Wildlife Connectivity in Wolcott | Ecological Connectivity

Project description (English)

In Wolcott, VT at the confluence of the Lamoille River and a tributary of the Wild Branch River is a 22.5-acre floodplain managed by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. After the expiration of agricultural leases on this site, local, state, and regional organizations collaborated to increase wildlife connectivity, reduce flood risks, and restore the natural floodplain. Early wildlife camera monitoring showed a diversity of wildlife nearby that were crossing over Route 15 in an unsafe location just north of the parcel. Additionally, the land under the bridge was covered with large rocks that made walking difficult for some species. Concrete abutments supporting the Fort Hill bridge also contributed to the problem by causing ice damming, increasing the flood risk, and further restricting wildlife movement. In 2018 a collaborative effort to address multiple values of the Wild Branch site began. In just four years a new wildlife shelf under the Rt. 15 bridge was constructed, the Fort Hill Bridge was removed to reduce flooding, and 2,000 stems were planted to begin the restoration of the natural floodplain. The Nature Conservancy's Vermont Chapter played a critical role in project management throughout. Ultimately, multiple partners working together allowed for several goals to be met with one concerted effort.

Project description (French)

Main contact organization for the project

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

Partner organization(s)

The Nature Conservancy

Vermont Agency of Transportation

Lamoille County Planning Commission

Part of larger network(s)

Staying Connected Initiave (SCI)

Project status

Underway

Start year of project

2017

Date of completion

2022-06-01

Primary ecosystem focus

Forested

Riparian

Connectivity action

Mitigation of infrastructure impacts

Restoration

Research (Field evaluation of connectivity)

Land protection

Standard keywords

Corridors

Transportation (roads, rails, bridges, culverts)

Wildlife cameras

Keywords

Wildlife shelf

Taxonomic Coverage

Mammals

Fish

Vascular plants

Geographical coverage

Jurisdiction(s)

Vermont

Lamoille

Location name

Route 15 Wild Branch of Lamoille River