2012 accomplishments
December 11, 2012
2012 was another busy year for the WRP! Check out some highlights below:
Watershed Assessment
Goal – Through long-term monitoring and assessments, we work to understand the watershed’s health, prioritize our resources, and gauge the effectiveness of our restoration efforts.
1. WRP staff and volunteers completed the 12th year of our water quality monitoring program, testing three parameters at 22 sites, every two weeks from June through September. Results were shared via email and our website.
2. The WRP is working with Redstart Forestry and the Vermont River Management Program to conduct a Phase 2 stream geomorphic assessment of the First Branch of the White River, from Washington downstream to Royalton, and seven major tributaries in the towns of Chelsea and Tunbridge to identify opportunities to improve water quality, habitat, and flood resiliency.
Watershed Restoration
Goal – Through on-the-ground restoration projects, we work to improve water quality, fish & wildlife habitat, flood resiliency, and public recreational access.
1. With help from 400 volunteers, the WRP planted 4,500 native trees and shrubs along the White River and its tributaries in Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Hartford, Pomfret, and Royalton to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and flood resiliency.
2. The Upper White River Cooperative Weed Management Area hosted three efforts to manage non-native invasive plants, including hiring a seasonal coordinator to inventory NNIP along town roads in Granville, Hancock, Rochester, and Stockbridge; working with private contractors to treat NNIP at four sites in Granville; and organizing a garlic mustard pull event on Route 100 in Rochester.
3. The WRP partnered with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to install culvert headers, water bars, stone-lined ditches, and stone aprons to reduce non-point source pollution on two Class IV town roads in Roxbury.
4. The WRP worked with the towns of Rochester and Sharon to submit 8 FEMA buyout applications on behalf of private landowners with “substantially flood damaged” homes. FEMA makes funds available to towns to “buyout” and convert damaged properties into permanent green space along the river. Projects will be implemented in 2013.
5. The WRP, Green Mountain National Forest, and US Fish & Wildlife Service worked with the Town of Rochester to design and fund the replacement of 3 flood-damaged culverts with larger, more flood-resilient structures.
6. Using donations generated by the new Clean Water Future website, the WRP, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers implemented an innovative streambank stabilization project at Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton using large woody debris left behind by Tropical Storm Irene
Watershed Education & Stewardship
Goal – To raise awareness about watershed issues and to promote long-term stewardship, we inform the public about important issues and offer opportunities for the public to actively protect the watershed.
1. The WRP partnered with Verdana Ventures and watershed schools in Bethel, Braintree, Chelsea, Hartford, Pomfret, Randolph, Royalton, Sharon, Stockbridge, Strafford, and Tunbridge to participate in 4 “science to service” projects – monitoring crayfish, riparian trees, waterbugs, and wildlife tracks – designed to increase student awareness of watershed issues and to produce useful information for the WRP and its partners.
2. The WRP recruited over 300 volunteers to remove over 20,000 pounds of man-made flood debris from the river in Bethel, Braintree, Hartford, Pomfret, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, and Stockbridge; and 3 Vermont Department of Labor Crews and 1 Vermont Youth Conservation Corps crew to remove over 100,000 pounds of man-made flood debris from the river in Bethel, Braintree, Granville, Hartford, Pittsfield, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, and Stockbridge.
3. The WRP is working with Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission to conduct outreach to the towns of Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Stockbridge about incorporating river corridor protection measures in town documents.
Support our work
We invite you to support our work in 2013 – please consider making an end-of-year donation online today!
News
Posted: December 11, 2012 by wrp_admin
2012 accomplishments
2012 accomplishments
December 11, 2012
2012 was another busy year for the WRP! Check out some highlights below:
Watershed Assessment
Goal – Through long-term monitoring and assessments, we work to understand the watershed’s health, prioritize our resources, and gauge the effectiveness of our restoration efforts.
1. WRP staff and volunteers completed the 12th year of our water quality monitoring program, testing three parameters at 22 sites, every two weeks from June through September. Results were shared via email and our website.
2. The WRP is working with Redstart Forestry and the Vermont River Management Program to conduct a Phase 2 stream geomorphic assessment of the First Branch of the White River, from Washington downstream to Royalton, and seven major tributaries in the towns of Chelsea and Tunbridge to identify opportunities to improve water quality, habitat, and flood resiliency.
