The WRP is coordinating our second annual Second Sunday Events series in 2018. Starting on Sunday, May 13 and running through Sunday, September 9 individuals and groups have 5 opportunities to get involved in the WRP’s work to keep the White River clean and accessible!
All events start at 2pm; are held rain or shine; and are free-of-charge, unless otherwise noted. For more details – or to RSVP – please contact us at info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org.
May 13 at 2:00 pm – Plant trees* at the Kingsbury Covered Bridge in Randolph
Help us plant 140 trees in this location to improve water quality, habitat, and flood resilience. Volunteers should meet at the Kingsbury Covered Bridge off Route 14 in Randolph. Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, shovels, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by Vermont Fish & Wildlife.
June 10 at 2:00 pm – PaddleFest* from Stockbridge to Bethel
Join us for a paddle trip between 2 White River Water Trail access sites along the middle White River. We’ll start at the former Gaysville Campground site in Stockbridge (Bridge Street) and end at Peavine Park in Bethel. This stretch of the White River was heavily impacted by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, so we’ll point out flood recovery and river restoration projects along the way.
Bring your own boat, paddles, and life jackets. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver form. The WRP will provide a shuttle before and after the event along with light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by the Connecticut River Conservancy.
July 8 at 2:00 pm – Clear access trails to the Third Branch in Bethel*
Help us clear access trails to the Third Branch of the White River in Bethel with hand tools. Volunteers should meet at Peavine Park in Bethel. Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, tools, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by the Bethel Conservation Commission.
August 12 at 2:00 pm – Tour 2 dam removal project sites on the First Branch
The WRP is working with local engineering firm Ripple Natural Resources and 2 private landowners to design the removal of the Upper Eaton & Lower Eaton Dams on the First Branch of the White River in Royalton. These dams were originally built in the late-1700s to power local industry, including a grist mill, saw mill, fulling mill, furniture factory, power plant, and more. No longer in use, the dams block the passage of fish to 30 miles of upstream habitat; block the downstream passage of sediment and debris; and contribute to elevated water temperatures along the lower First Branch.
Join us for a free project tour – meet at the small gravel parking lot at the northeast corner of the Mill Road bridge across the First Branch in Royalton. Dress to walk along the river.
September 9 at 2:00 pm – River cleanup* at White River access sites
Join us for a river cleanup at multiple sites along the lower White River as part of Vermont’s River Cleanup Month and the Source to Sea events, including White River Water Trail access sites in Royalton and Sharon and several spots along the river where tires need to be removed.
Volunteers should meet at the parking lot just downstream of the South Royalton Bridge (103 Chelsea Street). Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, trash bags, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by Vermont Law School.
For more information
Visit our Volunteer FAQs page for more information about WRP volunteer events. Or contact us at info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org with questions!
News
Posted: May 1, 2018 by wrp_admin
Second Sunday Events
The WRP is coordinating our second annual Second Sunday Events series in 2018. Starting on Sunday, May 13 and running through Sunday, September 9 individuals and groups have 5 opportunities to get involved in the WRP’s work to keep the White River clean and accessible!
All events start at 2pm; are held rain or shine; and are free-of-charge, unless otherwise noted. For more details – or to RSVP – please contact us at info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org.
May 13 at 2:00 pm – Plant trees* at the Kingsbury Covered Bridge in Randolph
Help us plant 140 trees in this location to improve water quality, habitat, and flood resilience. Volunteers should meet at the Kingsbury Covered Bridge off Route 14 in Randolph. Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, shovels, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by Vermont Fish & Wildlife.
June 10 at 2:00 pm – PaddleFest* from Stockbridge to Bethel
Join us for a paddle trip between 2 White River Water Trail access sites along the middle White River. We’ll start at the former Gaysville Campground site in Stockbridge (Bridge Street) and end at Peavine Park in Bethel. This stretch of the White River was heavily impacted by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, so we’ll point out flood recovery and river restoration projects along the way.
Bring your own boat, paddles, and life jackets. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver form. The WRP will provide a shuttle before and after the event along with light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by the Connecticut River Conservancy.
