Flood resiliency, land-management workshop in Grafton

The Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative will be holding a free flood resiliency, land-managment workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Grafton Elementary School, 58 School St. in Grafton.

Learn about best management practices for flood- and erosion-prone lands and the programs and resources that are available to help landowners conserve their properties.

Designed for landowners, farmers, foresters and other land-based professionals, this workshop will create a framework for understanding river dynamics, healthy vs. impacted streams, the essentials of managing forest and agricultural lands and the basics of riverbank restoration.

• The morning session will take place at the school and will include a dynamic series of presentations by representatives from government agencies and non-profit organizations on rivers, best practices for land management and available resources.
• The afternoon session will include a field trip to a nearby landowners’ property with breakout sessions that will enable participants to explore specific topics in-depth. (Please dress in appropriate foot gear and clothing for field sessions.)
• A stream table demonstration will also be held indoors at the school during the afternoon session to demonstrate river dynamics and its impact on land and infrastructure.

This program is funded through a grant from the High Meadows Fund and is a project of the Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative, a partnership of towns, state and regional agencies, and other organizations, committed to addressing flood resiliency at a watershed scale.

The collaborative includes the Towns of Grafton, Westminster, Windham and Rockingham, and core partners: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Windham Regional Commission, Grafton Elementary School, Vermont River Conservancy, Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Windham Foundation and Trout Unlimited Connecticut River Chapter.

The event is free and lunch is included, but registration is required.

Register by Tuesday, Oct. 13 by contacting Kim Smith at ksmith@windhamregional.org or (802) 257-4547 ext. 108. More information on the High Meadows Fund initiative can be found online at www.highmeadowsfund.org/watershed-resilience.