The Green River Reservoir is a 5,113 acre park including a 653 acre Reservoir with 19 miles of shoreline, which is the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline in Vermont. The landscape surrounding the Reservoir is a complex of forests, wetlands, ponds and other natural communities. Area geology is predominately quartz-sericite-chlorite schist and phyllite. A band of greenstone and amphibolite runs along the western side of the park. This is Stowe formation rock overlain with glacial till and extensive gravel deposits (kame).
The extensive wetlands and 10 larger islands associated with the Reservoir provide important wildlife habitat, including a loon nesting site. Please stay at least 300 feet away from any loon nesting site as loons are very sensitive to human intrusion and disturbance. The park land encompasses much of Lamoille County’s largest deer wintering area and includes beaver ponds, wetlands, large stands of softwood and upland forest areas of mixed hardwoods. Many of the small ponds dotting the park property, including Schofield and Rush Ponds are excellent examples of undisturbed aquatic communities.
The main forest types found at Green River Reservoir are northern hardwoods (mostly beech, red maple, sugar maple, and yellow birch), mixed woods (hardwoods with hemlock, red spruce, white pine, balsam fir), and softwood stands (red spruce, balsam fir, white pine and hemlock).
The forests and wetlands are home to birds such as thrushes, woodpeckers, flycatchers, wrens, vireos, warblers, blackbirds, grosbeaks, and sparrows. Waterfowl include common mergansers and common loons. Great blue herons, ospreys or “fish hawks”, and an occasional bald eagle can be seen in the area.
Green River Reservoir is home to mostly warm water fish species, such as small mouth bass and yellow perch. Brook trout inhabit the waters and inflowing streams.