July 8 at 2:00 pm – Clear access trails to the Third Branch in Bethel*
Help us clear access trails to the Third Branch of the White River in Bethel with hand tools. Volunteers should meet at Peavine Park in Bethel. Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, tools, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by the Bethel Conservation Commission.
August 12 at 2:00 pm – Tour 2 dam removal project sites on the First Branch
The WRP is working with local engineering firm Ripple Natural Resources and 2 private landowners to design the removal of the Upper Eaton & Lower Eaton Dams on the First Branch of the White River in Royalton. These dams were originally built in the late-1700s to power local industry, including a grist mill, saw mill, fulling mill, furniture factory, power plant, and more. No longer in use, the dams block the passage of fish to 30 miles of upstream habitat; block the downstream passage of sediment and debris; and contribute to elevated water temperatures along the lower First Branch.
Join us for a free project tour – meet at the small gravel parking lot at the northeast corner of the Mill Road bridge across the First Branch in Royalton. Dress to walk along the river.
September 9 at 2:00 pm – River cleanup* at White River access sites
Join us for a river cleanup at multiple sites along the lower White River as part of Vermont’s River Cleanup Month and the Source to Sea events, including White River Water Trail access sites in Royalton and Sharon and several spots along the river where tires need to be removed.
Volunteers should meet at the parking lot just downstream of the South Royalton Bridge (103 Chelsea Street). Dress to get dirty in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes; the WRP will provide gloves, trash bags, and light snacks.
*Co-sponsored by Vermont Law School.
For more information
Visit our Volunteer FAQs page for more information about WRP volunteer events. Or contact us at info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org with questions!
Posted: March 15, 2018 by wrp_admin
S.260 and the White River
You’ve probably heard a lot about the water quality issues in Lake Champlain recently. And you may know something about the state’s efforts to raise funding to address these issues. But did you know that the White River watershed is impacted by these efforts as well?
Vermont has been busy improving waterways throughout the state by passing laws that protect these important resources and providing funding to address water quality issues. And for the past few years, the state has ramped up those efforts in response to concerns about phosphorus issues in Lake Champlain – from establishing the Vermont Clean Water Initiative to developing the Clean Water Fund. The newly introduced S.260 bill seeks to continue this legacy.
S.260 would work to restore impaired waters throughout the State and protect healthy waters from degrading through the use of funding gathered through a Water Quality Fund. On the surface, this bill sounds like it will continue the state’s legacy of protecting existing watersheds. So, how did it come about and why is it important to the White River watershed?
Act 97: Vermont Clean Water Initiative
Act 64: Vermont Clean Water Act
Act 73: The Working Group on Clean Water Funding
S.260: Water Quality Fund
Many watershed groups throughout the state have testified in favor of S.260. If passed, this bill would allow for thousands of projects to be funded across the state. With increased support from the Water Quality Fund, hundreds of on-the-ground projects could be completed within the White River watershed. This is an important bill to keep an eye on, particularly for watershed groups like the White River Partnership.
For more information about S.260, follow this link.
Posted: January 22, 2018 by wrp_admin
5 Olde Fundraising Dinners Benefit WRP
The White River Partnership and 5 Olde Tavern in South Royalton invite you to enjoy a great dinner for a good cause on the last Monday of January, February, and March: January 29, February 26, and March 26. Eat dinner anytime between 5pm and 9pm and 5 Olde Tavern will donate 10{db44c3d5e5b2521111bb9179cb40e40c4d2777ab57a0c9e12ea819349259de2f} of your food purchases to the WRP to support our work in 2018.
In 2018 the WRP will work with individuals, businesses, schools, local and regional organizations, and state and federal agencies to:
–Plant 3,500 native trees along the river to improve water quality and habitat;
–Engage 500 teachers and students in hands-on watershed education programs;
–Conserve and restore 10 acres of active floodplain to improve flood resilience;
–Monitor water quality at 23 swimming holes around the watershed;
–Replace an under-sized, stream-crossing culvert with a fish-friendly, flood-resilient structure; and
–Engage 750 community volunteers in monitoring, restoration, and stewardship projects.
The fundraising dinner series starts on Monday, January 29. Please RSVP to info[at]whiteriverpartnership.org if you’d like to join the WRP Board of Directors’ table at 6pm.