Nearly every stream and river in the state of Vermont is undergoing change. Sometimes these changes are natural or imperceptible. Other times, and more often, streams and rivers are adjusting to channel, flood plain, or watershed changes imposed in years past by human activity. Understanding the natural tendencies of a stream, its current condition, and what changes may be anticipated in the future is invaluable to making sound protection, management, and restoration decisions.

The River Management Program provides the technical assistance to conduct geomorphic assessments of streams and their watersheds. Contact River Management Program geomorphic assessment technical assistance staff for data forms, assessment protocols, and geomorphic reference tools used by the State to assess stream condition and responses.

New to the SGA DMS Bridge and Culvert database: 

• Improved data entry forms and search tools to find local roads inventory data in the VOBCIT database;
• Geomorphic Compatibility Screen: ranks individual structures on the extent to which they impede sediment and debris transport, affect channel hydraulics and exacerbate channel instability;
• Aquatic Organism Passage Screen (culverts only):
• Ranks individual culverts according to the extent to which they impede migration of aquatic organisms throughout the stream, 
• Ranks individual structures according to their potential for being retrofitted to reduce the degree to which they impede organism migration,
• Determines the potential extent of habitat that would be made accessible by removing or retrofitting culverts that act as barriers to migration.

Detailed information on these new additions can be found in the following documents:

• 2009 Bridge and Culvert Assessment Protocol (pdf, 1.9 MB) ,
• The Stream Geomorphic Assessment Bridge and Culvert Data Management Manual (pdf, 338 KB) ,
• The Vermont Geomorphic Compatibility Screen Report (pdf, 1.8 MB) , and
• The Vermont Aquatic Organism Passage Report (pdf, 2.96 MB) .

Assessment Reference Tools and Links

• Geomorphic Assessment Viewer (MapServe)
• Vermont Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves; 2006 (pdf, 461 KB)
• Stream Geomorphic Assessment Data Management System (DMS)
• Stream Geomorphic Assessment Tool (SGAT) User Guide (pdf, 4825 KB)

Why do Geomorphic Assessments?

• Fluvial Geomorphology: A Foundation for Watershed Protection, Management and Restoration (pdf, 331 KB)
• Vermont River Corridor Management Program Definition and Application of Fluvial Geomorphology (pdf, 20 KB)

Updated  Vermont Geomorphic and Habitat Assessment Protocols

• Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Stream Geomorphic Assessment; Program Introduction (pdf, 221 KB)
• Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment Protocols
• Reach Habitat Assessment Protocol Report (pdf, 7.57 MB)
• Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment Protocols - Handbook Transmittal Letter (pdf, 298 KB)




Model RFPs and Sample Quality Assurance Plans

• Model Phase I and Phase 2 RFP (doc, 51 KB)
• Sample Quality Assurance Plan - Browns River Watershed (doc, 3.5 MB)

 

Assessment Results

• River Management Projects and Report Listings
• Data shows floodplains are key to stream stability and Lake Champlain (pdf, 48 KB)
• Stream Geomorphic Assessment Data Management System-    Login to view all of our Stream Geomorphic Assessment Projects.
• Lewis Creek Geomorphic Assessment Pilot Project Report (pdf, 3.7 MB)
• Batenkill Report (pdf, 2.6 MB)





Educational Materials and Links

• ANR Riparian Buffer Guidance
• Defining River Corridors Fact Sheet (pdf, 176 KB)
• River Corridor Protection and Management Fact Sheet (pdf, 205 KB)
• The Streamside Sentinel (pdf, 6.1 MB)
• Values of Riparian Buffers (pdf, 18 KB)
• Videos (contact Mike Kine):

- Unstable Rivers, Using a Geomorphic Watershed Based Approach to River Restoration. (21:36 minutes)
- When Rivers Become Unstable, How Streamside Woodlands Can Help Protect Land. (23:00 minutes)

Training Opportunities

• Nothing available at this time.

Updated: July 2007