News From The Tributaries
We invite all organizations to send us updated information on their activities throughout the watershed. Please email updates to fwr@sover.net
Photo by Charles Fish
Headwaters
In 2006, another 1600 feet of riparian buffer was planted at the Green Mountain Curlies Farm, Inc. in Marshfield. This successful event was coordinated by many partners including the Central Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU), Cabot Creamery, VT Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Green Mountain Power, the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, the VT Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) and the Friends.
Kingsbury Branch
The Calais Lakes & Ponds Committee has developed a series of action items to be completed this year as a result of the North Montpelier Pond Watershed Survey of 2005. Action items include providing outreach to landowners via newsletters, developing a road inventory and capital budget for Calais, mapping locations of Eurasian watermilfoil and an expanding delta in the pond, and supporting Friends of the Winooski with the geomorphic assessment of the Kingsbury Branch.
Jail/Stevens Branch
The VYCC in coordination with the DEC planted 200 feet of new riparian buffer on Town of Washington land along the Jail Branch. In the Town of Orange, the DEC worked with the town road crew to develop proposals for seven road projects to prevent erosion in the Jail Branch watershed.
North Branch
The Vermont River Conservancy (VRC) is working on the conservation of a parcel of land in the North Branch corridor. The property is in Elmore on Route 12, and will offer increased access to state land and as well as serve as a corridor for wildlife.
Dog River
The VYCC in coordination with DEC planted 1000 feet of riparian buffer along the Dog River on Town of Northfield property.
Mad River
The VYCC, in coordination with the DEC constructed a stone-lined waterway and planted 50 feet of riparian buffer on a property adjacent to the Mad River in Moretown.
West Branch/Little River
The Waterbury reservoir will be full this summer despite the fact that the repairs on the dam are still not completed. While the Agency of Natural Resources waits for funding to repair a new problem at the dam, the reservoir will be available for recreation this summer season.
Great Brook
Great Brook in Plainfield received more attention this year from the Town of Plainfield and DEC.
Huntington River
The Huntington River Study measuring E. coli took place once again this past summer. Results from the 2006 study varied widely along the river with occasional extremely high values recorded. The overall data indicate E. coli organisms are being added as one proceeds downstream. Overall, the results from the 2006 season were some of the best in 4 years of rigorous sampling. Reasons for the improved water quality this year are still being evaluated. Answers are likely to only come with further sampling. A detailed summary has been posted at: http://www.gmavt.net/~aaronw/ecoli.htm
Photo by Charles Fish
Lower Winooski Tributaries
Phase I and II Stream Geomorphic Assessments were conducted for Allen, Centennial, Indian, Morehouse, and Sunderland Brook watersheds during 2005 and 2006. The work was carried out under the direction of the DEC River Management Program (RMP) and UVM Master’s student Evan Fitzgerald. Watershed data and summary reports have been completed will soon be made available online through a RMP website.
The Essex Waterways Association (EWA) completed water quality sampling for Indian, Sunderland, and Alder Brooks during summer 2006. In addition, EWA hired Fitzgerald Environmental to conduct Phase I and II Stream Geomorphic Assessments for Alder Brook. The assessment work focused on the current impacts of urbanization on Alder Brook nearly 200 years after its outlet was diverted from the Browns River watershed into the Winooski River watershed.