Watershed Restoration
Goal – Through on-the-ground restoration projects, we work to improve water quality, fish & wildlife habitat, flood resiliency, and public recreational access.
1. With help from 400 volunteers, the WRP planted 4,500 native trees and shrubs along the White River and its tributaries in Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Hartford, Pomfret, and Royalton to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and flood resiliency.
2. The Upper White River Cooperative Weed Management Area hosted three efforts to manage non-native invasive plants, including hiring a seasonal coordinator to inventory NNIP along town roads in Granville, Hancock, Rochester, and Stockbridge; working with private contractors to treat NNIP at four sites in Granville; and organizing a garlic mustard pull event on Route 100 in Rochester.
3. The WRP partnered with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to install culvert headers, water bars, stone-lined ditches, and stone aprons to reduce non-point source pollution on two Class IV town roads in Roxbury.
4. The WRP worked with the towns of Rochester and Sharon to submit 8 FEMA buyout applications on behalf of private landowners with “substantially flood damaged” homes. FEMA makes funds available to towns to “buyout” and convert damaged properties into permanent green space along the river. Projects will be implemented in 2013.
5. The WRP, Green Mountain National Forest, and US Fish & Wildlife Service worked with the Town of Rochester to design and fund the replacement of 3 flood-damaged culverts with larger, more flood-resilient structures.
6. Using donations generated by the new Clean Water Future website, the WRP, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers implemented an innovative streambank stabilization project at Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton using large woody debris left behind by Tropical Storm Irene
Watershed Education & Stewardship
Goal – To raise awareness about watershed issues and to promote long-term stewardship, we inform the public about important issues and offer opportunities for the public to actively protect the watershed.
1. The WRP partnered with Verdana Ventures and watershed schools in Bethel, Braintree, Chelsea, Hartford, Pomfret, Randolph, Royalton, Sharon, Stockbridge, Strafford, and Tunbridge to participate in 4 “science to service” projects – monitoring crayfish, riparian trees, waterbugs, and wildlife tracks – designed to increase student awareness of watershed issues and to produce useful information for the WRP and its partners.
2. The WRP recruited over 300 volunteers to remove over 20,000 pounds of man-made flood debris from the river in Bethel, Braintree, Hartford, Pomfret, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, and Stockbridge; and 3 Vermont Department of Labor Crews and 1 Vermont Youth Conservation Corps crew to remove over 100,000 pounds of man-made flood debris from the river in Bethel, Braintree, Granville, Hartford, Pittsfield, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, and Stockbridge.
3. The WRP is working with Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission to conduct outreach to the towns of Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Stockbridge about incorporating river corridor protection measures in town documents.
Support our work
We invite you to support our work in 2013 – please consider making an end-of-year donation online today!
Posted: October 22, 2012 by wrp_admin
WRP wins national award
WRP wins national award
October 22, 2012
On Saturday, October 20, the White River Partnership received the National Fish Passage Program’s Partner of the Year Award from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Today, the USFWS released the following press release about the award:
Vermont’s White River Partnership Receives National Conservation Award
For Release: October 22, 2012 Contact: Catherine Hibbard 413-531-4276
Vermont’s White River Partnership received the 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program’s Partner of the Year Award at the partnership’s annual meeting in Rochester, VT.
The partnership, a small community-based non-profit organization, was recognized for its professionalism, dedication, and leadership in response to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The storm damaged thousands of culverts and caused widespread flooding, stranding residents and isolating towns in the White River basin.
Mary and Greg Russ, Executive Director and Project Manager of the Oartnership respectively, acted quickly following the storm to identify failed road culverts and notify local, state, and federal authorities. Their efforts triggered the deployment of Service fish passage engineers and stream restoration experts to ensure that road crossing repairs promoted fish passage.
Fish-friendly crossings not only protect fish, they protect communities and are more economical in the long run because they can withstand flood events.
“Restoring waterways to reconnect habitats for fish is a priority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Northeast. We are honored to work with the White River Partnership to meet our mutual goals in Vermont. The efforts of Mary and Greg Russ will improve conditions for fish and also for people for generations to come,” said Wendi Weber, northeast regional director for the Service.
