Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative [VERI] Enosburgh, VT Commun i t y Repor t J u l y 2015 Acknowledgements The Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative was partially supported by US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). Thanks to EDA’s Matthew Suchodolski and Debra Beavin for their support and guidance of the project. Thanks to the project team for their insight and expertise: Thanks to the project team for their insight and expertise: Vermont Department of Windham Regional Commission Housing and Community Development • Jeff Nugent • Chris Cochran • Kim Smith • Wendy Rice • Ken Jones Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional • Faith Ingulsrud Commission • Melissa Prindiville • Peter Gregory • • Pete Fellows Lucie MacAskill • Annina Seiler Rutland Regional Planning Commission • Richard Amore • Laura Keir Vermont Department of • Ed Bove Environmental Conservation • Steve Schild • Mike Kline Central Vermont Regional Planning • Staci Pomeroy Commission • Rebecca Pfeiffer • Daniel Currier • Chris Brunelle • Gail Aloisio Vermont Agency of Transportation Northwest Regional Planning Commission • Joe Segale • Bethany Remmers • Jonathan Croft • Taylor Newton Thanks also to the Vermont Department of Labor, the Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Economic & Policy Resources, Inc, and the Office of the State Auditor for their assistance with data gathering and analysis. Thanks to the consulting firms for their work developing the five community reports and recommendations. Their dedication, creativity and skill not only provided a strong work plan for the municipalities, but serve as models for all Vermont communities. Special thanks to Mary Nealon for her leadership in bringing this talented team together and Roy Schiff for his work as lead in Enosburgh. • Bear Creek Environmental, LLC: Mary Nealon • DuBois & King, Inc.: Matt Murawski • Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, LLC: Evan Fitzgerald • Landslide Natural Resource Planning, Inc.: Amy Sheldon • Milone & MacBroom, Inc.: Roy Schiff Thanks to the Town of Enosburgh, Village of Enosburg Falls and all those who participated in stakeholder meetings, community forums, morning coffee meetings and took the time to review, edit, comment and provide the local perspective for this project. Thanks to the members of the General Assembly, Selectboard, Planning Commission, town staff, the Chamber of Commerce, businesses and citizens. Your participation greatly improved the report. Noelle MacKay, Commissioner of Housing and Community Development Table of Contents Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative (VERI): Enosburgh Executive Summary ......................... i List of Acronyms .............................................................................................................................................. v Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................................................ vi Project Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Why was Enosburgh Selected? .................................................................................................................... 2 Study Area ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Research and Outreach ................................................................................................................................. 4 Flood History and Town Accomplishments ................................................................................................. 6 Flood History and Risk ................................................................................................................................. 6 Town Accomplishments ............................................................................................................................... 8 Town Wide Flood Policy .......................................................................................................................... 8 Site Specific ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Strategies and Projects to Protect Enosburgh ............................................................................................. 10 Municipal Policy and Program Recommendations ................................................................................. 10 Specific Project Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 12 Channel and Floodplain Management .................................................................................................. 14 Infrastructure Improvements ................................................................................................................ 14 Conceptual Designs ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Missisquoi River Berm Removal ............................................................................................................... 16 Overview and Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 16 Data Collection and Alternatives Analysis ........................................................................................... 16 Conceptual Design .................................................................................................................................. 17 Steps for Project Implementation ......................................................................................................... 18 Project Benefits ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Tyler Branch Corridor Conservation ........................................................................................................ 18 Project Overview and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 18 Data Collection and Alternatives Analysis ........................................................................................... 19 Conceptual Design .................................................................................................................................. 19 Steps for Project Implementation ......................................................................................................... 19 Project Benefits ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Local Road Improvements on Detour Routes Used During Missisquoi River Flooding ................ 20 Project Overview and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 20 Data Collection and Alternatives Analysis ........................................................................................... 20 Conceptual Design .................................................................................................................................. 21 Steps for Project Implementation ......................................................................................................... 22 Project Benefits ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Next Steps ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Education and Outreach ............................................................................................................................. 24 What Can Individuals Do to Reduce their Risks?................................................................................... 26 Steps to Reduce Risks ............................................................................................................................. 26 What Can Businesses Do to Reduce their Risks? ................................................................................... 27 Steps to Reduce Risks ............................................................................................................................. 28 References ......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Figures and Tables Figure 1: Project location map ......................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Broad Tyler Branch floodplain ........................................................................................................ 3 Figure 3: Bedrock gorge on Tyler Branch near West Enosburgh .............................................................. 3 Figure 4: Old rock armor on the outside of the channel bend is common along most of Tyler Branch .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Figure