Flood Resiliency

Unique Challenges Require Practical Solutions

As someone who has lived in Barre City for nearly all my life, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our community faces with flooding and river management. The 2025 legislative session has made important progress with the passage of key flood-related legislation and budget provisions. I proudly co-sponsored H.397, The Flood Bill, and voted yes on the FY25 Budget because these measures provide much-needed resources and tools for Vermont towns to prepare for and recover from flood events.

Many studies say that dredging and riverbed maintenance cause erosion and worsen flooding by damaging river banks. I agree that protecting our riverbanks is vital. However, these studies focus on typical rivers with soil banks—not rivers like Barre City’s Stevens Branch, which has solid granite slab banks and functions more like a spillway. Over decades, sediment has built up in Stevens Branch, causing water to overflow its banks during high flow events. Without specific studies addressing rivers with these unique characteristics, we must recognize that riverbed or sedimentation maintenance is essential to safely manage water flow and prevent flooding in our city.  I will support legislation that allows dredging. 

We’ve seen mitigation work on Gunner’s Brook, where debris racks catch large debris before it clogs the narrow waterway leading to Stevens Branch. However, sediment buildup around these racks reduces their effectiveness over time—resulting in more debris entering the spillway. Gunner’s Brook also has granite slab banks, and sediment rise is a known, long-term problem.

Similarly, Potash Brook faces challenges from increased water volume due to impervious surfaces created by upstream development like Windywood. This excess water causes backups and flooding in Barre City when river levels are high. We need upstream retention areas and upgraded infrastructure to route water efficiently to Stevens Branch. These are all reasons why riverbed maintenance and careful watershed management matter.

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What happens upstream affects downstream communities. Both Gunner’s and Potash Brooks have grown larger and require regionalized watershed planning to protect our rivers while allowing responsible development. Coordinated efforts are essential for flood resilience across our interconnected waterways.

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Legislative Progress with H397 and the FY25 Budget
The flood-related legislation passed this year reflects many of these practical needs:

• H397, which I co-sponsored, requires Vermont Emergency Management to engage closely with municipalities and recovery groups in planning. It expands access to river monitoring and forecasting technologies and grants towns more flexibility in emergency fund use and disaster response. It also includes funding mechanisms such as voluntary buyouts and maintains strong state flood rules even if federal FEMA standards weaken. Barre City benefits from a two-year TIF extension to support flood-resilient housing development downtown.

• The FY25 Budget, which I voted for, allocates millions to cover denied FEMA claims, FEMA match requirements, and road repairs after disasters. It also funds programs to reimburse municipalities for lost property tax revenue from voluntary buyouts and supports local emergency services.

Together, these provisions equip Vermont’s communities—including Barre City—to better prepare for floods, respond effectively, and rebuild stronger.

I’m committed to advocating for solutions that respect Vermont’s unique natural landscapes while protecting our residents and infrastructure. Flood resilience is not just about policy—it’s about safeguarding the homes, businesses, and future of our communities.