Notice: Vermont River Conservancy is seeking to contract with a qualified engineering firm to design the removal of four obsolete dams. This project seeks to conduct engineering studies, assessments, and permitting to remove four dams on the Winooski River and North Branch.
Proposal due date has been extended to:
August 18, 2023
We met with school groups and seniors, longtime residents and new transplants, businesses and families. We shared some of Montpelier’s river history — from Abenaki to industrial to present day – and asked the community what they want for the future of these rivers.
The resounding response? A quiet place to sit and eat lunch by the river, a spot to splash with kids or launch a kayak, a path to walk and benches to sit on, a spot for music and celebration.
This is exactly what we mean when we ask communities how they want to “Face the River.” We envision a Vermont where rivers aren’t the nowhereland behind buildings and parking lots; a time when rivers are vibrant places to connect with the river, and with the community.
Two big projects grew directly from these conversations.
First, we’re working closely with the City of Montpelier to develop Confluence River Park, a new downtown destination that will include ADA access to the river, boat launch, fishing platform, installation artwork, kids’ discovery and play features, and plenty of places to meet for lunch.
Second, we’re now looking at the river itself, and looking into what the rivers would be like without so many dams. Could it someday be possible to float from Barre to Montpelier? How much polluted soil is backed up behind area dams, and would rivers be safer for fish and people if the soil were trucked out? We have more questions than answers now – we’re focusing on learning all the details via engineering studies and community conversations – but we’re hopeful that these studies will point us all towards steps we can take to make our rivers safer for fish and people.
Give today to help communities like Montpelier "Face the River"
After Tropical Storm Irene devastated downtown Brattleboro, all eyes turned to 250 Birge Street, one of the best opportunities to slow future floods. We stepped up to buy the 12-acre property. Now we’re cleaning it up, restoring it as a floodplain, and building a riverfront park.
The Browns River runs through the heart of this Champlain Valley community, but it's hard to actually get to the river. We're working gain public access in downtown Westford, creating places where people can walk, splash, and fish.
Along the popular Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in Wolcott, visitors will soon be treated to a new river access site -- the perfect place to cool off after a bike ride, bring a picnic and splash in pools, or launch your kayak to experience Lamoille River rapids.
