Riparian Buffer Restoration Completed Along Black Creek

FAIRFIELD, VT -- The Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District (FCNRCD) has successfully completed a riparian buffer restoration project along Black Creek, a major tributary of the Missisquoi River. Funding for this project was provided by the Vermont DEC Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP), via the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) acting as the Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) for the Missisquoi Bay Basin.

The 2.5-acre restoration project was identified through a riparian planting scoping initiative led by FCNRCD staff. Located adjacent to agricultural land and in an impaired watershed, the Black Creek site presented a critical opportunity to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus runoff and enhancing ecosystem functions such as flood resilience, erosion control, carbon sequestration, pollinator support, and biodiversity.

The restoration was made possible through the generous participation of local farm Magnan Bros. Dairy, who welcomed the effort to reestablish native vegetation on their land in areas adjacent to active farm fields. The buffer was planted with a mix of bare root trees and shrubs from nurseries in Vermont, New York, and Michigan, as well as willow and alder live stakes harvested locally by FCNRCD staff.

In total, 1,128 stems and 150 live stakes were planted over two days in April and May by FCNRCD staff and student volunteers from the Outdoor Technology program at Northwest Career & Technical Center in St. Albans. Significant rainfall prior to planting had flooded the site and provided ideal soil moisture conditions for planting.

FCNRCD staff will steward the site for at least the next three years to ensure the trees and shrubs survive and continue delivering long-term environmental benefits to the Missisquoi Bay watershed.

FCNRCD extends its sincere thanks to all partners and volunteers who made this project possible.