Two Restoration Projects Completed in Lake Carmi Watershed

In October 2026, the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District (FCNRCD) implemented two clean water projects on the western side of the Lake Carmi. Construction services were provided by Bob Edwards and Son Excavation, Inc. Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) completed engineering/design and construction oversight for both projects. The first project, located on one of three common lots owned by the Black Woods Association, restored approximately 48 ft of Lake Carmi’s western shoreline. The second project restored floodplain access along Westcott Brook, one of Lake Carmi’s 14 tributaries. In combination, both projects will create an estimated phosphorus reduction of 1.78 kg per year.

Lake Carmi Lakeshore Restoration

The goal of FCNRCD’s Lake Carmi Lakeshore Restoration project was to stabilize the eroding shoreline using methods that provide both water quality and wildlife habitat benefits. The shoreline lacked native woody vegetation and was therefore vulnerable to erosion caused by ice push and wave action. FCNRCD, FEA, and the Black Woods Association worked together to design a project that would reduce shoreline erosion while maintaining recreational lake access for Association members.

This project combines encapsulated soil lifts, infiltration steps, and lakeshore plantings to simultaneously stabilize and naturalize the shoreline. During construction,  the shoreline was regraded to  remove berms created by ice push. Encapsulated soil lifts, created by wrapping biodegradable coir fabric around topsoil, were installed to create a more gradual lakeshore slope. To maintain recreational access to the lake, construction included the installation of infiltration steps made of timber and crushed stone that allows stormwater to infiltrate directly into the soil. To complete the project, FCNRCD will plant native trees and shrubs along the shoreline. As the trees and shrubs in this lakeshore buffer continue to grow, they  will create beneficial wildlife habitat, infiltrate and slow stormwater runoff, and provide natural stabilization to reduce lakeshore erosion.

Westcott Brook Floodplain Restoration

FCNRCD’s second project sought to restore floodplain access along an incised segment of Westcott Brook. Over time, high flows have eroded the channel’s bottom, creating deeper incision and reducing the stream’s ability to access its floodplain. This incision means that the stream has less space to spread, resulting in even faster water and intense erosive forces during high flow events. To address this, three areas of floodplain were excavated along the brook’s northern side. The project also included the installation of four strategic wood additions within the stream channel. These woody structures, meant to mimic beaver activity, will slow and push high flows into the excavated floodplain areas. This allows floodwaters to drop phosphorus and sediment before flowing downstream into the lake.

Example strategic wood addition in progress.

FCNRCD wants to thank the landowners, Bob Edwards and Son Excavation, and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates for working to make these projects possible. We are excited to continue working with the Lake Carmi community to help create a happy and healthy lake for all of us to enjoy.

Funding for these projects was provided by the Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Council’s Enhancement, Design, and Implementation Block Grant program