LCBP Home> Education & Outreach> Materials & Programs> Champlain 2000

Graphic: WPTZ's Champlain 2000

More Weekly Segments






"The Trout River"
June 5, WPTZ NEWS CHANNEL 5

The Trout River restoration project was led by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC). A one mile stretch of the Trout River immediately downstream of Montgomery Center, Vermont was restored to revitalize the aesthetic beauty of the Trout River valley, protect Route 118 and adjacent properties from flooding, and provide trout habitat. The Lake Champlain Basin Program provided $32,000 towards this project.

To hold the new river channel in place, volunteers from the Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) planted about 25,000 willow whips. Willow whips quickly establish roots which stabilize the newly created river banks. Rye seed and fiber cocoa mats were placed on top to re-seed the river banks. During the spring, the MRBA planted native trees on top of the bank.

This effort not only protected the Missisquoi River Basin, but also Lake Champlain, which receives sediments and phosphorus from the rivers in the Basin. Restoring the river will also help alleviate the devastation from possible future flooding on Montgomery Center.

Restoring the Trout River also involved the US Fish and Wildife Service, the US Department of Agriculture, the US Geological Survey and community members. Many landowners adjacent to the river agreed to set aside 35 foot strips of land which are critical to river protection. Ben and Jerry's employees also planted trees.

Contacts:

Mike Kline, Restoration Ecologist
VT DEC
10 North, 2nd Floor
103 South Main St.
Waterbury, VT
(802) 241-3774

Cynthia Scott
Missisquoi River Basin Association Coordinator
12 Canada St. Suite 3
Swanton, VT 05488
(802) 868-5304

Eric Derleth
US Fish and Wildlife Service
11 Lincoln St. #7
Essex Jct., VT 05452
(802) 651-6313

David Hoyt
US Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service
27 Fisher Pond Road Suite 1.
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 527-1296

USGS
PO Box 628
Montpelier, VT 05601

List of other watershed/river organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin.

Trout River

The newly constructed river channel and bank, showing the reinforced bank with willow whips and rye seed.

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed on WPTZ NEWS CHANNEL 5's series "Champlain 2000" do not necessarily reflect the position of the Lake Champlain Basin Program or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.


Lake Champlain Basin Program
PO Box 204
54 West Shore Road
Grand Isle, Vermont 05458
To Contact LCBP: lcbp@lcbp.org
Telephone: (802) 372-3213 or 1-800-468-LCBP
http://www.lcbp.org

Send questions or comments on this web site to Nicole L. Ballinger at the LCBP.
Last Updated: June 5, 2000


Web site design by Nicole L. Ballinger (LCBP).