Tree Planting Spotlight: Giddings Brook

Why does FCNRCD plant trees?

Here at Franklin County NRCD, we get very busy working outside in the spring and summer! From site visits, community engagement events, and tree plantings, our team works hard to improve water quality and promote conservation in Franklin County!

You can reliably find our team planting tree saplings along streams each April and May across Franklin County. These plantings are designed to expand the riparian buffer, the band of diverse, woody vegetation along streams and riverbanks. Strengthening this buffer improves water quality, enhances habitat for streamside wildlife, and boosts resilience to flooding.

A well-established 50-foot buffer of trees and shrubs is especially effective. Its deep, extensive root systems stabilize soil, reducing erosion and preventing nutrient-rich sediment from washing into waterways. These buffers also help absorb and filter stormwater runoff from roads and agricultural land, allowing it to soak into the ground rather than flow directly into streams and rivers. In addition, a 50-foot buffer creates richer habitat for insects, birds, mammals, and amphibians. Fish benefit as well, thanks to increased shade and the added structure provided by fallen woody debris in the water.

Diagram of a healthy, functioning riparian buffer zone. Made by Lake Champlain Basin Program and NEIWPCC.

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2025 Planting Spotlight: Giddings Brook Planting

In April of 2025, the FCNRCD team successfully completed a major riparian buffer restoration project along Giddings Brook, a tributary of the Missisquoi River, with funding provided by the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC), acting as the Clean Water Service Provider (CWSP) for the Missisquoi Bay Basin.

The 7.6-acre restoration project was identified through a riparian planting scoping initiative led by FCNRCD staff member Dorothy Kinney-Landis and site walks led by project partners such as the Enosburgh Conservation Commission and Missisquoi River Basin Association. Located adjacent to agricultural land and in an impaired watershed, the Giddings Brook 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. 

Picture of the stream before trees were planted. Noticed the lack of plants in the riparian buffer. Without trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plant along the stream, there are high levels erosion, high water temperatures, and a lack of suitable wildlife habitat.

This site is located downstream of the Enosburg Falls Country Club; the stream eventually flows into the Missisquoi River southwest of the Village of Enosburg Falls. FCNRCD staff coordinated with the Enosburg Falls Waste Water Department, which maintains a sewage pipe underneath the planting site, to flag the pipe and establish a 20-foot buffer around it. Staff also coordinated with the Enosburg Falls Electric Departments to get clearance for planting under the overhead powerlines.

The restoration was made possible through the generous participation of local farmer Larry Gervais, who welcomed the effort to reestablish native vegetation on his 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 and Michigan, as well as willow and alder live stakes harvested locally by FCNRCD staff. The site is currently home to many dynamic beaver families that are shaping the waterway

To manage such a large-scale project, FCNRCD contracted Redstart Natural Resource Management to plant approximately 5.85 acres and conduct targeted herbicide applications to suppress invasive species like reed canary grass. Volunteers from the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts, the Enosburgh Conservation Commission, and NRPC also contributed hands-on support during the planting effort.

3,060 trees were planted during a series of cold, wet days in April (See Table below for species list and count). Despite the challenging weather, volunteers and staff persevered, and the rain provided immediate hydration for the newly planted vegetation.

Species	Count
Arrowwood	24
Balsam fir	50
Black chokeberry	76
Black willow	125
Boxelder	550
Chokecherry	150
Cottonwood	100
Grey birch	150
Grey dogwood	150
Nannyberry	200
Shrub willow	450
Silky dogwood	250
Silver maple	405
White pine	80
Willow and Alder Live Stakes	300
Total	3060

Picture taken after tree saplings were planted in the riparian buffer. Saplings marked by orange biodegradable tape for visibility.

The site will be stewarded for at least the next decade 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.