Landowners and land managers have a direct impact on flooding and the capacity of land to withstand storm events through their land management practices. Well managed lands help reduce flooding and its impacts by stabilizing soils, thereby minimizing erosion, and retaining water onsite, which reduces peak runoff and the damaging energy of floodwaters.
Join us for a land management workshop on Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 10am to 3pm to learn about best management practices (BMPs) for flood- and erosion-prone lands and the programs and resources that are available to help landowners conserve their properties. Designed for landowners, farmers, foresters, and other land-based professionals, this workshop will create a framework for understanding river dynamics, healthy vs. impacted streams, the essentials of managing forest and agricultural lands and the basics of riverbank restoration.
The morning session, located at the Grafton Elementary School in Grafton Vermont, will include a dynamic series of presentations by representatives from government agencies and non-profit organizations on rivers, BMPs for land management, and available resources. The afternoon session will include a field trip to a nearby landowners’ property with breakout sessions that will enable participants to explore specific topics in-depth. A stream table demonstration will also be held at the school during the afternoon session to demonstrate river dynamics and its impact on land and infrastructure.
This program is funded through a grant from the High Meadows Fund and is a project of the Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative, a partnership of towns, state and regional agencies, and other organizations, committed to addressing flood resiliency at a watershed scale. The collaborative includes the Towns of: Grafton, Westminster, Windham, and Rockingham, and the following core partners: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Windham Regional Commission, Grafton Elementary School, Vermont River Conservancy, Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Windham Foundation, and Trout Unlimited Connecticut River Chapter.
Please RSVP by October 13. Space may be limited. While this event is open to all, because this program is funded through a Saxtons River Watershed initiative, preference may be given to landowners and other stakeholders of the Saxtons River Watershed. The event is free and lunch will be provided. To RSVP or for additional information about the workshop or the Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative, please contact Kim Smith at ksmith@windhamregional.org or (802) 257-4547 ext. 108. More information on the High Meadows Fund initiative can be found online at www.highmeadowsfund.org/watershed-resilience.
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