Learn about the Bailey (or Shaw’s) dam in Montpelier in this short 4-minute video, then embark on a tour of Montpelier’s riverfront, including all four dams Vermont River Conservancy is working to remove. These projects will mitigate flood impacts, create recreation opportunities, and make the river a better place for humans and wildlife alike.
The video and map above have been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) under assistance agreement (LC00A00981-0) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
See our other projects along Montpelier's riverfront.
Piled high with industrial fill, these 12 acres didn't flood during Tropical Storm Irene, instead pushing Whetstone Brook into neighbors' homes and downtown businesses. To fix this problem, we bought these 12-acres, hauled out gravel, and restored the ancient floodplain and wetland.
Generations of locals and college students have wandered the trails at this site, passing under towering oaks and past beaver wetlands. Soon, this unique forest will be permanently protected, securing public access for years to come and helping protect water quality in the Green River Watershed.
Vermont’s capital is a river city, with four rivers meeting downtown. When we asked people what future they’d like to see for these rivers, responses were nearly unanimous: riverfront parks and cafes, access for splashing, tubing, and paddling, and fewer dams. Now, we’re working to make that dream a reality.