WRP receives grants to improve flood resilience

The White River Partnership (WRP) has received two grants to implement community planning and on-the-ground restoration projects to improve flood resilience in the Upper White River valley, which includes the towns of Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Stockbridge.

The High Meadows Fund (HMF) mission is to promote vibrant communities and a healthy natural environment while encouraging long-term economic vitality in Vermont. HMF funds will enable the WRP and its partners to facilitate conversations within and between the five Upper White River communities to identify and prioritize key flood resilience projects; and to provide access to technical experts and resources in order to develop projects that have a high likelihood of success.

Vermont’s Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) takes action to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution from uncontrolled runoff into our streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, and lakes.  The WRP will use ERP funds to acquire a conservation easement and to restore native vegetation on a field along the White River above Hancock village. Allowing the river to access this critical floodplain will reduce the speed and erosive power of flood waters before they reach Hancock village.

The WRP thanks HMF and ERP for their generous support of our 2015 flood resilience projects!