Bakke Mountain is a summit located in the town of

Florida, Massachusetts Florida is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to the east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel, as well as Whitcomb Summit (elevation ), the highe ...

. It was named for Master Sergeant Roald Bakke, who died in the collapse of

Texas Tower 4 Texas Tower 4 (ADC ID: TT-4) was a United States Air Force Texas Tower General Surveillance Radar station, located south-southeast off the coast of Long Island, New York in of water. Hurricane Donna struck the tower in September 1960, seriou ...

. The mountain is the scene of wildlife and forest conservation efforts and serves as one of the primary sites of the Hoosac Wind Project. The Bakke Mountain Wind Farm is an alternative energy wind plant located on the mountain.

Forest and Wildlife Management

Part of the Bakke Mountain property, which in total covers between 700 and , was at one point a turnip farm owned by the Tower family. When the property was first purchased by the Bakke family in the 1960s, the fields and meadows lined with rock walls used for small livestock grazing were still open and free of tree growth. As time went on and the fields went unused, low brush sprang up, followed by saplings, which by 2000 had become a full-fledged forest. In an effort to regain some of these displaced species, a state-funded conservation project occurred in 2002–2003, clearing about of land. According to the plans for the area, of this area will be maintained as field, while the second portion will be maintained as staggered wildlife environment, ranging from low brush to the majestic trees native to New England.

References

Berkshires Mountains of Berkshire County, Massachusetts {{BerkshireCountyMA-geo-stub