Assessing Floodplain Function
Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD) worked with researchers from Fitzgerald Environmental Associates to assess floodplain function in the Flower Brook watershed, with the goal of identifying restoration opportunities that will reduce flooding, improve water quality, and strengthen the resilience of communities in the South Lake Champlain watershed. By examining both erosion in the headwaters and chronic flooding and sediment deposition downstream, the project developed a watershed-wide understanding of how restoring natural floodplain processes can better protect people, infrastructure, and aquatic ecosystems.
Project partners completed extensive Stream Geomorphic Assessments, collected new watershed data, and field-tested Vermont’s Functioning Floodplain Initiative methods for prioritizing restoration projects. The work combined technical analysis with ongoing collaboration among municipalities, landowners, state agencies, and conservation partners to ensure that recommended projects were both scientifically sound and supported by the local community.
The assessment identified 68 potential restoration and flood mitigation projects, which were evaluated based on their ability to reduce flood hazards, improve ecological function, decrease phosphorus loading, and be implemented successfully. Thirteen high-priority projects were developed into detailed opportunity summaries, and three advanced to 30% conceptual designs, creating a strong pipeline of implementation-ready projects that will improve floodplain connectivity, store more floodwater and sediment upstream, and reduce downstream impacts on Pawlet Village and Lake Champlain.
Beyond identifying restoration opportunities, the project created valuable datasets and planning tools that will support future flood resilience efforts across Vermont. The information collected will be shared through the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s project database and will help guide future restoration, strengthen partnerships with landowners and municipalities, and advance projects that improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and restore healthy watershed function throughout the Flower Brook watershed.