The Trout River meanders through Montgomery, a town that has the most covered bridges in the country, according to the state. Now, a new federal designation for the river will make the town eligible for funding to preserve its historic claim to fame.
The U.S. Congress on Monday approved legislation that will add the Upper Missisquoi and Trout rivers to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. The designation makes towns eligible to apply for modest amounts of federal funding for projects along the Missisquoi and Trout.
“I look at the rivers as a whole,” said John Little of Montgomery, chair of the Missisquoi River Basin Association, who began pushing for the designation in 2004. “I’m looking at this as a chance to get federal funding in perpetuity to help restore and maintain the rivers that we have here.”
The rivers pass through many farms and forests in northern Vermont. Visitors frequent the waters to swim, paddle, fish or scout unmarked waterfalls. The two rivers are the first in Vermont to receive the recognition.
Towns can now apply for funding for a host of projects on the Trout and Mississquoi, Little said, including covered bridge repairs, river bank restoration, recreation access, flood cleanup and trail signage for tourists. The money can also be used to preserve the rivers’ water quality and protect aquatic habitat.
Vermont’s congressional delegation began working on the designation in 2007 after they were contacted by constituents. The delegation issued a joint statement Monday praising the distinction.
“Vermont’s rivers are an essential part of our state’s rural character. The wild and scenic designation highlights the unique cultural, scenic and recreational qualities of these Vermont rivers,” the statement said. “The recognition also empowers communities along the rivers to protect these resources.”
A locally appointed study committee produced a three-year report to identify several projects around the rivers. The federal money will be managed by the post-designation advisory committee, which will be made up of locally appointed representatives.
The wild and scenic designation was a concern for some residents who believed it would create more federal control over the waterways.
The designation is based on a “partnership” model, which allows towns to decide what project they want for the river. Towns can choose to leave the rivers untouched. This is different from another model that increases the federal management or acquisition of lands.
“It’s not like this is a new regulation on what communities or private landowners can do,” said Shana Deeds, study coordinator.
No private land will be seized, but the designation does prohibit the construction of any new federally permitted dams. The three existing dams within the designated area on the rivers — in Enosburg Falls, North Troy and Troy — will not be affected by the designation. There are no new dams proposed on these rivers.
Congress established the designation in 1968 to protect rivers from the effects of federal projects, such as dams, hydroelectric plants, diversion and channelization.
Eight communities along the rivers and their tributaries — Berkshire, Enosburgh, Enosburg Falls, Montgomery, North Troy, Troy, Richford and Westfield — voted at town meeting to approve the designation. Lowell voted it down and Jay did not put it on the ballot.
Little, who has lived in Montgomery for 27 years, said the Trout River is good for swimming, fishing and paddling. Apart from restoring bridges, he said the community could plant trees along the river to prevent stream bank erosion, citing an example when on July 15, 1997, a flash flood tore through the town and washed truckloads of nutrient-rich soil into the river.
“It really makes me happy that there is going to be money for river and river-related stuff,” he said. “Clean water is really precious. You don’t have to travel too far to know that there are places in the world where clean water — there is no such thing.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont rivers win federal recognition.