Based on their experience responding to the 2011 storm, the Russes have continued to advocate for fish-friendly culverts and their environmental, social and economic benefits.
As a result of the on-the-ground response following Irene, FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provided nearly $3 million in funding to rebuild storm-damaged infrastructure in the Town of Rochester alone. The funds also supported the purchase of land in floodplains for permanent restoration efforts.
“We are very grateful for all the help provided to us by the White River Partnership and Mary and Greg Russ,” said Rochester Selectman Larry Straus. “This led directly to a partnership between the Town, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Passage Program, U.S. Forest Service, and White River Partnership for funding to build improved, fish friendly projects for at least five damaged structures. They are the catalyst that made this joint project happen.”
The Partnership’s efforts also “helped spur a national discussion on road crossing standards,” said Susan Wells, the Service’s national fish passage program coordinator.
Initiated in 1999, the Service’s national fish passage program works with local communities to restore river systems. More than 700 partners nationwide collaborate with the program to rebuild infrastructure for long term resiliency and health of fisheries. Each year the program recognizes the accomplishments of one of these partners.
Learn more:
USFWS-National Fish Passage Program
USFWS-National Fish Passage Program/Northeast
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit our website, connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel, and download photos from our Flickr page.
Posted: July 10, 2012 by wrp_admin
2012 project updates
2012 project updates
July 10, 2012
WRP staff, partners, and volunteers have been busy in 2012, implementing on-the-ground projects that improve water quality, fish & wildlife habitat, flood resiliency, and public access to the White River:
Tree plantings
This spring, the WRP worked with 8 landowners and 400 volunteers to plant 4,500 native trees along the White River in the towns of Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Hartford, Pomfret, and Royalton to improve water quality and stabilize streambanks. CHECK OUT planting project pictures on our Facebook page.
River cleanups
Since the flood, the WRP has worked with 350.org, Community College of Vermont, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Green Mountain National Forest, Green Up Vermont, Randolph Rotary Club, Rozalia Project, Trout Unlimited, Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont Law School, the towns of Braintree, Hartford, Pittsfield, Pomfret, Randolph, Rochester, Royalton, and Sharon, and almost 500 students and community volunteers to remove over 34,000 pounds of man-made trash along the White River and its tributaries.
The WRP will coordinate river cleanup events through the summer and fall in an attempt to remove as much remaining trash as possible. Keep an eye on our Events page to get involved in upcoming river cleanups and CHECK OUT cleanup project pictures on our Facebook page.
First Branch Phase 2 study
During 2012 and 2013, the WRP will work with Redstart Forestry, of Corinth, and the Vermont River Management Program to conduct a Phase 2 stream geomorphic assessment of the First Branch of the White River, from Washington downstream to Royalton, and seven major tributaries in the towns of Chelsea and Tunbridge. Redstart technicians will be taking stream measurements to identify opportunities to improve water quality, habitat, and flood resiliency.
After field work is complete, the project partners will host 2 public meetings to conduct outreach and seek input on the study findings, and will distribute a final River Corridor Management Plan to Washington, Chelsea, Tunbridge, and Royalton Selectboards and Planning Commissions, and interested residents.
Culvert replacements
The WRP is working with the Town of Rochester, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Green Mountain National Forest, and others to replace flood-damaged stream crossing culverts on 3 tributaries to the Upper White River: Howe, Marsh, and Nason Brooks. Replacement structures are designed to be flood resilient and fish-friendly by allowing passage of flood water, ice, debris, and aquatic organisms.
Monitoring river health
The WRP is monitoring post-flood impacts to watershed health through 3 complementary programs:
-WRP education partners worked with 12 schools to monitor impacts to crayfish, waterbugs, and riparian trees throughout the 2011-2012 school year. Click here to learn more about our school-based monitoring program.
-WRP staff and 24 volunteers are monitoring water quality at 22 swimming holes around the watershed this summer. Click here to see our latest monitoring results.
-WRP staff and partners are surveying and removing non-native invasive plants along roads, trails, and waterways in the Upper White River. Click here to learn more about the Upper White River Cooperative Weed Management Association – coming soon.