Nature-Based Resilience: Strategic Wood Additions on West Branch of Ompompanoosuc River
Major River Restoration Project Completed in Central Vermont: Over 8 Miles of Ompompanoosuc River Headwaters Restored for Wildlife, Flood Resilience, and clean water.
Ompompanoosuc River before strategic wood additions Ompompanoosuc River after strategic wood additions
Before and after strategic wood additions on West Branch of Ompompanoosuc River.
For Immediate Release: A multi-town collaborative stream restoration effort has successfully wrapped up across central Vermont, bringing natural habitat complexity and vital flood protections back to the headwaters of the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River.
Completed in late summer 2026, the project restored natural hydrology along approximately 8.45 miles (44,601 linear feet) of critical headwater streams.
This work was made possible through a grant funded by Watersheds United Vermont (WUV), with additional support from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Clean Water Initiative Program. The project was led by the Connecticut River Conservancy and planned and executed on the ground by ecological forestry firm Redstart, Inc., working in close coordination with local landowners.
Historically, healthy forested streams in New England naturally accumulated abundant fallen trees and woody debris which helped create aquatic habitat and slow the flow of water. Over past centuries, land clearing and stream cleaning removed this essential material, leaving many waterways straight, fast-moving, and "incised"—meaning they are deeply cut into their channels and disconnected from their adjacent floodplains.
To reverse these conditions, project partners used a low-impact technique known as Strategic Wood Addition (SWA). Rather than bringing heavy, destructive machinery into sensitive stream corridors, trained crews used chainsaws and hand-operated grip hoists to strategically fell and place 1,230 pieces of large woody material into stream channels, creating 595 carefully constructed wood structures. Crucially, the crew left bank-stabilizing trees fully intact to preserve streamside shade and avoided felling any dead or cavity-nesting trees to protect native bird and bat habitats.
By reintroducing large wood into these waterways, the project delivers highly effective, nature-based environmental benefits, including:
Vibrant Wildlife Habitat: The newly placed logs deflect water flows to naturally sculpt the streambed. This process carves out deep resting pools, establishes gravel riffles, and builds cascades. These diverse physical features provide cool, oxygen-rich shelter essential for native brook trout, salamanders, and wood-loving aquatic insects. Additionally, the wood branches collect falling leaves, creating a rich food source for the stream's food web.
Enhanced Flood Resilience: During heavy rain or snowmelt, these wood structures act as natural speed bumps. Every few hundred feet, crews constructed robust log "strainers" designed to safely catch upstream wood and spread high waters outward onto adjacent forested floodplains. Reconnecting streams to their floodplains allows floodwaters to spread out and slow down, drastically reducing downstream erosion and flood hazards for local communities.
Clean Water & Sediment Capture: Faster, degraded streams often cut rapidly into banks, causing erosion, washing excessive sediment downstream, and reducing water quality. The new wood structures trap and store eroding soil and sand on-site. By storing sediment safely in headwater floodplains, the SWA’s prevents soil pollution from moving downstream into larger river systems.
The restoration took place on multiple tributaries of the Ompompanoosuc River across the towns of Vershire, Chelsea, Tunbridge, and Strafford.
Below are a few project implementation images for educational purposes. These images are from a different river location or illustration for best practices, and were adapted from NH NRCS with assistance of VT Fish and Wildlife - created with input from NH Fish and Game, Tin Mountain, and Trout Unlimited.
For questions about the project, contact:
Ron Rhodes, Director of Programs
Connecticut River Conservancy
rrhodes@ctriver.org | 413-768-4994
The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) restores and advocates for clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities to support a diverse and thriving watershed. Through collaborative partnerships in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, CRC leads and supports science-based efforts for natural and life-filled rivers from source to sea. Learn more at ctriver.org.
Founded in 1992 by Virginia Barlow, Redstart combines in-depth knowledge of natural systems and stewardship practices with decades of field experience to provide responsible management of natural resources in Vermont’s forests, rivers, farms, and fields. We pride ourselves on our forward-thinking approach to management, our dedication to creating sensible, cost-effective solutions, and the strong, enduring relationships we build with our clients. Learn more at redstartconsulting.com.
