2021 VT Riparian Buffer Practitioners' Meeting Archive

Welcome to the 2021 VT Riparian Buffer Practitioners' Meeting archive! You can access the full schedule of presentations here. To watch a video of a session, see "Watch video" links below. Some presentation slides have been shared--those are linked from their descriptions.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Session 1 - Partner Updates       Watch video

  • Meeting background, logistics, and structure - Annalise Carington (USFWS, The Intervale Center) and Alison Adams (Watershed Forestry Partnership, UVM Extension)
  • Buffer restoration work planned for 2021, and key programs/funding updates - Holden Sparacino (VACD), Ben Gabos (NRCS), Katie Kain (USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife), Will Eldridge (VT Fish & Wildlife), Lyn Munno (WUV) with Michele Braun (Friends of the Winooski), and Allaire Diamond (Vermont Land Trust)
  • Brief additional partner updates, including Pete Emerson for VT Fish & Wildlife, Mike Kline for the Functioning Floodplains Initiative, Annalise Carington for US Fish & Wildlife and the Intervale Center, Mandy St. Hilaire (Propagate Ventures) and Alison Adams (UVM Extension, Watershed Forestry Partnership), and Lynda Prim and Kiana French (Intervale Conservation Nursery)

Session 2 - VT Department of Environmental Conservation and Act 76 Rollout       Watch video

  • Learn about Act 76 rollout and buffer tracking and accounting methods
  • Brainstorming discussion about support for long-term buffer establishment and maintenance

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Session 1 - Managing buffers for specific species       Watch video

Presenters describe the key design elements, management, and/or benefits of buffers for wildlife.

Session 2 - Innovations in restoration approaches       Watch video

Presenters describe new approaches and recent studies aimed at expanding our arsenal of restoration techniques to improve riparian forest establishment and health.

  • Process-based fluvial geomorphic restoration and the riparian zone - Shayne Jaquith and Megan Gordon (TNC Freshwater Program)
  • Site preparation and direct seeding: lessons learned and looking ahead in 2021 - Annalise Carington (USFWS, The Intervale Center)

Session 3 - Innovations in volunteer and landowner outreach       Watch video       

Presenters describe recent innovative approaches to landowner and/or volunteer outreach.

  • Recruiting and training volunteers for stewardship - Kristen Balchunat (Winooski NRCD) [and here are links to the checklist and waiver mentioned in the presentation, for use as templates]
  • Letter writing to landowners in the Memphremagog basin - Jess Colby (NorthWoods Stewardship Center)
  • Photovisualization of riparian buffers for landowners, farmers, and outreach providers - Stephanie Hurley (UVM Department of Plant & Soil Science)