by Guy Page
Many Vermonters, including many VDC readers, have been urging dredging of Vermont rivers and streams and other means of reducing the likelihood of flood damage. VDC has been asking Scott administration officials about its plans for dredging in particular and about preventing and coping with future flood damage in general. Here’s what we’ve learned:
Dredging? Yes and No.
After last year’s flood, the State of Vermont issued about 400 dredging permits, most of them to remove debris at specific, high-risk flood areas. A few of these ‘prevent the next flood’ permits allowed dredging over thousands of feet of rivers, notably in Peacham and Williamstown. All the permits granted were implemented, ANR Secretary Julie Moore said in a conversation with VDC last week.
However, widespread dredging merely to increase the volume of the riverbed by deepening or widening it is not considered a wise anti-flood tactic, because it can inhibit desirable, upstream filling of traditional flood plain areas, and instead channels large amounts of fast-moving water into high density areas. This is particularly true of dredging rivers near or running through cities like Barre. One expert estimated the Stevens Brook would have to be dredged 100 ft. deep to prevent flooding the nearby, adjacent, high-density area.
Better use of existing flood control dams – but no new dams
Built in the New Deal 1930’s after the Great Flood of 1927, Vermont’s flood control dams on (for example) the Winooski, North Branch, and the Connecticut rivers are generally used in ‘passive’ mode for flood control. However, they have an ‘active’ mode in which sluices can be opened and closed, and state officials are speaking with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers experts about how best to maximize this aspect of dam control.
But it’s unlikely any new flood control dams will be built. Even in the 30’s the prospect of submerging neighborhoods to create an artificial lake was controversial.
VNRC-led dam removal not a risk, will continue
As reported in VDC this week, the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) is leading a dam removal program. To date 30 unused, obsolete small dams have been removed. ANR Secretary Julie Moore confirmed that the removal of these dams will have no negative impact on releasing heavier floodwaters downstream.
Town water/sewer bill now includes levy for flood repair $$
Did you notice that your stormwater bill went up? If so, it may be because the Flood Safety Act 143, passed this year, lets municipalities collect for anticipated flood repair (pg. 2). “Sewage system commissioners may now set stormwater rates for equivalent residential units based on an average area of impervious surface on residential property within the municipality. Revenues may be used for stormwater management, control, and treatment; flood resiliency; floodplain restoration; and other similar measures.”
The Flood Safety Act also directs the State to create new rules for wetlands, river corridor development, and dam safety. The rules will take at least three years to promulgate and more time may be needed, Gov. Scott has said. It also allows the State Treasurer to borrow against the state’s cash balance for mobile home park infrastructure projects.
Longterm planning for flood damage prevention
Act 121, also passed this year, requires the state to pass new regulations regarding community development in light of the increased flood hazard.
State of Vermont-administered, funded National Flood Insurance Program?
Act 121 also requires the State to consider administering and funding the National Flood Insurance Program (pg. 20), a FEMA program created by Congress in 1968 to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods.