Amy Sheldon Watershed Coordinator

February 3, 2004

WHITE

State of Vermont

•454,000 acres (710 sq. miles)

• 56 mile main stem

• Over 100 miles with tributaries

•21 towns

• 40,000 residents

The Watershed

Middle Branch

First Branch

Upper White River

Middle White RiverLower White River

Third Branch

Why the White River?• Largest un-dammed tributary

to the Connecticut River;• Longest free flowing river in

Vermont;• Atlantic salmon restoration

river;• Significant recreational

resource for residents and tourists -- one of the longest uninterrupted boating runs in New England.

1996 Public Forums

• 11,000 mailings• Six listening forums• Over 150 participants• Resulted in seven priority areas

Seven Priority Areas1. Water quality2. Riparian habitat3. Streambank erosion4. Public awareness of problems5. Public access to the river6. Point source and non-point

source pollution7. Maintaining a working

landscape (agricultural and forest)

Our Mission Our mission is to help local communities balance the long-term cultural, economic and environmental health of the White River Watershed through active citizen participation.

1999 Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP)

2000 U.S. Forest Service Community-

Based Watershed Restoration Grant

• One of 15 watersheds chosen nationally

• 1.2 million dollars over 5 years

• Building a long term presence

The Partnership Today

• Decentralized

• Consensus based

• Focus on lasting change

Our Work Program

1. Watershed wide assessment;

2. River restoration;

3. Economic sustainability;

4. Outreach and Education;

5. Stewardship.

State of the Partnership• Six functioning stream

teams;• Active 11 member

board;• 300 volunteers

planting trees in the spring;

• 30 volunteers collecting weekly water quality samples;

• Two full time staff, 1 Summer water quality intern, 2 Assessment Consultants (summer & computer);

Middle Branch

First Branch

Upper White River

Middle White RiverLower White River

Third Branch

State of the Partnership• Two partner staff

dedicated to restoration projects in the watershed;

• Six partner staff assisting with restoration projects in the watershed;

• Riparian tree planting program with the conservation district;

• Upper River Pilot Project;

• Forestry Work Group.

$130

$202$185

$85 $85$99

$85$80

$0$50

$100

$150$200$250

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year

Do

llars

in t

ho

us

and

s

NFS

SPF

USFS Support

Total Support = $951,000

Accomplishments Assessment

• Phase I completed on over 700 reaches – currently being updated to final version;

• Phase II field assessment done for 240 reaches.

M8

T1.2

M7

T2.1-S1 M8-S2

T3.1

T2.1

M8-S1

M10-S1

M12

M9

M11

M9-S

1M10

M11-S

1

T4.

1-S

1

T2.2

-S1

AccomplishmentsRestoration

• Continue to take on new restoration challenges that engage our partners AND benefit the watershed;

• 3.5 miles of streambank stabilized and in-stream habitat restored;

• 800 volunteers have planted 7,000 trees in 4 miles of riparian area.

Accomplishments

Economic development • UVM Forestry

research; • AMP research with

County Forester; • Increased local

capacity among contractors;

• Created promotional watershed map.

AccomplishmentsOutreach &

Education• Topnotch newsletter

that people read!• User friendly,

inexpensive web page that we maintain and update regularly;

• Developing six sub-watershed signs;

• Development of six watershed “quests.”

Accomplishments

Stewardship

• 240 contributing members;

• Attracting outside funding;

• Continue to engage new partners;

• Volunteer commitment remains high.

Frustrations & Barriers • Achieving balance between community

involvement/process & getting things done (restoration projects, riparian planting programs etc.);

• Increasing project capacity when outside partners have statewide commitments;

• Consistently working on the edge of local and perhaps national experience (first to use the State’s assessment protocol, first to complete different types of geomorphic based restoration projects);

Frustrations & Barriers• Disconnect between how we do restoration

projects (natural channel design) and “conventional wisdom” of gravel extraction and hard armoring;

• Volunteer leadership skills;• Volunteer time – re: community collaborative

challenge – getting small business owners to make time for a shared vision when they are working hard on their own businesses.

For more information:

www.whiteriverpartnership.org