The Habitat Restoration Area lies south of MA-62 in Barre, between the Burnshirt River and Canesto Brook.

This area was mined for gravel decades ago. Much of the topsoil may have been removed in spots to
prepare for gravel extraction. The area may have also burned repeatedly. This resulted in a heath-type habitat that is characterized by low bush blueberry with scattered pitch pine and large crowned oaks.

Over the years, low-quality white pine with scattered red maple and white, red, and black oaks have regenerated much of the site, resulting in the loss of much of the open heath habitat. Open heath still exists in the area and has been enhanced by hand girdling by NHESP staff. A harvest was completed in the spring of 2017 on the site. That harvest removed undesirable species in three large groups of 4.6, 4.9, and 4.9 acres and two smaller groups of 1.0 and 0.5 acres.

Species present are white pine, white, red, black, and scarlet oak, pitch pine, red maple, hemlock, black cherry, quaking aspen, and grey birch. Invasive buckthorn is abundant on the site, and invasive barberry, honeysuckle, and burning bush are present, particularly adjacent to MA-62. The soil is excessively drained.

The primary goal of the watershed forest management program is to create and maintain a forest that provides high-quality drinking water to current users and future generations.