Who Owns Lake Ninevah?
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Who Owns Lake Ninevah?
Ida Gage
Patrick Leahy, Vermont Senator, created a bill for the state to run the Federal Forestry Legacy Program. Federal has the money and gives it to the State to run when they submit an application. Realizing that most properties are privately owned the program allows owners to own and manage their lands but are paid a fair price for their property. Combining Vermont Forest Programs(VFP) with non-profits was a perfect fit, The VFP pays 75% for the land and non-profits add the rest. The goal is to preserve wildlife habitats, forest resources, water resources basically keeping the area forever wild so the public can enjoy outdoor recreational activities offered. The State also establishes conservation easements and gives funds, not used for State projects, to local organizations to purchase and develop land for public recreational use. Both private owners and the State are committed to preserving the lands and opening them to the public for recreation, in perpetuity, which prevents this land being used for commercial purposes. Cow Mountain Pond in Granby Vt. was the first program. The non profits and State established goals and outlined a public involvement process to establish strong relationships with the community. The 71 people, the population of Granby raised money to pay 25% for the 1600 acres surrounding the pond and VFP paid for rest. The area offered many summer and winter outdoor recreational activities. They made sure to protect and preserve their water and accesses to the pond. Areas were developed for swimming, boating. camping, fishing, and other aquatic activities in summer as well as winter recreation. The success of this first program resulted in many areas in Vermont receiving part of 4 million that first year and millions of dollars for the past 25 years from the VFP.
The Wilderness Corp. (now the Ninevah Foundation (NF) came to Ninevah with their nudity in 1961. Farm & Wilderness brought the Foundation to Ninevah and helped them provide areas and build camps for outdoor education. For 53 years the camps, ages 11- 17, were nudist. Clothing was required in 2009. The NF reports 1000 youths attended the camps in 2017. How many were Vermonters? A counselor for the camps in Plymouth in the 60”s writes: “Farm & Wilderness has exposed many children from cities and suburbs to this wonderful state and motivated them to protect the environment.” These camps receive grants and funds from Vermont and should serve Vermont’s children. Local children cannot even swim in the lake. Are we the only ones who feel this is wrong? The NF state they are committed to education, yet support public nudity. As educators, we believe practicing nudity at Ninevah is offensive. It does not belong on a public lake, especially in front of the children. The NF has chosen not to work with the community, does not share the amounts received allows and does not involve the community. They have not been good neighbors from the beginning and by not involving the community there is a lot of animosities. We understood that one goal of VFP is to have the State and non-profit organizations work to assure public involvement to establish strong community support. It is hard to understand why the state has not done this.
What was the purpose of Wilderness Corp. starting Ninevah Foundation in 1995 and Wilderness Community in 1996 with different officers and addresses? The Wilderness Corp. immediately quit-claimed their original gated community, Blakely Beach, Dam/beach plus 3 beaches owned by those who purchased lots not on the lake, to the Wilderness Community. This closed every access to the lake. What funds were used to purchase these areas? They have been posted since 1965. The Wilderness Corp. quit-claimed all property to the NF in 2001 and then dissolved. The NF and Wilderness Community, Inc. are non-profit, tax-exempt organizations committed to keeping Ninevah and surrounding area forever wild for the public to enjoy. We believe these areas are tax exempt. Members of the NF receive a tax break for their work with nonprofits. Are there reports as what these two non-profits, tax-exempt, charitable organizations have done in regards to their commitment to serve the public use of recreation areas on and around the lake?
We have owned property on the lake for 60 years and only recently did we learn, through research, that the NF has received over 1 million dollars from VFP, plus money for nonprofits and public donations. In reality, the taxpayers have purchased the land and contributed to many of their causes. The Ninevah Foundation is not a local organization but a group, the majority from out of state and a few Vermonters who are now members. Their loyalties do not seem to be for the Vermonters. My husband, Art, and I were born and raised in Vermont. In fact, Art is called the “Father of Wrestling in Vermont” as he started the first program at Benhi in 1962. This is where our loyalties lie.
Vermont requires that grants and non-profits not just list open lands but prove they are being used as designated. The NP lists show lands that have never had a person on them. The Foundation purchased neighbor’s land at Ninevah and it remains in their name. The owners removed the septic, water, electricity modular, and planted trees across the front and have kept if forever wild. It has not been open to the public. If it was purchased by VFP, that is a requirement. If so, are there other properties purchased by NF. Where are they located and are they open to the public? The NF purchased 840 acres of conserved land with highly restricted development available to only members. This encompasses the south end of the lake which starts with the bog and goes to their wilderness camp on the waterfront. It extends to the high tension lines. Why does this valuable land state the town has no say in its development and what funds were used to purchase it?
The Foundation will tell you Ninevah is a private lake and that is the reason it cannot be used by the public. (The state access is provided by the State, not the NF.) Once the Foundation started receiving Vermont grants and funds they have a commitment to the public. “Every charity is to establish and regularly review a mission statement to explain organization and purpose. Perhaps it is time for a State review. If not maybe the Attorney General needs to investigate. If the Foundation is doing everything right than they should welcome this. Recently we asked the Town about rules and regulations for Ninevah and were told that the NF makes and enforces all of the rules. The town has no say. My favorite quote from the Vermont Forest Legacy Program: “THE PROGRAM IS FOR ALL CREATURES INCLUDING HUMANS”. The Foundation makes many reports about education, environment, wildlife etc. Where are the reports on what they do for humans? I will leave it to the readership to decide who owns Lake Ninevah.
1782 Lake Ninevah Road
