiquitous road salt to reach its current
youthful majestic height.
The Jericho Conservation Commission (JCC) has an advisory role to the Selectboard, DRB, PC and other town commissions on best practices for management of natural resources in Jericho, including the use of the Conservation Reserve Fund. The Conservation Commission is committed to public education and strives to help Jericho residents learn more about the natural communities within our town and beyond. The JCC is also available for residential consultation on request. The JCC has membership in the Vermont Association of Conservation Commissions.

Meetings are held on the Third Wednesday of each month at 7:15 pm via Zoom.

There are vacancies on this committee. If you would like to serve on this committee click here for an application.

If you would like to sign up to be a volunteer click here to add your name to our list



Photo: Jericho Town Tree - An American Elm (Ulmus americana) on Rt. 15 near the town line with Essex.

The Jericho Conservation Commission (JCC) has an advisory role to the Selectboard, DRB, PC and other town commissions on best practices for management of natural resources in Jericho, including the use of the Conservation Reserve Fund. The Conservation Commission is committed to public education and strives to help Jericho residents learn more about the natural communities within our town and beyond. The JCC is also available for residential consultation on request. The JCC has membership in the Vermont Association of Conservation Commissions.

Meetings are held on the Third Wednesday of each month at 7:15 pm via Zoom.

There are vacancies on this committee. If you would like to serve on this committee click here for an application.

If you would like to sign up to be a volunteer click here to add your name to our list



Photo: Jericho Town Tree - An American Elm (Ulmus americana) on Rt. 15 near the town line with Essex.

  • Sue Morse Presentation - Enjoying Our Trails with Wildlife in Mind




  • Webinar Recording: Deer Impact on Forests


  • Rain Garden Manual - UVM/SeaGrant

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    If you missed the Rain Garden presentation on April 19th, we have a link to the manual published by UVM and Sea Grant.

    What are some of the benefits of a rain garden?

    • Reduces stormwater runoff
    • Improves water quality
    • Helps control flash flooding
    • Removes Pollutants
    • Provides Wildlife Habitat


    Read more about using nature-based solutions to manage runoff on your property. 2021 Rain Garden Manual for Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin

  • Native Plant Sale

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    Help Birds and Pollinators by adding some native plants to your gardens this year. Plants are Vermont-grown at Riverberry Farm in Fairfax and will be available for pick up in Jericho. Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the Jericho Community Center. The deadline for placing orders is April 30th.

    More details and Plant Order Form here: https://jerichovermont.blogspot.com/2023/02/pollinator-plant-sale-2023-community.html


  • Clean Water is Important for Climate Resilience

    Read more about the role that clean water plays in building climate resilience in these fact sheets published by the VNRC.

    Jericho, Vermont is part of the Lake Champlain Watershed: The Browns River feeds into the Lamoille River and the Mill Brook feeds into the Winooski River.

    Click on each image to read the PDF.


  • Great Backyard Bird Count 2023

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    How to Participate

    Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

    Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 17-20, 2023.

    Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:


    • If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell us what birds you are seeing or hearing.
    • If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list
    If you already contribute to Merlin or eBird, continue what you are doing! All entries over the 4-days count towards GBBC.


    Learn more at: BIRDCOUNT.ORG

  • Leave the Leaves/Soft Landings at Jericho Town Green

    The Jericho Conservation Commission is beginning a project at the Town Green which will model the practices of allowing leaves to remain under trees from the trunk out to the dripline and combining that with some native plantings ("Soft Landings"). This will:

    • Protect the trunks of the trees
    • Prevent soil compaction around the trees
    • Provide natural mulch in the forms of leaves and other plants
    • Provide habitat for overwintering insects such as moth caterpillars and some types of bees

    Stay tuned as this project progresses through 2023 and beyond.


    Tree Phase 1One of three Sugar Maples in the project with a base layer of fallen leaves from the site



    Click here to read more about Soft Landings

  • The State of Vermont's Wild Bees

  • Pollinator Gardens 101

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    Join the Jericho Conservation Commission on Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 pm at the Community Center (Browns Trace) as we welcome local plant expert and nursery owner, Jane Sorenson. View the video of the presentation here: Pollinator Gardens Presentation link

    She will give us professional tips on how we can use pollinator plants to improve the ecological function of our gardens. Learn which plants can be used to provide blooms throughout the growing season to support a wide range of native bees and other pollinators.

    Jane Sorenson is a retired landscape architect. She gives presentations on Landscape Design for Pollinators around the region and also teaches a course at the University of Vermont. Her locally grown plants were featured in our recent pollinator plant sale to benefit the Community Center.

  • All About Bats presentation

    Friday the 13th Bat Walk and Talk

    Learn Why It’s GOOD LUCK To Have Bats Around

    8pm, May 13th – meet at the Jericho Center Green

    Join state small mammals biologist Alyssa Bennett from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department as she teaches us about the bats in your backyard, barn, and bat house.

    Take a walk around the Green and nearby quiet streets as the sun goes down and bat activity starts up around dusk to learn about what bats live in Jericho and how you can manage your home, yard, fields, and forests to support these voracious insect eaters while avoiding any unwanted conflicts.

    Providing there is good weather (no heavy rain, strong winds, or temperatures below 45 degrees), we will also be able to listen for bat activity and identify species flying in the air around us using specialized microphones and sonogram software. Dress for a walk on easy terrain and bring a headlamp for this family-friendly event.

Page last updated: 18 Sep 2024, 06:47 PM