Road work being done in Ludlow on July 11, 2023. VermontBiz courtesy photo.
Vermont Business Magazine Flood events require work within rivers and streams to protect and repair human investments and related infrastructure. Towns have the authority to implement Emergency Protective Measures to protect public safety when a flood occurs.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulates activities in rivers and streams to ensure that work does not create additional flood hazards. The most common issue after a flood is over-dredging of rivers or excessive streambank filling.
While limited excavations and streambank stabilization may be needed to maintain river channel capacity and protect investments, over-dredging or over-filling creates a much more unstable river which threatens adjacent property and infrastructure during the next flood. The Fish and Wildlife Department (FWD) recommends leaving boulders, log jams, and other natural structures in streams when not hazardous to human safety. This can help streams and rivers by slowing floodwaters and benefits ecological recovery and fish populations.
For work that needs to be done in rivers and streams to recover from the recent July flooding, the following measures must be taken:
- Towns are required to report the location and nature of Emergency Protective Measure work to DEC within 72 hours. Alternatively, location information and narrative description can be emailed to [email protected].
- Take photos of the work before and after completion. Photo documentation may help determine if the work is eligible for available disaster recovery funds.
- Comply with the State Stream Alteration Rule for any instream work. This work may require follow-up work to ensure compliance and qualify for federal reimbursement for eligible work.
DEC may require a permit and follow-up work at a later date if deemed necessary for a safe river condition.
For more information on flood recovery resources from the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Department, or the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, visit https://ANR.Vermont.gov/Flood.
Stay Informed:
Health Information: HealthVermont.gov/Flood
Environmental Information: ANR.Vermont.gov/Flood
Agriculture Information: Agriculture.Vermont.gov/Flood
511 Road Conditions: https://newengland511.org/region/Vermont
NWS Albany social media: https://www.facebook.com/NWSAlbany/ or https://twitter.com/NWSAlbany
NWS Burlington social media: https://www.facebook.com/NWSBurlington or https://twitter.com/NWSBurlington
Vermont river levels and forecast: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=btv
Source: 7.14.2023. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Montpelier Website
