Contact Us

More information is available on our website (http://www.vtwsr.org/), including the local Study Committee members from your town. 

Please contact us at:  info@vtwsr.org;
802-393-0076; or

2839 VT Route 105, East Berkshire, VT 05447

Our Next meeting is February 16, 2012 at the Enosburg Public Library.  Agenda will include the finalization of ORVs.

June is Vermont Wild & Scenic Rivers month!

We have many scheduled events and programs in June for you to enjoy and learn more about the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers.  Click "read more" for a listing of events.

Vermont Wild & Scenic Rivers Film Festival

Please join us for a Wild & Scenic Rivers Film Festival! We will be showing a collection of river-themed short and full-length films on two seperate nights:

Friday, April 20th
7:00-9:30pm
Montgomery Grange

and

Saturday, April 21st
2:00-4:30pm
Westfield Community Center

 Download the full schedule here.

T-Shirt Design Contest!

We are collecting submissions for our T-Shirt design contest.  The winner receives a dog sled ride from Montgomery Adventures! The second place artist receives two river innertubes.  

 

The Design Should Show:

• What’s important about the Upper Missisquoi & Trout Rivers
• How the rivers bring people together
• What the rivers mean to you
  
  
  

Download an entry form here!

The deadline to submit your artwork is May 4th, 2012.  All designs should be submitted to:
Shana Stewart Deeds
VT Wild and Scenic River Study
2839 VT Route 105
East Berkshire, VT 05447
info(at)vtwsr.org

The Section 7 Process: Roles of The Wild & Scenic Study Committee and the National Park Service in VT Agency of Transportation Projects

Jamie Fosburgh, National Park Service (NPS), outlined the Section 7 process as it relates to a designated Wild and Scenic River.  He passed out a list of bridge projects the park service has dealt with on designated Wild and Scenic rivers.  Based on the input from the Study Committee, he anticipates that the covered bridges within the study area would be identified as an outstandingly remarkable value (ORV) and gave examples of the types of issues that have come up on other designated rivers.  He noted that the authority to review under Section 7 exists during the study period, not just once or if the river is designated. 

Focus on bridge projects – the range of Committee/NPS involvement and discussion bridge projects in designated rivers

Discussion of the Montgomery Covered Bridges as an example, with special guest Richard Tetreault from VTrans

Richard Tetreault is the Director of Program Development at VTrans.  He explained that when appropriate, VTrans aims to rehabilitate or restore covered bridges instead of replacing them with a metal structure.  He noted that there is a historic preservation officer at the agency and he pointed out examples of covered bridges that have been rehabilitated by VTrans.  Rich explained that there is a landscape architect on staff to deal with the issues of replanting trees/vegetation after a bridge or roadway project.  VTrans has also developed alternative state design standards so the state has more flexibility to design projects so you do not have to default to the federal standards that may not be appropriate for the rural context.  VTrans reached out to Oregon and New Hampshire DOTs to get their experience with Wild and Scenic process.  VTrans reviewed the regulations and did not see anything of concern.  He noted that there were “no show stoppers” for VTrans.  Rich suggested the committee contact John Narowski from the Environmental Section of VTrans. 

Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Management plan to be completed in 2012

One of the study committee’s responsibilities in applying for federal Wild & Scenic designation is the creation of a management plan for the study rivers.  The management plan provides relevant background information on the designation process, describes the key features of the rivers (called Outstandingly Remarkable Values, or ORVs) that qualify them for Wild & Scenic designation, and outlines the priorities for management of the river and its ORVs if designation is achieved.  The basic structure of the management plan was discussed and agreed upon by the study committee at the November 17^th, 2011 meeting in Richford, VT.  Please review the draft table of contents of the management plan; feel free to comment here or contact us about the plan structure or content.  You may view the draft plan outline here.