River Restoration

During the past 200 years, the rail and road transportation network, gravel mining, agricultural activities, and historic log drives have played a significant role in destabilizing many of the White River watershed’s streams. These activities have caused floodplain encroachment, the loss of vital streamside vegetation, straightening of the river channel, and erosion. Through restoration efforts, the WRP has sought to ameliorate the ecological integrity and physical condition of the watershed’s streams while respecting and balancing the economic and cultural interests of local watershed residents.

Since 1996, the WRP has implemented 25 stream restoration projects in partnership with the Green Mountain National Forest, US Natural Resource Conservation Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and the National Wildlife Federation. Collectively, these efforts have aimed to restore nearly ten river miles throughout the watershed by using “natural channel design” techniques that attempt to re-establish the river’s natural, healthy functions. These techniques primarily utilize natural vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, to stabilize eroding riverbanks while improving water quality and stream habitat. In addition to the environmental benefits that these restoration projects provide, they also protect valuable land against further erosion.

The WRP has also conducted numerous studies and scientific surveys to increase our understanding of the physical conditions of the streams that make up the watershed. We are now using this scientific data to develop community-based “river corridor management plans” for some of the watershed’s most impaired streams, including Ayers Brook and the Tweed River. River corridor planning allows groups like the WRP, as well as towns and regional planning commissions, to increase their understanding of a particular stream and the various land uses affecting it. By utilizing scientific data and combining it with knowledge from local landowners, we can develop sound plans for restoring and protecting important streams while respecting the concerns and interests of the local community.

To learn more about the WRP’s river restoration and protection efforts, please call our office at (802) 767-4600.