The Benefit Of Using Geomorphic Principles In Project Design: Case Studies From An Extreme Flood Event In The Poultney And Mettowee Watersheds; Tropical Storm Irene, August 28-29, 2011

The Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) is located in southern Vermont and is comprised of lands in the Poultney and Mettowee watersheds, which drain to the narrow South Lake of Lake Champlain. The District, with assistance from the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has conducted Phase 1 Stream Geomorphic Assessments (mapping and digital resources with a quick field verification) on the entire main stem and many of the tributaries of the Poultney and Mettowee Rivers. Additionally, Phase 2, or field-level assessments, have been conducted on the main stem and select tributaries within these watersheds. The goal of these assessments is to understand and promote long-term stream stability, which in the Poultney and Mettowee watersheds, will lead to decreased phosphorus transportation to Lake Champlain. Each geomorphic assessment posits a number of predictions about stream stability and probable future adjustments and makes recommendations for compatible stream corridor projects and infrastructure management. This study will review projects that used geomorphic data in their design and evaluate their ability to withstand the floodwaters of Tropical Storm Irene. Grant no. NA10OAR4170063 t