River corridor and wetlands in Missisquoi floodplain protected

Latest in multi-year effort to advance clean water across the state

Vermont Business Magazine Land along three miles of the Missisquoi River and its tributaries, as well as 50 acres of wetlands, have been protected the Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy announced today. This is the latest in an ongoing effort by the two organizations to improve water quality in Vermont’s rivers that are a priority for clean water, biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.

The Missisquoi and its tributaries are a state-recognized priority for clean water efforts because they are impaired, lack forested buffers along the water’s edge, and have high phosphorus levels.

“This work is possible thanks to the State and partners coming together to support the shared goals of restoring Vermont’s streams, rivers, and wetlands, and protecting wildlife habitat,” said Sumana Serchan of the Vermont Land Trust.

The protected river corridor and wetlands span 135 acres and include sections of the Missisquoi as well as tributaries Mill Brook and Taft Brook. Due to planned restoration work, these sections of the river and streams will be able to flow without obstruction and stream banks on the shore will be reforested. The protected land is part of Karen and Pat O’Donnell’s nearly 350-acre farm.

“It truly takes partnerships to move the dial on water quality issues in Vermont. We are proud to work with farmers, businesses, other NGO’s like the Vermont Land Trust, and state agencies to protect river corridors and restore wetlands that slow and filter our waters naturally,” said Dr. Brenda Bergman, director of science and freshwater programs for The Nature Conservancy in Vermont.

This fall and next spring, the O’Donnells will be planting native trees and shrubs along the water, with assistance from the Vermont Land Trust and partners to reduce erosion and enhance wildlife habitat. They will also transition the lowest-lying and most unproductive fields to wetlands, improving the land’s ability to hold and slow down water entering streams.

A number of partners came together to support this project, including the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, which funded and led the design effort, USDA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife. The project was also made possible with funding provided by The Nature Conservancy under a grant from Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

About the Vermont Land Trust

The Vermont Land Trust is a statewide, member-supported, nonprofit land conservation organization. Since 1977, the Vermont Land Trust has protected 2,000 parcels of land covering nearly 600,000 acres. This includes more than 900 working farms and farmland parcels, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community lands. For more information, visit www.vlt.org.

The Nature Conservancy in Vermont is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on the ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We work in all 50 states and in over 65 countries. In Vermont, we have helped conserve over 300,000 acres of land, 2000 miles of shoreline, and we own and manage 58 natural areas. To learn more and support our important work, please visit: www.nature.org/vermont

Source: Vermont Land Trust. WESTFIELD & TROY, VT—11.24.2020