The Vermont Functioning Floodplain Initiative: Identifying Reconnection Opportunities in the Vermont Sector of the Lake Champlain Basin to Improve Water Quality, Flood Resiliency, and Habitat
Roy Schiff
SLR Consulting
Waterbury, VT
Evan Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald Environmental
Colchester, VT
Authors: Schiff, R., Fitzgerald, E., Kline, M.,
Connected and naturally functioning floodplains reduce flood risk, protect water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and store carbon. The Vermont Functioning Floodplain Initiative (FFI) is a new framework to highlight the important roles floodplains play and create a The Vermont Functioning Floodplain Initiative (FFI) is a decision-support web tool to (1) identify the current level of floodplain connection; (2) select possible reconnection projects; (3) prioritize project type and location; and (4) quantify the potential effectiveness of floodplain connectivity projects. This work leverages a database of Vermont Stream Geomorphic Assessment data for more than 2,300 miles of river collected over the last 15 years and ongoing floodplain research at the University of Vermont. The level of connectivity, project selection, and tracking of implemented reconnection projects is housed in a web-application to visualize the planning and tracking of floodplain connectivity. The app allows users to perform a range of functions such as planning, crediting, and tracking floodplain reconnection projects, river corridor protection easements, riparian buffer plantings, water quality improvement projects, and habitat enhancement projects – all in the name of improving the connection between rivers and their naturally functioning floodplains.
About Roy Schiff
Roy is a Water Resource Scientist and Engineer with SLR Consulting located in Waterbury, Vermont. He received his PhD (Aquatic Ecosystem Studies) from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 2005 and his M.S.Eng. (Civil and Environmental Engineering) from University of Washington in 1996. Roy is a licensed Professional Engineer in Vermont and frequently works on water resource projects including river and floodplain restoration, bank stabilization, dam removal, stormwater treatment, and river corridor assessment.
About Evan Fiztgerald, CPESC, CFM
Evan Fitzgerald is founder and Principal Hydrologist/Geomorphologist at Fitzgerald Environmental Associates. He has over 20 years of experience in the fields of applied hydrology and geomorphology, including extensive experience with the development of watershed and river corridor based restoration plans. He is deeply involved in flood recovery and flood resilience efforts on behalf of state and municipal clients throughout the Northeast. Evan is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-fitzgerald-27a7bb12/