Quintown Collaborative

In 2011 Tropical Storm Irene devastated the Quintown valley, which includes the towns of Granville, Hancock, Rochester, Stockbridge, and Pittsfield along the Upper White River. Although these communities recovered quickly and efficiently, the valley is vulnerable to future flood damages.

The Quintown Collaborative is a grassroots effort to build support for on-the-ground, watershed restoration projects that will reduce flood damages in Quintown communities and keep the White River healthy. Project partners are identifying and developing projects that protect the transportation network – like culvert replacements – and reduce development in active floodplains – like river corridor easements.

Watch this video to learn more about how culvert replacement projects reduce flood damages and improve the health of the White River:

Partners

The High Meadows Fund has funded the grassroots collaboration between the WRP, the regional planning commission, the 5 towns, and several interested state and federal agencies since 2014. Today the Quintown Collaborative consists of two working groups:

The Fish Passage Partnership includes representatives from the WRP, the five towns, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Green Mountain National Forest, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Vermont Agency of Transportation, and on-the-ground project funders.

The Floodplain Conservation Partnership includes representatives from the WRP, landowners from the five towns, Vermont River Conservancy, Vermont Watershed Management Division, and on-the-ground project funders.

Accomplishments

Since 2014 the Quintown Collaborative has accomplished the following strategic objectives:

• Raising awareness about opportunities for on-the-ground flood resilience projects in the Quintown valley through community outreach & education, including a 2016 Resilience Tour, and focused landowner outreach
• Prioritized culvert replacement projects within the Quintown valley using a multi-parameter matrix, informed by local, state, and federal data
• Developed engineering designs for 7 high-priority, under-sized, stream crossing culverts replacement projects
• Replaced 4 under-sized stream crossing culverts with flood-resilient, fish-friendly structures
  • Read more about the Wing Farm Road project completed in 2018
• Prioritized river corridor easement projects within the Quintown valley using 2 state-funded River Corridor Plans
• Conserved 50 acres of active floodplain to prevent development in areas vulnerable to flood damages
  • Read more about the Gaysville easement project completed in 2018

For more information

Contact us!