(802) 763-7733 info@whiteriverpartnership.org PO Box 705, South Royalton, VT 05068

Fish Passage

Trout and other fish depend on the entire river system for survival, so connecting upstream and downstream habitats is important.

Removing dams

Since 2016, the WRP has worked with our partners to remove five, inactive dams along major tributaries to the White River:

In sum, these projects have restored 200 miles of the White River to free-flowing conditions. As a result, the White River is part of Vermont’s longest, connected river network!

Watch the video below to learn more about the 2016 Randolph Dam removal project:

Replacing culverts

Wing Brook at Wing Farm Road – BEFORE

Replacing an under-sized stream-crossing culvert with a larger structure is a way to improve fish passage while increasing flood resilience.

Since 2011, the WRP has worked with partners to replace ten, undersized, stream-crossing culverts with fish-friendly, flood-resilient structures:

Retrofitting culverts

When replacing an under-sized, stream crossing culvert is not feasible, installing baffles inside the culvert allows aquatic organisms to move upstream to access cold-water refugia, spawning habitat, and more.

The WRP has worked with partners to install baffles in two, under-sized, stream-crossing culverts:

Fish passage partners

Private and public landowners (Towns of Bethel, Hancock, Pomfret, Randolph, Rochester and Sharon), FEMA, US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, VT Agency of Natural Resources, VT Community Development ProgramTwo Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Greater Upper Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited, Ripple Natural Resources, TR Fellows Engineering, local construction contractors, Embrace A Stream, National Forest Foundation, Upper Connecticut River Mitigation & Enhancement Fund, VT Habitat Stamp.