Reconnecting Waterways: A Workshop on Removing Dams & Right-Sizing Culverts
Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), New England Interstate Water Pollution (NEIWPCC), Watersheds United Vermont (WUV), and Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), with support from the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) and the Vermont Dam Task Force, are proud to offer a full-day workshop designed for project managers, engineers, and excavation contractors currently working on – or interested in working on – dam removal and/or culvert replacement projects. The workshop will offer an overarching exploration of barrier removal restoration goals, project phases, stakeholder roles, important tools, and critical engagement points.
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation wants to hear your voice regarding the relicensing of the Moretown No. 8 Hydroelectric Project on the Mad River. Please join us on Friday, October 20th at 1pm at Moretown Memorial Library for the public hearing to review the dam project’s application for a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification.VNRC and watershed partners including American Whitewater, Friends of the Mad River, Friends of the Winooski, the MadDog Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Vermont Paddlers Club, Vermont River Conservancy, and Northern Forest Canoe Trail will be attending in support of improved aquatic habitat, flow management, and recreation access. Learn more here.
Spring Tree Planting at the Pelletier Dam Removal Site
Since the dam was removed in the fall of 2022, the Pelletier site has been adjusting to its newfound freedom! Tree plantings are a big part of restoring the site post construction, and we need help! VNRC is organizing a tree planting on May 11, 2023 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Pelletier site, and welcomes anyone to come visit and plant trees!
Conservation Restoration Conversation
Join us for an update on the Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative, and a panel discussion on coldwater conservation and restoration. Hear from experts in the field about the work being done in our region to protect our recreational resources and fisheries, and learn more about what you can do to support this important work!
Got Halloween Plans? Come Plant Trees at the Pelletier Dam Site in Castleton!
Now that the dam and sediment from the Pelletier Dam in Castleton, VT have been removed, the stream bank and surrounding floodplain area will be planted with native trees and shrubs. VNRC is organizing a tree planting on October 31, 2022 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Pelletier site, and welcomes anyone to come visit and plant trees!
Join us for a Webinar to Celebrate World Fish Migration Day!
Did you know that Vermont has nearly 1,000 dams on its rivers? While many property owners and communities are strongly attached to their dams, their continued presence comes at a cost to fish passage, poses risks to public safety, and compromises the overall health of our waters.