Highlights from History of Water Quality of the Winooski River

Kim Greenwood, Staff Scientiest at VNRC gave an amazing presentation on the history of water quality in the Winooski River Wednesday morning. She enjoyed her research so much that she's planning to write up paper on what she learned which we'll hopefully put up on our website soon! In the meantime here are some tidbits from her talk:

About half of all rivers in the US still do not meet Federal Clean Water Act Standards as laid out in the 1966 bill. These standards were supposed to be achieved by 1985.

The Winooski River during the late 1800's was the dumping ground for sewage as well as factory waste, making it polluted enough to be recognized as a problem by the Secretary of the Interior.

Most point source pollution problems have been eliminated including discharges from factories and sewage treatment facilities. Today the river's water quality is determined by non-point source pollution including run-off from urban areas and farms, plus steambank destablization.

Another major impact on water quality is dams on the river. There is an interesting debate beginning about dams and their ability to provide non-carbon producing electricity vs. their impact on river habitat especially for spawning fish such as salmon and sturgeon.

There are several large electricity producing dams on the river today, but there are also several smaller dams not currently producing electricity.

Rapids, Rocks & a Rainbow - Sojourn Day 2

This post was written by Linda Setchell, a day paddler and communications person for Friends of the Winooski River.

I usually think of rapids occuring in narrow rivers with fast moving water, but the Winooski definitely has rapids to offer even in the low water summer season. On this stretch of river between Montpelier and Waterbury we encountered 2 named rapids as well as 2-3 other soakers.

Our first encounter shortly after Jones Brook meets up with the Winooski, was fast moving surge with a 2ft drop at the end. Super fun if you've never paddled a rapid before and definitely the most exciting of the day. Without a kayak skirt, I picked up a fair amount of water - very refreshing given the heat of the day.

I've never traveled on the Winooski River. Looking at it from the road or shore as I drive or bike past it seems like a typical river, so I was surprised at how shallow it was. Despite the regularity of afternoon rain showers, the river between Montpelier and Waterbury is 2-3 feet deep for most of that stretch. In some places it's only a foot deep. At this time of year it's also very clear - you can see to the bottom and if you're looking which I eventually got around to after the first 2 hours. If you're looking you'll see the dregs of human history on the bottom - tires, metal pipes, five gallon bucket lid were among the items I spotted.


Our next stop was the Middlesex Dam. Just before the dam we saw the old water line (broken) that used to take water to 50+ homes across the river and the new water line (behind the broken one). For those of you who paddle the Winooski often, the state came out and fixed up the take out site just before the Middlesex Dam - instead of a muddy hill, it's now passable with rocks and wood chips!

We walked around the dam and put in just below it. The gorge is beautiful - with giant rock walls rising on both sides of the river. A beaver greeted us with a big splash a little upstream from where we were getting into our boats.

After heading through a narrow channel we headed off to our lunch spot. A quick feast from Red Hen refueled us and we jumped back in our boats and headed off to our next rapid adventure Junkyard Falls. This boulder ridden stretch of river is one of the most unique spots we encountered that day. The portage area is a giant rock outcropping carved out by water over thousands of years. The actual rapid has some huge boulders on the right and a few big rocks to manuever around in the middle. It was impressive to watch the canoes come in and around the rocks.

A bit further downstream, we headed to the left side of the river and paddled through a big wave to avoid a rocky area in the center of the river. Definitely the soaker rapid of the day!

It was smooth paddling from there out although we did have to watch out for giant rocks hidden in the river. We arrived at our take out point behind the state office building at 5pm and were greeted a short-time late with a rainbow!

Champlain's Astrolobe Voyages Again - With Us!

