Invest in a clean, accessible White River!
We invite you to make a tax-deductible donation in any amount to help us protect and improve clean water in and recreational access to the White River.
About the WRP
The White River Partnership (WRP) is a membership-based, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization formed in 1996 by a group of local people who shared common concerns about the long-term health of the White River and its watershed. The WRP envisions a White River watershed in which individuals and communities work together to make informed decisions that protect …
Learn MoreAnnual Volunteer Events
To promote long-term stewardship of the White River watershed, we organize numerous seasonal opportunities for people of all ages to do something good for their communities and their river. May: Green Up the White cleanup To kick off the river recreation season, the WRP coordinates a river cleanup event in conjunction with Vermont’s Green Up …
Learn MoreGet Involved
The WRP depends on volunteers, members, and donors to accomplish much of our important work. Here are a few ways that you can get involved and support our work: Learn more The WRP posts information about clean water projects, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more on Facebook and Instagram. We invite you to “Like” or “Follow” …
Learn MoreAbout the White River
Vermont’s White River is the heart of a picturesque working landscape, rushing down forested hillsides, bubbling along farm fields, winding under covered bridges, and rolling through historic villages before joining the Connecticut River in White River Junction. The river’s largely rural watershed contributes to cold, clean water, making the White River a popular recreational destination, and warm weather brings thousands of residents and visitors alike to enjoy tubing, swimming, paddling, fishing, wildlife viewing, and more.
The White River watershed encompasses 710 square miles, draining portions of Addison, Orange, Rutland, Washington and Windsor Counties, including 50,000 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest. The White River originates in the Town of Ripton on the slopes of Battell Mountain, then flows southerly and easterly before merging with the Connecticut River in the Town of Hartford. The 56-mile main stem of the White River has 5 major tributaries: the First Branch, the Second Branch, the Third Branch, the West Branch, and the Tweed River. Follow this link to view a map of the watershed.
The White River is significant for being one of the last free-flowing rivers in the State of Vermont, and is the longest un-dammed tributary to the Connecticut River, which was the first designated National Blueway.
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Upcoming events
October 1-31: Shaw’s Give Back Where It Counts fundraiser
In October, $1 for every “Give Back Where It Counts” reusable bag sold at Randolph Shaw’s will be donated to the White River Partnership. Reusable bags cost $3/each.
Thank you to Shaw’s for choosing to support the WRP this month!
October 31: White River Basin Plan public comments due
We invite you to learn more about and provide comments on clean water project priorities in the White River valley.
Every 5 years, the state updates the White River Tactical Basin Plan. The Basin Plan is a document that identifies water quality issues and potential solutions throughout the White River valley.
The current Basin Plan expires this year, so work has started to plan for the next 5 years. Find the White River Draft Tactical Basin Plan here and review the summary White River Draft Plan Story Map here.
Got feedback? Submit comments by Thursday, October 31 to keith.fritschie@vermont.gov or to Keith Fritschie, VT DEC, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620.
THANK YOU: September 8th cleanup sweeps the White River
Thank you to the volunteers who helped us remove trash in and along the White River on Sunday, September 8. Volunteers collected trash from Bethel to West Hartford, filling an 8-yard dumpster in the process…plus 50 tires on the side!
Immediately following the cleanup, 45 WRP members and volunteers joined us for a cookout to celebrate our collective work to improve the health of the White River in 2024. And we honored the Woodstock Inn & Resort Fly Fishing program as our 2024 Outstanding Watershed Partner for their many contributions to over the years!
Work continues to wrap-up the 2024 field season. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
Stay posted: WRP e-newsletter
The WRP distributes a regular electronic newsletter to share information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, project updates, and more. We invite you to sign-up to receive our e-newsletter by completing the form on the right-hand side of this webpage.
Stay posted: WRP social media
The WRP posts information about on-the-ground watershed improvement projects, events, and volunteer opportunities on Facebook and Instagram. We invite you to “Like” or “Follow” us in order to stay posted on our work to improve the long-term health of the White River and its watershed.
