White River Streambank Restoration

streambank stabilization work along the Middle Branch of the White River

Through the cooperative efforts of Vermont landowner Ruth Shumway, the White River District, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and NRCS, over 4,600 feet of riparian area along the Second Branch of the White River in Randolph have been enhanced in through a Wildlife Habitat Restoration Agreement.

Originally, cattle were fenced out of the Second Branch of the White River so a bridge could be constructed to allow for the natural regeneration of woody species and additional grazing accessibility.  Preventing cattle access to the stream however, was not enough to stop the stream from meandering and subsequent flooding that created unstable reaches that threatened cattle access to grazing paddocks.

With Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program funds and help from the Partners for Wildlife Program, the approach to the bridge was stabilized and through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the water line was protected.  In 2005, the White River Partnership, a local citizen group; the White River District working with NRCS and the Agricultural Management Assistance program began further streambank stabilization work by planting forested riparian buffers along the Middle Branch of the White River under the partnership’s Trees for Streams project.
 Your contact is Anne Hilliard, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 802-951-6796, ext. 234.