Despite cold temps and blustery snow, twelve intrepid volunteers attended the White River Partnership (WRP) West Branch project tour and willow planting event in Rochester last Saturday. These WRP members, Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers, and local residents showed up to see the recently-completed, 1-mile-long, in-stream restoration project on the West Branch of the White River in Rochester.
In 2015 the WRP worked with the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF), Trout Unlimited, 6 private landowners, Harvey’s Excavating, and many other partners to develop and implement Phase 1 of a multi-year restoration project on the West Branch of the White River in Rochester. The restoration project goals are to restore in-stream and riparian habitat, improve river stability, and reduce the vulnerability of the surrounding properties to future flood damages.
The next step of the West Branch project involves planting willow stakes and fascines this fall along the new riverbanks. The GMNF is working with a Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) crew to implement the willow planting project component.
Native shrub willows grow along Vermont riverbanks, and may be harvested when they are dormant in early-spring or late-fall. Using willows harvested from GMNF property in Stockbridge, the VYCC crew cut the thicker willow stems into 18-inch “live stakes,” then pounded them into the riverbank every 2 feet; the buds above ground form branches while the buds below ground form dense root systems that stabilize the edge of the riverbank while other native vegetation gets established. The VYCC crew kept the thinner tops of each willow plant to build “fascines,” which are 10-foot-long, 6-inch-thick bundles buried in shallow trenches dug perpendicular to the river every 10 feet; shrub willows will grow quickly along the length of the fascine, helping hold soils in place along the riverbank.
On Saturday volunteers helped the VYCC crew plant willow fascines along 800 feet of GMNF and private property on the north side of the West Branch project site. When finished, the willow planting component will restore almost 1 acre of native riverside vegetation along 0.5 miles of the West Branch. To complement the willow planting, the WRP will work with the GMNF, local teachers and students, and community volunteers to plant a 50- to 100-foot-wide “buffer” of native trees along most of the project length next spring.
News
Posted: March 14, 2016 by wrp_admin
WRP receives funding to remove Randolph dam
The White River Partnership has received four grants to remove a dam on the Third Branch of the White River in Randolph.
The Randolph Dam is located on the east side (downstream) of the Main Street Bridge in Randolph village. The current structure, located at the approximate site of the original foundry dam, is a 5-foot-high log crib dam faced with sheet pile and a partial concrete cap along the left bank. The dam is not in use and is a complete barrier for spawning trout; removal would open up 98 miles of cold-water habitat to fish passage.
Removal would also open the Third Branch main stem to paddling, and improve flood resilience for the businesses located at the old foundry on Prince Street. Ripple Natural Resources, a local engineering firm, is designing the removal. In fall 2015 the Randolph Selectboard voted to unanimously support the project.
In addition GUVTU has received an Embrace-A-Stream grant to help fund the project, and is contributing proceeds from the 2015 and 2016 White River Open fly fishing tournament. GUVTU and WRP volunteers will plant trees along the Third Branch in spring 2017 to restore riverside habitat, and will help the US Fish & Wildlife Service monitor long-term impacts to fish passage.
Follow this link for more information: Randolph Dam removal project.
Posted: February 9, 2016 by wrp_admin
Dan ‘Rudi’ Ruddell joins WRP staff
“We are excited that Rudi has joined our staff,” said Executive Director Mary Russ. “He not only brings a diverse technical skill set related to ecology, river science, and environmental education to this position, but also his commitment to building and maintaining strong working relationships in the White River valley.”
Rudi has extensive experience in the natural resources field. Since 2004 Rudi has worked at Redstart, Inc. in Corinth as a natural resources and Geographic Information Systems consultant, a position he will continue part-time. And for more than 20 years Rudi has been a workshop leader at the Montshire Museum’s camp-in program. Rudi is a Certified Floodplain Manager, and earned a master’s degree in conservation biology from Antioch New England.
Rudi has been involved in local agriculture and food projects for 30 years, from baking bread in Thetford Center to growing organic vegetables locally and in East Hardwick to being on the crew at Farm & Wilderness. Rudi is active in the Tunbridge community as well – he is a Lister, Planning Commission, and Town Forest Committee member for the Town of Tunbridge, plays and referees soccer and basketball, and plays in two local bands (Haywire and Turnip Truck).
Posted: October 21, 2015 by wrp_admin
Volunteers help VYCC plant 1 acre of willows
Despite cold temps and blustery snow, twelve intrepid volunteers attended the White River Partnership (WRP) West Branch project tour and willow planting event in Rochester last Saturday. These WRP members, Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers, and local residents showed up to see the recently-completed, 1-mile-long, in-stream restoration project on the West Branch of the White River in Rochester.
In 2015 the WRP worked with the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF), Trout Unlimited, 6 private landowners, Harvey’s Excavating, and many other partners to develop and implement Phase 1 of a multi-year restoration project on the West Branch of the White River in Rochester. The restoration project goals are to restore in-stream and riparian habitat, improve river stability, and reduce the vulnerability of the surrounding properties to future flood damages.
The next step of the West Branch project involves planting willow stakes and fascines this fall along the new riverbanks. The GMNF is working with a Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) crew to implement the willow planting project component.
Native shrub willows grow along Vermont riverbanks, and may be harvested when they are dormant in early-spring or late-fall. Using willows harvested from GMNF property in Stockbridge, the VYCC crew cut the thicker willow stems into 18-inch “live stakes,” then pounded them into the riverbank every 2 feet; the buds above ground form branches while the buds below ground form dense root systems that stabilize the edge of the riverbank while other native vegetation gets established. The VYCC crew kept the thinner tops of each willow plant to build “fascines,” which are 10-foot-long, 6-inch-thick bundles buried in shallow trenches dug perpendicular to the river every 10 feet; shrub willows will grow quickly along the length of the fascine, helping hold soils in place along the riverbank.
On Saturday volunteers helped the VYCC crew plant willow fascines along 800 feet of GMNF and private property on the north side of the West Branch project site. When finished, the willow planting component will restore almost 1 acre of native riverside vegetation along 0.5 miles of the West Branch. To complement the willow planting, the WRP will work with the GMNF, local teachers and students, and community volunteers to plant a 50- to 100-foot-wide “buffer” of native trees along most of the project length next spring.