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Water Quality Monitoring

Geomorphic Assessments

Thermal Monitoring

Geomorphic Assessments

waterfall on Pond Hill Brook was included in the geomorphic assessment

Nearly every stream and river in the state of Vermont is undergoing change. The PMWP is hoping that by learning more about those changes, and why they occur, they will be better able to address long term water quality issues.

The ways that scientists measure stream stability and health is slowly evolving as more is learned about the interaction between streams and the landscape. The term for this study is "fluvial geomorphology," which simply means learning why rivers and streams change over time. Sometimes these changes are natural or imperceptible. More often, streams are showing increased flood-related problems, erosion along the streambanks and changes in fish and other freshwater populations. These streams and rivers are adjusting to channel, flood plain, or watershed changes imposed in years past by natural occurrences and by human activities such as placing rock on streambanks, creating roads along river banks or placing narrow bridges over the river.

In 2005, PMWP and partners conducted geomorphic assessments on the Castleton, Hubbardton and Mettowee Rivers and many of their tributaries. The studies on the Castleton were originally carried out by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, while the studies on the Hubbardton were under supervision of The Nature Conservancy and those on the Mettowee were being completed through the Poultney Mettowee NRCD and Partnership. All of these projects received technical assistance from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

In 2006, the PMNRCD expand studies on the Castleton River, Poultney River and Mettowee River and selected tributaries in each watershed with funding from the VT Agency of Natural Resources River Corridor Program, part of the state Clean and Clear Program. This work is scheduled to continue through the spring of 2007. Current assessments include phase 2 field assessments, which culminate in project recommendations. These assessments are being conducted by field geomorphologists Lisa Godfrey (Poultney River) and Kristen Underwood (Castleton River and Mettowee River). As a result of the assessments we will be reviewing flood and erosion hazard data and project recommendations with towns and affected residents in the watershed.