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Lake Education and Action Program

Road Erosion Projects

Castleton River Restoration

Mettowee River Restoration

Poultney River Restoration

Rain Gardens

Champlain Valley Restoration Nursery

Road Run-off Management

Settling Basins

settling basin captures sediment

The Partnership installed ditch-lined settling basins to trap sand and gravel runoff from steep dirt roads in the Mettowee river valley. This was done through grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Vermont Better Back Roads. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Towns of Granville, New York and Pawlet, Vermont provided in-kind and financial support for the project.

hydroseeding to vegetate roadside ditches

The settling basins came from a manufacturer in Corning, NY. The Partnership purchased six basins to be installed in the watershed. The first two basins were installed on Waite Hill Road in Pawlet, VT. Road crews from Granville, NY and Wells, VT also came to see how they were installed. Cleaning is done as needed to maintain the basins effectiveness. Basins were also installed in Granville, NY on Lower Turnpike road near the Mettowee River. Additional basins have been installed in Fort Ann and Whitehall. In addition, the ditches uphill from the settling basins have been hydro-seeded to help with erosion control.

Road and culvert work

Heavy rains were causing erosion problems with a sliding bank off Betts Bridge road, resulting in the road washing out and extra sediment being deposited in the nearby Mettowee River. Sedimentation in rivers has many detrimental effects including damage to the fish habitat and warming of the water which also affects the cold-water fish that thrive in this area. In addition, sediment can contain extra nutrients such as phosphorus that decrease the water quality of the river and eventually Lake Champlain.

The Pawlet highway department replaced two culverts and reshaped the bank, and as a result, the runoff from the road will be headed to a small field where the sediment will be deposited, and extra water will be absorbed before reaching the Mettowee. The District assisted with funding requirements and information.