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Winooski River Basin Planning

North Branch Winter Whitewater and Coits Pond at Headwaters, Upper Winooski Basin

The Winooski River headwaters begin in the Town of Cabot and the water flows 90 miles to Lake Champlain in Colchester. Draining approximately 1,080 square miles, the Winooski River watershed encompasses all of Washington County, about half of Chittenden County, and portions of Lamoille and Orange Counties. The 7 major tributaries of the Winooski River are the Little River, Kingsbury Branch, North Branch, Stevens Branch, Dog River, Mad River, and Huntington River. Over 70% of the Winooski River watershed is forested, and prominent land uses include agriculture (12%), transportation (5%) and developed land (4%). The watershed is home to a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plant species that are part of a diverse natural community system.

See below for additional information:

Color map of the Winooski River basin with major tributary watersheds highlighted (pdf, 3.2 MB)
Detailed Map of the Lower Winooski - Bolton Falls to Mouth (pdf, 6 MB)
Detailed Map of the Upper Winooski - Headwaters to Bolton Falls (pdf, 7.5 MB)
Winooski River Basin Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat Assessment Report (4/08) (pdf, 4 MB)

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began a watershed initiative in Winooski River watershed with the hiring of a new Watershed Coordinator in the spring of 2006. The Current Watershed Coordinator will be working with community members within the basin, initiating a comprehensive planning process that will identify and prioritize state and local water quality issues and implement on-the-ground watershed protection and restoration projects. Some watershed protection and restoration measures include establishing riparian buffers, securing riparian easements, assisting towns with updates to town plans and zoning, streambank and gully stabilization, stormwater management, road erosion control projects, and agricultural best management practice implementation. The Watershed Coordinator will collaborate with state, federal and municipal organizations, local conservation groups, businesses, and a variety of landowners and interested citizens to develop the Winooski Basin Plan. The purpose of the basin plan is to protect the values of high quality water resources, and restore the waters which do not meet the Vermont Water Quality Standards.

For more information about the basin or becoming involved in this important effort, please contact:

Karen Bates in Essex Junction (802-879-2339)

Council and Public Meeting Notices

The Upper Winooski Planning Council is meeting Tuesday March 24th at the VLCT offices in Montpelier City Center- 6:30 to 8:00 pm to discuss the Goals, Objectives and Strategies draft document. If you are interested in participating in the meeting please contact Karen Bates at 879-2339 or karen.bates@state.vt.us.

The Lower Winooski Planning Council is meeting Tuesday March 30th at the ANR regional office in Essex Junction - (Time TBD) to discuss the Goals, Objectives and Strategies draft document. If you are interested in participating in the meeting please contact Karen Bates at 879-2339 or karen.bates@state.vt.us.

Additional Resources

Planning Progress

Upper Winooski Planning Process Draft Goals, Objectives and Strategies (pdf, 137KB)

Lower Winooski Planning Process Draft Goals, Objectives and Strategies (pdf, 60KB)

Meeting Notes & Meeting Summary Notes

2007 Progress Report to Legislature on Basin Planning (1/08) (pdf, 609 KB)

2008 Progress Report to Legislature on Basin Planning (1/09) (pdf, 526 KB)

Links to Programs or Organizations with Specific Ties to the Winooski River Basin

DEC Maps, Mapping Programs and GIS Information

Lake Champlain Basin Program

Center for Clean and Clear

Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions