Project Update: Mill River Road Stormwater Improvements

Georgia, VT - We installed another project! On a stretch of Mill River Road in the Town of Georgia, untreated stormwater runoff had been entering the Mill River. Each heavy rain sent water rushing down the roadside ditch and under Mill River Road, straight to the Mill River. This water carried sediment with it, threatening both the roadway and the river below. What began as a small erosion issue had grown into a clear sign that intervention was needed.

Underground infiltration chambers are designed to capture runoff via the exposed inlet

This potential project was formally captured in the Town of Georgia’s 2021 Shoreline Erosion Assessment, which identified the site as a priority for restoration. In response, the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain partnered with the Town to take a closer look at the problem and begin planning for a long-term solution.

With funding received in 2023 from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation through a grant administered by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission via the North Direct Lake Basin Water Quality Council, FNLC contracted Watershed Consulting Associates to design a project that would do more than simply patch erosion. The goal was to rethink how stormwater moved through the site, slowing it down and giving it space to soak into the landscape rather than rush straight to the river.

Viewing the developed land where infiltration chambers are designed to capture runoff from

That vision is now a reality. Construction is complete, and the stormwater runoff leading to the Mill River has been minimized. This project utilizes a combination of stormwater management and restoration techniques designed to withstand future high-flow events. These improvements reduce erosion, protect the roadway, and help keep sediment and nutrients out of the Mill River.

The smaller stone is a weir designed to slow down runoff before entering the culvert under Mill River Rd.

This project reflects what’s possible when communities act early and collaboratively. By addressing erosion at its source and investing in nature-based solutions, the Town of Georgia and FNLC are helping to build a more resilient landscape, one that better protects local infrastructure, downstream waters, and the health of Lake Champlain.