Living with Floods

Small stream with a healthy floodplain on Rock River tributary in Highgate

If you live in Vermont, chances are you’ve got a story about water showing up where it wasn’t exactly invited. Maybe it was that spring when the Missisquoi spilled across the fields, or the summer thunderstorm that turned a back road into a temporary stream. Around here, floods are just part of life.

It’s easy to see flooding as a disaster, but the truth is, it’s just the river being a river. Flooding has been happening for centuries, long before there were lawns to mow or houses near the banks. The land expects it. The river needs it. And whether we like it or not, it’s going to keep happening.

Flattened floodplain after a storm, Rock River, Highgate

That’s where floodplains come in. A floodplain is the flat stretch of land next to a river or stream where water naturally spreads out if it cannot be contained within the stream bank. It may feel like a nuisance, but those areas are actually doing important work. Floodplains give water space to go, slowing it down and keeping it from surging into neighborhoods and roads. This actually helps to reduce the amount of erosion seen downstream from the flood. Once we begin to develop on these floodplains, though, the function of the floodplain is decreased, and this excess water can cause serious problems. The team at Friends of the Winooski said it best: "A stream that is no longer able to overflow onto its floodplain is often a stream with erosion problems".

What You Can Do in Between Floods

The good news is there are plenty of things you can do between periods of floods to make your property more resilient and keep the river healthy:

• Keep natural plants along the water. A strip of grass, shrubs, or trees near the bank acts like a sponge and filter, slowing down floodwaters and protecting soil.

• Use low-lying areas wisely. If you’ve got land that floods often, consider turning it into a hayfield, pasture, pollinator meadow, or walking trail instead of trying to fight it.

• Give water places to soak in. Rain gardens, gravel or stone paths, and even leaving some lawn un-mowed help absorb water during heavy storms.

• Check your drainage. Clear out sticks, leaves, and debris from ditches or culverts so water can flow freely without causing backups.

Stream floodplain along Rock River, Highgate

And, if you live right on a river or stream, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Programs like Stream Wise offer free assessments to help landowners understand their shoreline and learn simple steps to keep it healthy. It’s an easy way to get personalized advice for your property—and a great resource for making sure you and the river can live side by side. Learn more about the Stream Wise program below!

Stream Wise Program

Flooding isn’t going away; it’s part of what makes this landscape what it is. The trick is learning to work with the water instead of fighting it. Next time the river rises, remember it’s not a mistake. It’s just the landscape reminding us of who’s in charge and giving us a chance to get a little smarter about how we live with it.