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VT Headlines: Montpelier plans to remove Pioneer Street Dam to restore nearby floodplain

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Categories: VT Headlines

4 replies »

  1. “Montpelier plans to remove Pioneer Street Dam”  It’s about time ! Next, the Bailey (Main Street) Dam .

  2. What, those who know finally admit that sediment in our rivers displaces water storage, omg, our mismanagement of the rivers is a direct result of flooding? You cannot make this stuff up!

  3. “The four old dams hold back a large amount of sediment and a small amount of water, Randzio said. The sediment built up behind their structure pushes water levels even higher during times of peak flow.” Really? How could this possibly be true when we are told the the huge rock and sandbars in most of our streams are “natural” and should not be removed. Today I drove along Rt 302 towards Groton and later Rt 15 near Hardwick. The “natural” restrictions in the river channel are almost as high as the banks in many places. Near Hardwick, you can see where many steep banks are eroded and dumping more dirt, trees and rocks into the river channel. West of Hardwick toward Wolcott and Morrisville you can see where hay and corn fields have been ruined with huge gashes cut by the water and rocks and sandbars forming big, long piles making the field useless for farming without expensive reclamation. I drive all over northern VT for work and these are but 2 examples of what is taking place many areas.

    The trees along the banks and in the river bed are just waiting to be pushed back into the river and jam up under bridges and other obstructions, causing the water to rise and flood whatever field, city or town that is nearby. I don’t want to see the rivers channelized to the detriment of fish and wildlife but the existing rock and sandbars could be used to build up the banks and provide more space for the water and less bare soil that will erode. There is no reason that stream depth and pools could not be engineered for the benefit of fish and some trees left in the stream to enhance the fisheries.

    It will be expensive to do this but not nearly as expensive or traumatic as the damage caused by the flooding.

  4. I’m sorry, but removing the dams will increase flooding. If you want to reduce flooding, you need to refurbish and repair existing dams and install new ones. Not remove them. There will be MORE frequent flooding in the downtown area once you remove these structures.