Jericho, Vermont – As the Restoration Ecologist for the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Karina D. is no stranger to the work of conserving and restoring Vermont’s waters.
“I love water and I really understand the importance of clean water and healthy habitats,” Karina shared. “When I heard about Stream Wise, I was really excited that this is something that is happening.”
Stream Wise is a voluntary property assessment and awards program. If you own or manage a property that contains a river or stream, you can reach out to trained and knowledgeable staff at Friends of the Winooski River (FWR) who are offering free site assessments and recommendations for increasing stream health and resiliency.
“I knew that I live within a watershed that was piloting Stream Wise and our watershed is smaller maybe than other tributaries in the Winooski, but I wanted to involve the community in this project and let the town of Jericho know that it is happening.”
Karina and her family have owned their land along Mill Brook for sixteen years and value its wildness. With steep 60-80 percent inclines down to the river, the land has never been logged. The old growth forest hosts giant hemlocks leading right to the river’s edge.
“We’ve always loved that and purposely haven’t created roads or access down to the river. We don’t even have a clear trail,” said Karina.
After inviting Heather Murphy, who worked for FWR, onto her property to conduct the voluntary Stream Wise Assessment, Karina and her family received the Stream Wise Award for Best Management Practices in a Vegetated Buffer.
Heather from FWR said, “this property is a great example of an old growth forest. The brook is able to meander through the forest and can access the floodplain. What a lovely example of a Stream Wise parcel within the Winooski watershed!”
The strong woody roots of the hemlock trees stabilize Mill Brook’s banks during rain and flood events. The tree canopy and understory vegetation helps slow, spread, and sink rainfall and snowmelt into the ground and also shade the stream, maintaining healthy fish habitat.
Karina shared that “it was great to just walk the river corridor with Heather and talk about the work she’s been doing and show her what this example of a healthy river system looks like in this watershed and at this elevation.”
If you want to show off your beautiful stream buffer or learn more about your land and opportunities to improve stream health and flood resiliency, contact a Stream Wise Assessor today!