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The Agency of Natural Resources has designed a set of Stream Geomorphic Assessment Handbooks to help you answer the following questions about streams and rivers within your watershed:
- What are the physical processes and features that characterize a stream and its watershed?
- How have human activities affected these processes and features over time?
- Which of these physical processes and features are more sensitive to change, and how are they likely to change in the future?
- Which of these processes and features are important for creating and sustaining quality habitat for fish and other aquatic biota?
- Which of these processes and features present high erosion and flood hazard risks to human investments?
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| The Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment Handbooks have been developed as tools to use in understanding, evaluating,
and, ultimately, resolving or avoiding conflicts between river systems and human interests and values. They draw upon and combine the stream
geomorphic methods and practices utilized by scientists and resource managers worldwide. While great care has been taken to align these protocols
with those adopted by other state and federal agencies, they will be informed and revised over time by data and experience obtained on streams
throughout Vermont and the surrounding region.
Before downloading and using the protocols, spreadsheet, database, or GIS tools, contact the River
Corridor Management Section to learn whether any updates or revisions have been made. It is especially important to
have the latest version where users will be seeking technical assistance and submitting geomorphic data to the State database.
For additional program contact and protocol update information, click here. |
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The Stream Geomorphic Assessment Handbook provides standard protocols, spreadsheet and database tools for the three levels of watershed assessment:
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| The Agency puts forward these protocols with a focus on those watershed processes and features
critical to its riparian corridor management objectives. The information gathered through stream geomorphic analyses will be used for basin
planning; river and riparian corridor protection, management, and restoration projects; aquatic and riparian habitat assessment; and hazard
assessment to reduce property loss and damage from riverine erosion during floods.
The Agency protocols have an EPA-approved Programmatic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). The State Plan
may be used as a reference in receiving QAPP approval for EPA funded projects proposed by local watershed groups and other entities following
the Agency protocols. To download the Vermont ANR Programmatic QAPP click here
(pdf, 583 KB). |
Water Quality Division 
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