Shortly after the paddlers arrived today, a representative from Lake Champlain Basin Program came by to bring us an astrolobe. It's a replica of the one carried by Sameul de Champlain as he traveled throughout the region. Astrolobes are used to determine latitude. You hang them up, turn the dial so it points at either the sun or the north star and then you can determine your latitude. Champlain was a meticulous journaler and map maker - we know he had an astrolobe because he wrote about losing his in a river in Canada.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program made a replica of Champlain's astrolobe and is sending it on voyages related to the Quadricentenial along with a journal for voyagers to record their adventures.

The astrolobe will eventually be engraved with the names of all the voyages it's taken and given to the Smithsonian along with the journals of the voyagers. We might post a few of our own entries in the coming days...stay tuned!

Day 1 Marshfield to East Montpelier

Emily Levin is a board member of Friends of the Winoosk River and also one of the through paddlers.

First leg of the Winooski River Sojourn! Today we were blessed with sun and clear skies as we set off in Marshfield. This seemed a good omen given the unpredictable weather we've been having in Vermont lately. We set off - 20 adult paddlers plus about 10 kids from Community Connections.

It was a beautiful stretch through Marshfield, Plainfield, and East Montpelier. Meandering channel, green fields, and even a flock of merganser ducklings. I enjoyed trying out some technical paddling - not really whitewater but some rocky stretches that required some boat maneuvering. It was challenging but we stayed upright for the most part.

One of the highlights for me was the ridiculous exit from the river at the final stop. To avoid scrambling up a steep, poison-ivy ridden left bank, we instead portaged a dam on the right side, which involved a rocky, steep, and slippery path and resulted in a lost paddle and water bottle (both floated back eventually). Then we had to ferry the boats across a major rapid (okay, maybe not that big but it was scary to me) one at a time to the opposite bank.

We had some awesome meals today to fuel us along! Thanks to the Marshfield Inn, River Run in Plainfield, and food by Ariel of LACE at Two Rivers in Montpelier for delicious meals. The Two Rivers site is a hidden gem! A historic old farmhouse and fertile fields at the junction of the Winooski River and Stevens Branch, tucked between Routes 302 and 2, the railroad tracks, and a hodgepodge of other buildings. It's being restored as a center for local food and community by Foodworks of Montpelier. It was an especially lovely place to end a great, long day on the river.

~Emily

Life on the River - Personal Accounts of Life on the River

You may drive past, bike past or walk along the river every day, but what was it like to live along the river 100 years ago? Several speakers will be relating their experience as well as their family's experience this week at various public programs along the voyage.

Noon Today - Plainfield: A River Town will explore the history of this bustling little town on the banks of the Winooski. Talk begins noonish at River Run Restaurant.

6:30pm Wednesday - Settling the Winooski Valley: Skip Flanders whose family has lived on the Winooski River for generations will give a PowerPoint presentation on human settlement along the Winooski River. Location: Wesley Waterbury Methodist Church on Main St. across from the State Office complex.

6:30pm Saturday - Talk by Charles Fish, author of In the Land of the Wild Onion is speaking at the O Brien Community Center in Winooski on Saturday June 27th at 6:30 pm. His book chronicles his canoe and hiking trip on the Winooski River as well as explores the natural history of the watershed.

For more information visit our website.

Winooski River Paddling Guides Have Arrived

Hot off the presses, the Winooski River Sojourn 2009 Paddling Guides have arrived. You can pick them up at any one of our public events throughout the week. In addition to route maps of the entire Winooski River, they include articles on the cultural and ecological history of the Winooski River Valley. Stop by one of our public programs to get a copy this week!

History of the Winooski Valley Before Samuel de Champlain

This year's Winooski River Sojourn is focused on the history of the river and we're offering a couple of different talks that will include pre-European settlement history of the river. On Friday evening in Essex Junction at Cascade Park, Mike Snyder, a Chittenden County Forester will speak about the changing landscape; current concerns regarding habitat fragmentation; historical conflicts between preservation and active management of a forested landscape.

On Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm, Fred Wiseman of the Abenaki Cultural Center will give a talk on the history indigenous peoples in the region as part of the Winooski Riverwalk Festival.