Support us: Get involved
The WRP depends on volunteers and stewards to accomplish much of our important work. Follow this link to learn more about opportunities to get involved and to help improve the health of the White River!
Support us: Make a donation
The WRP depends on contributions of time and money to support our on-the-ground work to improve the White River. Please support our good work by making a donation today!
Select the “Donate” button on the right-hand side of this page to donate via credit card or PayPal.
Or print and return our WRP Membership Form with a check.
Contact us: For more information
Please contact us for more information about our projects, upcoming events, or other ways to get involved!
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Is the White River clean?
The White River Partnership is a local group working to keep the river safe for recreation. Here are 3 ways to get involved:
SWIM SMART – Volunteers gather water samples every other week at 22 swimming spots in 14 towns. Then we analyze the samples to answer the question: is the river safe for swimming? Check out the latest Swim Smart monitoring results to learn more.
No matter what the latest Swim Smart monitoring results are, remember this River Recreation Rule-of-thumb: Avoid swimming or tubing in the White River during and immediately after a rain event – there is an increased risk of exposure to pollutants that can make you sick.
EXPLORE – The White River Water Trail is a network of public access sites along the river. Check out this map to find the river access sites near you.
REPORT – Got trash? We invite you to report any trash you find in or along the White River using this form. We’ll use your reports to focus our cleanup efforts in 2024.
VOLUNTEER – Interested in helping us keep the river safe for recreation? Learn more about becoming a White River Water Trail Steward this summer.
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Thank you to our 2024 program sponsors:
Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited
We couldn’t do this work without their financial support – and yours: help us keep the White River cleanup and accessible by making a donation today!
Questions? Contact us.
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River trash report
We need your help to identify where trash was deposited along the White River during the summer 2023 floods.
We invite you to report any trash you find in or along the White River. We’ll use your reports to focus our cleanup efforts in 2024.
How to Get Involved
Do you know the location of trash in or along the White River? Please follow the steps below to submit the location of the trash:
- Identify trash along the river – we are looking for the following types:
–Flood-related trash – from large items in the river that require an organized effort to remove (gas tanks, home appliances, large pieces of metal, etc) to small piles washed-up on the banks
–Tires – one tire or piles of tires
–Trash dumps – recent or historic trash piles
- Complete the Trash Report Form
- We will follow up with additional details and clean up plans based on your submission
Questions?
Please contact Christian Pelletier with questions: christian[at]whiteriverpartnership.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
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2023 White River Water Quality Report
The White River Partnership’s 2023 Water Quality Report is now available. The report summarizes data collected by WRP staff and trained volunteers at 22 sites during summer 2023.
THANK YOU to our 2023 water quality monitoring volunteers, to the businesses and partners who stored water samples, and to Vermont Water Quality Division staff and partners who help us analyze our data and plan for the upcoming sampling season!
For more information, please visit our Water Quality Monitoring Program page.
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White River Map & Guide on TrailFinder
The WRP’s White River Watershed Recreation Map & Guide is now available on Trail Finder, an online trails database for Vermont and New Hampshire.
The WRP released the White River Watershed Recreation Map & Guide in 2019. The map was the result of several years of work with partners to create a printed, waterproof map that highlights access points, paddling trips, tubing routes, fishing tips, hiking trails, and more along the White River and its five major tributaries: First Branch, Second Branch, Third Branch, West Branch, and Tweed River – nearly 110 miles of river exploration!
The online map includes a different link for five areas highlighted on the printed map, including:
White River main stem – Granville to White River Junction
First Branch – Chelsea to the White River
Second Branch – Kingsbury Covered Bridge to the White River
Third Branch – Riford Brook Road to the White River
Tweed River – Pittsfield village to the White River
Follow this link for more information about the White River Water Trail and stewardship opportunities in 2020!