Our first Founders’ Award goes to… Stephan Syz

On July 24, Vermont River Conservancy awarded its inaugural Founders’ Award to founder Stephan Syz. Photo by John Lazenby

On July 24, Vermont River Conservancy awarded its first Founders’ Award to Stephan Syz.  Friends and supporters gathered at the North Branch Cascades trail with jovial greetings and shared memories – a reunion of sorts for folks who had been integral in Vermont’s River Conservancy’s history, and in the life of the morning’s guest of honor. 

Established in honor of the visionary citizens who recognized that protecting land along rivers, wetlands, and streams makes our communities safer during floods, keeps waters running cool and clear, and restores essential habitat, and who wanted to make sure communities could always get to their local river to swim, fish, and paddle – the Founders’ Award is given to individuals or organizations that have contributed extraordinary efforts to advance the mission of Vermont River Conservancy. As one of Vermont River Conservancy’s leading founders, Stephan’s legacy to Vermont’s rivers can’t be overstated. 

Stephan grew up near the mouth of the Connecticut River, where he enjoyed exploring brackish marshes with his dad, and was heartbroken when some of his favorite riverside haunts were destroyed to build Interstate 91. This passion for protecting waterways led him to a career in conservation at Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation, where he helped to launch what is now the state’s Rivers Program. Decades ago, Stephan saw that Vermont’s status quo treatment of waterways – dredge, straighten, berm, drain, dam, develop – was cutting communities off from beloved swimming holes, and making more people vulnerable to flood disasters.

Vermont River Conservancy founders Mike Kline, Stephan Syz, and Tom Willard. Photo by John Lazenby

Over 30 years ago, when private landowners threatened to post “no trespassing” signs at a beloved local swimming hole on the Dog River, a group of volunteers (including Vermont River Conservancy’s founders: Stephan Syz, Mike Kline, and Tom Willard) stepped in to secure public access, forever. From this, Vermont River Conservancy was born. 

Vermont River Conservancy continues in this tradition today, working to make sure all people, no matter their background, can access a most universal resource — water — for swimming, angling, and paddling. The organization has grown to protect and restore floodplains and wetlands that are critical to help keep communities safe when floodwaters are high, work that’s increasingly important as we feel the very real impacts of climate change.

Friends and supporters gathered on July 24, 2024 – a reunion of sorts for folks who had been integral in Vermont’s River Conservancy’s history, and in the life of Stephan Syz. Photo by John Lazenby

Every climate change model predicts Vermont will see more floods and more droughts, impacts that are absorbed by our rivers and felt by our communities. This is where Vermont River Conservancy operates – at the nexus of land, water, and communities – lending urgency to our work, working in communities big and small to protect floodplains, wetlands, and headwater forests – projects that connect wildlife habitat and keep downtowns safer during floods.

Stephan’s intellect, community-centeredness, and ability to motivate people (as well as his humor) have all been instrumental in setting and shepherding Vermont River Conservancy on its path to current success. In addition to his vision and leadership, Stephan has inspired those around him to join in the work of VRC and then carry it forward.  His impact on the organization will be felt well into the future.