Vermont's Response to the Tropical Storm Irene Flood of 2011: How a 10-Year Investment to Develop Process-Based River Corridor Planning Tools Is Paying Dividends

Prior to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the State of Vermont Rivers Program and its many partners had worked to lay the foundation for the protection of fluvial geomorphic-based river corridors. This work included the characterization of modern day river corridor conflicts in light of historical river management, and the assessment of geomorphic and aquatic habitat conditions on major river systems. As a result of this work, most of Vermont’s river stakeholders understood the connections between ill-advised flood recovery and the degradation of river ecosystem services.

Widespread damage to property and infrastructure during the 2011 flood illustrated the scale and magnitude of Vermont’s vulnerability to flooding and fluvial erosion. Although 2011 flood recovery efforts were arguably less damaging to river ecosystems than in past floods, a persistent belief that dredging and berming rivers and floodplains reduces flood risks led to dozens of river miles being channelized. Over the last three years, Vermont has continued developing tools and strategies to meet multiple objectives of flood risk reduction and protection of aquatic habitat and water quality, including technical manuals and training programs, a revised stream alteration permit, new river corridor mapping and protection procedures, and standards for municipal emergency actions during floods.