Flood Resiliency & Shoreline Protection
According to the National Climate Assessment, very heavy precipitation events have increased by more than 70% in the Lake Champlain basin since the late 1950s. Annual total precipitation has increased consistently over the past century in the basin. As a result of these trends and increasing population, more homes, businesses, and communities have been impacted by shoreline flooding and inundation in recent years. Shoreline erosion also threatens to reduce fish spawning areas which could impact the health of the lake’s fisheries. It can also increase the risk of encroachment by invasive plant species along shorelines.
To promote shoreline protection and flood resiliency, Lake Champlain Sea Grant staff:
- Host educational workshops for real estate professionals about Vermont’s Shoreland Protection Act guidelines;
- Work on the Public Advisory Group of the Lake Champlain Richelieu River Flood Study;
- Partner with local organizations to develop watershed resiliency scorecards;
- Educate municipalities about actions they can take to build environmentally resilient communities.
Learn more about Lake Champlain Sea Grant's flood resiliency projects and initiatives in this 2020 presentation (PDF).
Watershed Scorecards Planning for Flood Resiliency
In partnership with the Friends of the Winooski River, the Missisquoi River Basin Association, and the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, UVM Extension and Lake Champlain Sea Grant developed Watershed Flood Resiliency Scorecards for the Lamoille, Missisquoi and Winooski River Basins to introduce local planning commissions to the importance of protecting river corridors. These scorecards outline state and federal benefits for which communities are eligible if municipalities protect land alongside rivers from encroachment.
- Lamoille Watershed Scorecard (PDF)
- Missisquoi Watershed Scorecard (PDF)
- Winooski Watershed Scorecard (PDF)
- Updated maps for the three watersheds (PDF)
Members of the partnership are available to present information contained in the scorecards to local planning, zoning, and conservation commissions, or other groups interested in learning about river corridor protection, and to discuss options that communities have to gain financial protections in the event of a flood. To date, team members have presented to local planning commissions at meetings, through webinars, and at community events along with hands-on model stream displays. Contact kstepenu [at] uvm.edu (Kris Stepenuck) to schedule an event in your town.
Municipal Flood Resilience
In partnership with state, nonprofit, and local organizations, Lake Champlain Sea Grant staff educate municipal officials and staff on actions they can take to build environmentally resilient communities. Lake Champlain Sea Grant interacts regularly with communities, hosts webinars on flood resilience funding opportunities and floodplain management, and conducted a 2021 needs assessment of Lake Champlain basin municipal officials.