Defining, Managing, and Protecting River Corridors

Rob Evans Rivers Program Manager VT Department of Environmental Conservation Overview of River Corridors ▪ What are they? ▪ Why?

River Corridor program evolution Lewis Creek, Starksboro

Lamoille River, Cambridge

Current day water’s edge is often a relic of:

berming dredging draining channeling 200+ years

~ 50% of Vermont streams historically straightened N. Branch Deerfield River, Wilmington Inundation Browns River, Underhill VT Flood Hazard FEMA Flood Hazard Area Maps Under- represent flood risk Inundation Browns River, Underhill VT Flood Hazard FEMA Flood Hazard Area Maps Under- represent flood risk Browns River, Underhill VT River River Corridor Corridors factors FEMA Flood Hazard Area the dynamic nature of rivers into planning and regulation

9 Flood-related Erosion

Rochester, VT 2011

Chester, VT, 2011 Photo:Lars Gange Mansfield Heliflight Otter Creek, Mount Tabor, VT

River Corridor

11 Otter Creek, Mount Tabor, VT

River Corridor

Class 2 Wetland Missisquoi River, Richford, VT

River Corridor

Class 2 Wetland River Corridor

Class 2 Wetland

14 River Corridor 1990s - 3 Major Flood Disasters Program Development

Trout River, Montgomery, 1997

Settlement Brook, West Hill Brook, Montgomery, 1997 Cambridge, 1998 1999

“Expert opinion is converging around one central theme: establishing long-term river stability will provide both protection from flood damage and a healthy riverine environment.” 17 River Corridor 1990s 2000-2010 Program • Stream Geomorphic Development Assessment Protocols River Corridor 1990s 2000-2010 Program • Stream Geomorphic Assessment Development Protocols • 2003 Woodford-Packers VT Supreme Court Decision River Corridor 1990s Program 2000-2010 • Stream Geomorphic Assessment Development Protocols • 2003 Woodford-Packers VT Supreme Court Decision • Initial river corridor mapping work River Corridor 1990s Program 2000-2010 • Stream Geomorphic Assessment Development Protocols • 2003 Woodford-Packers VT Supreme Court Decision • Initial river corridor mapping work • River Corridor Easement Program River Corridor 1990s 2000-2010 Program • Stream Geomorphic Assessment Protocols Development • 2003 Woodford-Packers VT Supreme Court Decision • Initial river corridor mapping work • River Corridor Easement Program Development • Act 110 (2010)

Pittsfield, VT, 9/2/2011 River Corridor 1990s Program 2000-2010 Development 2011-2021 Tropical Storm Irene (2011) • New state regulation • New Incentives River Corridor 1990s Program 2000-2010 Development 2011-2021 Tropical Storm Irene (2011) • New state regulation • New Incentives

New Water Quality requirements River Corridor 1990s Program 2000-2010 Development 2011-2021 Tropical Storm Irene (2011) • New state regulation • New Incentives

New Water Quality requirements

Statewide River Corridor mapping 1. Municipal Permits (state model bylaws) Land Use Regulation

Avoidance Strategies & No Adverse Impact Standards 1. Municipal Permits (state model bylaws)

Land Use 2. State Land Use Permit (Act 250): Regulation

Avoidance Strategies & No Adverse Impact Standards 1. Municipal Permits (state model bylaws)

Land Use 2. State Land Use Permit (Act 250):

3. State Flood Hazard Area & River Regulation Corridor Permit

Avoidance Strategies & No Adverse Impact Standards River Corridors -A Planning and Implementation Tool to Align and Protect Public Values

Public Safety and Avoidance Ecological Integrity, Fish & Wildlife Resource Property Protection Strategies to Protect Floodplains & River Corridors

Water Quality and Quantity