Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) and Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) have been working together to support the design and implementation of two river restoration projects along Pinney Hollow Brook in Plymouth.
In December of 2021 TRORC was awarded a Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) Flood Resilient Communities Fund Grant to implement floodplain restoration for two areas along Pinney Hollow Brook on Route 100A. The sites include the former Farmbrook Motel and a second site further downstream on private property. The restoration plans for these sites creates new floodplain for this tributary that was ravaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
New floodplain access will give the river a chance to deposit debris and sediment as well as water during a flood and will improve the Ottauquechee watershed’s health and lessen flooding and erosion risks in Bridgewater and Plymouth.
“It is so gratifying to see that these two projects will be ready for construction during this field season. Many years of hard work with multiple partners are coming to fruition,” Peter Fellows from TRORC said.
TRORC will be releasing a construction bid package in May.
Both the TRORC and the CRC were previously awarded a final design grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Clean Water Initiative Program in spring of 2021 for these floodplain restoration projects which have been in development for many years.
“Clean Water funding from the State of Vermont is imperative to leverage additional federal and state money, like this ARPA funding that supports the VEM grant, to get these projects done. CRC is glad to support the TRORC on the implementation of these projects,” said Kathy Urffer, project manager and river steward for CRC.
