December 17, 2020

Woody Buffer Block Grant Completed

MONTPELIER, VT – Thanks to the 2019-2020 Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Woody Buffer Block Grant, Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) has subgranted more than $120,000 to watershed groups over two years to develop and implement riparian buffer plantings in Vermont. Planting riparian buffers along streams and rivers is a key strategy to stabilize streambanks; reduce nutrient, sediment and pollutant runoff; and improve aquatic and riparian habitat. 

Thanks to the Woody Buffer Block Grant, WUV awarded funds to 6 watershed groups to develop and implement woody buffer plantings. Subgrants were awarded to Friends of the Winooski River, White River Partnership, Connecticut River Conservancy, Friends of the Mad River, Missisquoi River Basin Association, and the Passumpsic Valley Land Trust. Through this Woody Buffer Block grant, these watershed organizations planted a total of 25 plantings in 2019 and 2020, comprising 33 acres and covering 30,377 linear feet. These watershed groups partnered with countless municipalities, conservation organizations, work crews, and volunteers to plant thousands of trees and shrubs along our streams and rivers. These tree plantings will benefit the state in years to come, leading to cleaner water and healthier watersheds. 

Like so much else during 2020, Covid-19 impacted how and when watershed groups conducted plantings this year. Covid-19 hit just as the spring planting season was getting underway, and plantings are often dependent on volunteers, particularly school groups. Watershed groups worked hard through the challenges and adjusted their plans including using established work crews and shifting some plantings until the fall. Despite the difficulties, watershed groups had a successful planting season in 2020.

WUV has additional funding from the Vermont DEC to support watershed groups with new woody buffer plantings in 2021 and spring of 2022. These buffer plantings would not be possible without the support of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and these plantings would not be developed or implemented without the commitment and expertise of Vermont’s watershed groups.  

Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) is a state-wide network of local groups dedicated to improving the health of their home watersheds. WUV’s mission is to empower community-based watershed groups throughout the state to protect and restore Vermont’s waters. Please contact WUV at [email protected] or (802) 585-3569 with any questions about the Woody Buffer Block Grant Program