Paradise Park Commission
Paula Robbins (2011)
Kevin Anderson (2012)
Owen Campbell (2013)
Carol Canfield (2015)
Doug Whitcomb (2013)
Ben Anderson (student rep.) (2011)
Glenn Ricard (2014)
Andrew Robbins (2015)
Rebecca Haynes (2014)
Vacancy
Phone: (802) 674-6786
The Paradise Park Commission meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm and are responsible for the welfare of the Town Forest through ordinary upkeep, making needed improvements.
Runnemede Management Plan 2012
Runnemede Management Plan Appendices
Odgen's Pondweed - exists in only 10 locations around the world - one of which is Lake Runnemede, read on:
Most Windsor residences recognize Paradise Park for its natural beauty, mountainous views and recreational opportunities. At the forefront our mission is the conservation of natural resources, especially the preservation of a rare population of Ogden’s pondweed.
Ogden’s pondweed goes unnoticed by most visitors as it is easily overshadowed by the ominous presence of Mount Ascutney, diversity of bird species, and persistent beaver activity. However, below the surface of Lake Runnemede lies the innocuous plant, Potamogeton ogdenii. The Town of Windsor was financially able to buy this alluring parcel from the Evart’ family in 1997 under the agreement that we would protect the fragile aquatic plant.
Since first being identified in the mid nineteen seventies by biologist Barre Hellquist, Ogden’s pondweed has been confirmed in 18 locations around the world and currently is extant in only ten. Vermont has only two existing location that remain, one in Calais and the other right here in Windsor’s Lake Runnemede. The aquatic plant is listed as being critically imperiled on both the state and a global list of endangered species. There is growing concern for this species as we continue to see a decline in its preferred habitat consisting of undisturbed, shallow, and cool northern ponds with high alkalinity levels. Lake Runnemede’s cool spring aquifer, rich in minerals and calcium carbonate, provides the perfect habitat for this rare species to persist.
To compound the sensitivity of the plant is its unique reproductive method. The proliferation of the plant is extremely erratic thus making it difficult for biologists to surmise the health of any one population. The plant generates very few fruiting bodies, typically one per plant, and relies mostly on winder buds called turions to detach from the plant and establish the next population elsewhere in the pond.
The Paradise Park commission strives to uphold the conservation easements for the Lake Runnemede parcel and to protect the quality of the water and the continued success of Ogden’s pondweed. During the summer months we regularly monitor the nutrient levels in the pond and maintain the perimeter of native grasses. Buffer zones are vital to the success of Ogden’s pondweed as they limit shoreline disturbance and prevent eutrophication caused by excess nutrients from agriculture and street pollution. In addition, rules and regulations are enacted to deter the introduction of noxious and invasive aquatic species which aggressively crowd and shade frail populations of pondweed.
On behalf of the Paradise Park Commission I hope you enjoy all that the park has to offer during these summer months and continue to appreciate and support this spectacular natural resource right here in our backyard.
Respectfully,
Owen Campbell