Holding Water: Wetlands, Floodplains, and Natural Flood Storage

 in Community / Flood Management/Resilience / Uncategorized

Wednesday, September 16 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Parker Ladd Community Room, Jeudevine Memorial Library

What makes wetlands and floodplains such important parts of a watershed?

Wetlands and floodplains are places where water and land come together. They hold and slow water, provide habitat for plants and wildlife, influence water quality, and connect our uplands, streams, and rivers.

Join wetland scientist Lauren Sopher, Vermont State Floodplain Manager Alexis Nevins, and river scientist Sacha Pealer for an evening exploring how wetlands and floodplains function and the role they play in the larger watershed.

We’ll look at how water moves into, through, and across these landscapes; how wetlands and floodplains connect to streams and rivers; and what happens when rivers have room to spread out. We’ll also explore what makes healthy wetlands and floodplains valuable, the pressures that can change how they function, and ways we can protect and restore them.

This is a chance to look at familiar parts of our landscape a little differently and understand the work they are doing as part of a connected system.

Bring your questions. There will be plenty of time for conversation and discussion.

This is the second evening of Ripple Effects 2026: Understanding Our Watershed, a three-part public series exploring how water moves through our landscape and how the different parts of a watershed are connected.

The presentation is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be served.

Ripple Effects 2026 is hosted by the Town of Hardwick, Jeudevine Memorial Library, Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District, and Hardwick Community Television.

For more information, contact Kristen Leahy, Hardwick Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator, at zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov or 802-472-1686, or Karina Morales, Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District, at Karina@caledoniacountynrcd.org or 802-239-4159.

East Hardwick Demolition work and Road Closure

 in Flood Management/Resilience / Uncategorized

East Church Street demolition work in East Hardwick is now scheduled to begin Sunday, September 13.

Abatement work at 52 East Church Street will be wrapping up this week, with demolition of 40 and 52 East Church Street buyout properties expected to begin next Sunday.

At least one lane of traffic on this section of East Church Street is expected to be closed on Monday (9/14 to 9/16). Please avoid East Church Street in this area and use Stevens Lane whenever possible. Local access will be maintained as conditions allow, but drivers should expect delays and limited passage through the work zone.

The demolition work is expected to take approximately three days.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Kristen Leahy zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov | 802-472-1686

Request for Proposal – Engineering Services

 in Town Manager / Website

The Town of Hardwick is soliciting proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide engineering services for design and construction management concerning Town’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) reconstruction and improvements. The Town’s wastewater facility reconstruction and improvements include the repair and reconstruction of the wastewater treatment facility to meet current applicable codes and standards with additional federally funded mitigation measures where appropriate.

Professional engineering services should include, without limitation, (a) preliminary and design engineering, including plans and specifications, for all aspects of the wastewater treatment facility project, and (b) complete construction management services for the project through to completion.

To see the full RFP, click here.

Sealed proposals may be sent by mail to: Hardwick Town Manager, David Upson, Town of Hardwick, P.O. Box 523, Hardwick, VT 05843 or delivered in person, to 20 Church Street, Hardwick, VT (basement level offices).

Proposals are due by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Any proposals received after that date may be rejected at the sole discretion of the Town of Hardwick.

The Town of Hardwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages proposals from qualified small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and disadvantaged business enterprises.

SpringFest 2027 Contractor

 in Town Manager / Website

The SpringFest Committee – a group of volunteers from the Town of Hardwick, Hardwick Downtown Partnership (HDP), Kiwanis Club of Hardwick, The American Legion, Civic Standard, Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE), and others are looking for an independent contractor to lead the Committee beginning in October 2026 and running through June 2027 to coordinate SpringFest 2027.

Please click here for further details.

North Main Street Stormwater System Repairs — Request for Bids

 in Flood Management/Resilience / Town Manager / Uncategorized

The Town of Hardwick is seeking bids from qualified contractors to repair flood damage to the North Main Street Stormwater System at 64 North Main Street. The system was constructed in 2022 and damaged by riverine flooding in July 2024. The project is funded in part through the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

The work includes replacement of an 18-inch HDPE flow-check valve, approximately 59 cubic yards of common fill, approximately 24 cubic yards of dry-laid-up cut stone, and associated excavation, erosion control, stabilization, and site restoration. This is a repair-in-kind project; the existing system and retaining wall may not be expanded, relocated, or redesigned.

Pre-Bid Site Visit: Friday, September 11, 2026 at 8:00 a.m., on site
Bids Due: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
Anticipated Award: Thursday, September 17, 2026 at the Select Board meeting

Bids may be submitted to the Town of Hardwick, P.O. Box 523, Hardwick, VT 05843, or electronically to zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov.

Questions may be directed to Kristen Leahy at 802-472-1686 or zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov.

Bid Documents:


Request for Bids (pdf)

FEMA Public Assistance Project Scope – North Main Street Stormwater System (pdf)

North Main Street Stormwater System post-construction plans (pdf)