Both talks are free and open to the public.

Stream Dynamics & Ecology for Kids 6/25 9-Noon

Now that school's out, you may be looking for something to do with your kids. Join staff from the Department of Environmental Conservation and UVM Watershed Alliance for a hands-on, fun-filled morning of river bugs, stream dynamics, and aquatic ecology. Ideal for Elementary and Middle School age kids. Kids will have a chance to visit three different streamside stations to learn:

• How does a river change over time?
• What is impacting the Winooski River’s health?
• What do the critters that live in it tell us about water quality?
  
  
  Location: Behind the State Office Complex in Waterbury.
  

Sojourn Kick-Off Monday, June 22, 6-8pm Coits Pond - Cabot, VT

Paddle the headwaters of the Winooski River - at Coits Pond in Cabot. Meet Friends of the Winooski River and Sojourn paddlers for a relaxing evening of paddling on Coits Pond in Cabot. If you can't make the Sojourn, this is a great opportunity to come out experience a unique aspect of the river. If you're planning on attending the Sojourn, get some paddle practice in before the trip. For directions check out our route map. This event is free and open to the public.

Settling the Winooski Valley 7pm June 24th

Continuing with our theme of history, Wednesday evening's program will feature a talk by Skip Flanders whose ancestors were early settlers in the mid-Winooski valley. Besides the family history, Skip will discuss important events in the history of settlement in Vermont and the relationship of the Winooski River to settlements. The talk will be held at the Wesley Waterbury Methodist Church on Main St. in Waterbury. It's free and open to the public.

A Historical Look at Water Quality on the Winooski Wednesday, June 24

Day Two of the Winooski River Sojourn will kick off with a talk by Kim Greenwood, staff scientist at VNRC on the history of water quality in the Winooski River. Greenwood will look at water quality pre-settlement, through the mill period and into present day. The talk will be held at Montpelier High School on Bailey Ave at 8:30am on Wednesday, June 24. It is free and open to the public.

Winooski River Bread Basket Dinner - Tuesday, June 23 6:30pm

The Winooski River watershed contains some of the richest farm land in the state as evidenced by the many farms still in operation along it's banks. LACE and Friends of the Winooski River are hosting a Winooski River Bread Basket Dinner on the first night of the Sojourn to highlight some of the many foods grown in the watershed. Located at the historic Two Rivers Center on the corner of Rte 2 and Rte 302, the meal will be set against the backdrop of fields cultivated by Food Works a local agricultural education organization based in Montpelier. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Friends of the Winooski table at the Montpelier Farmer's Market on Saturday June 13 or by calling Carolyn Grodinsky at 223-2958.

Following the meal, Food Works will talk about the history of the Two Rivers Center property and their plans to revitalize the land for agricultural education. The talk begins at 7:30pm and is free and open to the public.

Plainfield - A River Town Tuesday, June 23 Noonish

The first of the Sojourn's land programs will take place in Plainfield at River Run Restaurant and will cover the history of the town as influenced by both the Winooski River and Great Brook. The talk given by the Plainfield Historical Society will touch on the economic and cultural changes that have occurred in the town since settlement began. The talk is free and open to the public.

Before paddlers jump back in their boats, we'll check out the site of a proposd rain garden in Plainfield.

Two Weeks and Counting...

The 2nd Annual Winooski River Sojourn begins two weeks from today and we're putting on the finishing touches of what should be an exciting trip down the mighty Winooski River. Over the next two weeks, we'll be posting information about the "dry land" programs we'll be putting on as part of this year's Sojourn. Sign up for the RSS feed, become a fan on Facebook or check back often for updates.

For those of you unable to escape your office this summer, we'll be posting daily accounts of our travels down the river starting June 23.

There are still some spots available on the Sojourn both for the paddling and biking contingent - click here to register today. The $60/day rate is good through June 15.