News Archive
Help us save Journey’s End swimming hole in Johnson
Monday, November 5th, 2012
“Journey’s End” is a spectacular swimming hole and waterfall carved in the bedrock of Foote Brook, a cold water, steep stream flowing to the Lamoille River.
The land adjoining the falls is on the market as a house lot. Conserving this land will provide permanent public access to the Journey’s End swimming hole, provide access for anglers to a 2,500 foot reach of Foote Brook renowned for its high quality trout habitat, and conserve 30 acres along Foote Brook containing deer yards, songbird habitat, and forested buffer which protects the riparian habitat and ecological values of Foote Brook.
The Town of Johnson has agreed to be the long-term owner of this beautiful area, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has awarded VRC with 55% of the total project funds. Additional support from individual donors already totals $53,000. Your support is needed now to protect access for all to Journey’s End.
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Sign up now for a work day on the Connecticut River!
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Volunteers are needed to help the Vermont River Conservancy revitalize the windyhurst campsite, in Westmoreland, NH, on Saturday, May 4th.
Join us for a work party where we will be constructing a privy, picnic table, register box, and installing signage. Lunch will be included. Volunteers are invited to bring their paddling gear and join us for a celebratory afternoon paddle.
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2013
Host: Vermont River Conservancy
Location: Westmoreland, NH (approximately 10 miles from Brattleboro)
To sign up: Please RSVP to Noah Pollock (noah@vermontriverconservancy.
Help us save Journey’s End swimming hole in Johnson
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
“Journey’s End” is a spectacular swimming hole and waterfall carved in the bedrock of Foote Brook, a cold water, steep stream flowing to the Lamoille River.
The land adjoining the falls is on the market as a house lot. Conserving this land will provide permanent public access to the Journey’s End swimming hole, provide access for anglers to a 2,500 foot reach of Foote Brook renowned for its high quality trout habitat, and conserve 30 acres along Foote Brook containing deer yards, songbird habitat, and forested buffer which protects the riparian habitat and ecological values of Foote Brook.
The Town of Johnson has agreed to be the long-term owner of this beautiful area, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has awarded VRC with 55% of the total project funds. Additional support from individual donors already totals $53,000. Your support is needed now to protect access for all to Journey’s End.
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The Nops help conserve the Neshobe
Wednesday, March 6th, 2013
Warren, William and John Nop jointly run a large dairy farm in Addison and Rutland counties. And they are helping protect the Neshobe River’s natural meandering and flooding processes while protecting downstream infrastructure. This March, the Nop Brothers permanently conserved portions of the Neshobe.
Extensively flooded during tropical storm Irene, the Nop brothers found some of 
their crop fields almost impossible to keep farming. As this photo shows, the Neshobe created large flood chutes to release its energy after descending the steep slopes of the Greens and entering the low gradient river valley. Located adjacent to the Dilts property, also conserved by VRC – these two conserved parcels will help ensure the Neshobe has open land to flood so the river’s energy can dissipate before entering the downstream village of Brandon.
Funded by the VT Agency of Natural Resources Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program
Just Conserved: 6 acres on the Neshobe River
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
6 acres of the Dilts property was dramatically impacted by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, when the Neshobe River flooded these wooded floodplain forests.
This area functioned properly as a floodplain forest by collecting organic debris, sediment and slowing down flood waters, lessening floodwater impacts to downstream Brandon.
This parcel could have been cleared or developed in the future, but with the help of thoughtful landowners, VRC is ensuring the river will be allowed to move freely and the essential functions of the floodplain forest are protected.
Canoeing the CT, with Willem Lange & VRC
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
Perfect viewing for a cold winter day! Enjoy the balmy summer days floating down the Connecticut River with Vermont River Conservancy Board and staff, and river guide Willem Lange. See how the campsites and boat launches that comprise the Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail make for wonderful river trips, and start planning your own!
Thanks to Willem Lange and NH Public Television: Windows to the Wild.
Public Access x 2!
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
Watch this interview of VRC founder Stephan Syz, about the need to conserve public access to Vermont’s Rivers, on Senator Bill Doyle’s public access television show Vermont Issues!
Thank you Senator Bill Doyle and Orca Media – for helping VRC share the importance of protecting our state’s shorelands.
VRC & VLT partner with landowners to create riparian buffers on the Lamoille River
Thursday, February 7th, 2013
We are partnering with the Vermont Land Trust and willing landowners to help increase riparian buffers along the Lamoille River. The former power company Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, now Green Mountain Power, is helping fund feasibility research into expanding naturally vegetated riparian buffers in areas impacted by their operations. Increasing riparian buffers improves water quality, river bank stability, wildlife habitat, and flood resiliency.
Initial mapping of the targeted area has identified over thirty high priority parcels for creating riparian buffers – many on farm land already conserved by the Vermont Land Trust. VRC and VLT will work together with interested landowners to create a more ecologically robust and flood resilient Lamoille River. Creating riparian buffers upstream can help improve water quality downstream, and this has direct benefits for Lake Champlain, parts of which suffer from poor water quality in the summer.
Funding for this project is provided by Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) through the VT Agency of Natural Resources Ecosystem Restoration Grant program, and the Vermont Community Foundation’s Lake Champlain Tributaries Restoration grants.
Recently conserved: 23 acres on the South Branch of the Trout River
Monday, February 4th, 2013
For generations the Mercy’s have farmed along the banks of the South Branch of the Trout River. However, the difficulty of managing crops alongside an actively meandering river led Arnold and Linda Mercy to search out funded programs that could help them manage the risks of farming on river lands, and mitigate their crop losses. With a River Corridor Easement held by Vermont River Conservancy, the Mercy’s are permanently allowing the river to move freely, and are compensated for cropland they will no longer be planting in the 50 foot riparian buffers. Arnold describes this option “as the best one out there, since the river will move where it wants to anyways.” Farming next to the South Branch of the Trout River just became easier, and the river is now allowed to meander and flood as it needs, thus minimizing future tensions upstream and downstream.
Funded by the VT Agency of Natural Resources Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program
Double your donation to VRC with a 2012 MATCH!
Monday, November 5th, 2012
Steve Libby and Lydia Menendez in the VRC offices: "Thank you for your support!"
Throughout Vermont, the Vermont River Conservancy is employing a variety of new and innovative conservation approaches that help keep Vermont rivers open, accessible and healthy. Partnering with local watershed groups, the VT State Department of Environmental Conservation, and landowners, VRC is increasing its reach in areas that were adversely affected by Hurricane Irene’s flooding, and planning ahead to help communities weather future storms.
VRC needs your help to continue this important work.
This year your contribution will be doubled. A generous anonymous donor has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, any contribution made to VRC by December 31, 2012, up to a total match of $10,000. That means if you contribute $100, your gift will become $200; a $500 gift becomes $1,000. Larger donations will do so much more to expand our conservation work along our shorelines.
We deeply appreciate your support in preserving Vermont’s precious rivers and streams for future generations. See our 2012 & 2013 Featured project sheet for more information about what your support will make possible.
Make a secure online donation before December 31st, and help VRC improve flood resilience and preserve more access to all Vermont rivers.
