CRC Celebrates Trout Unlimited’s Northeast Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program as Restoration Partner of the Year
- Diana Chaplin
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is proud to recognize the Trout Unlimited Northeast Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program, based in Brattleboro, VT, as the 2025 Restoration Partner of the Year.
The Restoration Partner of the Year award is a celebration of collaboration for positive ecological impact within the Connecticut River watershed. River restoration projects include dam removal, culvert upgrades, buffer plantings, biostabilization, floodplain forest enhancements, and more. All projects contribute to improving water quality, expanding fish passage and habitat for aquatic organisms, and supporting flood resiliency.
"Trout Unlimited staff like Erin Rodgers and her team have been critical partners for our restoration work over the years” said Ron Rhodes, Director of Programs at Connecticut River Conservancy. “Without their help this year we wouldn’t have been able to complete the dam removal on Jack’s Brook in Dover, VT.”
Trout Unlimited's (TU) Northeast Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program—headed by Erin Rodgers, Program Manager for VT and MA—focuses on improving coldwater fisheries by restoring natural stream functions. Most projects entail removing barriers to aquatic life, stabilizing streambanks, and re-establishing natural stream-floodplain connections. These efforts, often achieved through partnerships such as the one with CRC, aim to make river systems more resilient to drought and flooding and protect aquatic habitats for species like brook trout.
Jack's Brook dam removal project before removal (left), partners on site during removal (center), and after removal (right).
This year’s collaborative restoration project was the removal of Jack’s Brook dam in Dover, VT. The concrete dam built in 1913 on Jack’s Brook, a tributary of the North Branch of the Deerfield River, was removed to restore natural stream flow and improve aquatic habitat in Southern VT. The project was also in partnership with the private dam owner, and with funding from The Nature Conservancy of Vermont and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Watershed Grant.
The Deerfield River has been identified as among the “priority waters” at Trout Unlimited after a wild brown trout population was proven to reproduce below Fife Brook dam. It is also a river in the process of Wild & Scenic designation by the Deerfield River Watershed Association. The removal of the upstream Jack’s Brook dam will support these broader conservation efforts, improve water quality and sediment transport, and expand critical cold-water habitat for brook trout and other native aquatic species.
“We’ve been able to partner with CRC on several projects over the years, from dam removals to stream bank erosion and in-stream habitat. You need strong partnerships in this line of work and it’s great to know I can call on Ron and his folks with new ideas and ventures,” said Erin Rodgers, Trout Unlimited Program Manager for VT and MA.
CRC and TU have collaborated on several projects in previous years, including a dam removal in Wilmington, VT; a culvert replacement project in Haverhill, NH; and a stream crossing/riparian buffer planting in Bath, NH.
CRC began recognizing a Restoration Partner of the Year in 2022 with the Northwoods Stewardship Center, followed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2023, and Redstart, Inc. in 2024. These awards come with a small gift such as a framed certificate, a joint project walk-through and gathering of different staff, and a friendly group lunch.
Meaningful partnerships such as these provide the know-how, labor, and technical resources to execute large-scale restoration projects. CRC and Trout Unlimited look forward to continuing to build strong networks for both environmental and community impact in the years to come.
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