Flood Management/Resilience

When Hillsides Move

 in Flood Management/Resilience / Uncategorized

Landslides and the Start of the Watershed Story

Wednesday, September 9
6:00–7:30 p.m.
Parker Ladd Community Room
Jeudevine Memorial Library

What happens when a hillside becomes part of the river?

Join Vermont Geological Survey geologists Emma Myrick and Ben DeJong for a conversation about landslides, slope instability, and what the geology beneath our feet can tell us about the landscape around us.

Landslides are part of the landscape of the Northeast Kingdom. The discussion will look at why some slopes are more susceptible to movement, what geologists look for when investigating a landslide, and what happens when material from our hillsides enters streams and rivers.

Emma and Ben will draw on examples from the Lamoille River watershed, including the history of slope movement in the Glenside Avenue area, where new concerns have recently emerged.

Landslides aren’t just about what happens on a hillside. They are also part of the story of sediment; where it comes from, how it moves, and how our rivers and landscape change over time.

This is the first evening of Ripple Effects 2026: Understanding Our Watershed, a three-part public series hosted by the Town of Hardwick, Jeudevine Memorial Library, Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District, and Hardwick Community Television.

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be served.

To learn more, 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.

Glenside landslide site on April 22, 2004, 3 days after a major slope failure occurred. Road has been cleared of landslide deposit. Photo by George Springston.

Strategic Wood Addition with Jud Kratzer

 in Flood Management/Resilience

Ever wonder why some rivers naturally slow down floodwaters, create better fish habitat, and become more resilient over time?

Join the Town of Hardwick for a presentation with fisheries biologist Jud Kratzer of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department as he explores the role of large wood in healthy river systems. Learn how strategically placed wood can improve aquatic habitat, reconnect floodplains, influence sediment movement, and support more resilient watersheds.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026
6:00–7:30 PM

Parker Ladd Community Room
Jeudevine Memorial Library
93 North Main Street
Hardwick, Vermont

There will be time for questions following the presentation, and light snacks will be provided.

The presentation will be recorded by Hardwick Community TV and available after the event.

Hosted by the Town of Hardwick and Hardwick Community TV

Residents Join Site Visit for Future Floodplain Restoration Project

 in Flood Management/Resilience

More than 20 residents, Town staff, project partners, and supporters joined a site visit Friday afternoon at the future Lamoille River confluence floodplain restoration project.

SLR, the Town’s project consultant, led participants through the site to discuss its history, findings from recent flood modeling, and plans for restoring floodplain function along this section of the Lamoille River.

The project is funded through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and is moving toward implementation.

The project also has strong roots in community knowledge. During conversations with residents of the Granite Street Historic District, residents shared oral history about an earlier flood mitigation project at the site. That information helped bring the site back to the Town’s attention and contributed to its further evaluation. Three Granite Street residents who participated in those earlier conversations joined Friday’s site visit.

The work also connects with the upcoming examination of Jackson Dam. Two members of the Jackson Dam Steering Committee attended the site visit, providing another opportunity to connect information and conversations taking place across the Lamoille River watershed.

The Town thanks SLR for leading the site visit and everyone who came out to learn more, ask questions, and share their knowledge of the area.

Help Shape the Future of the Jackson Dam Project

 in Flood Management/Resilience / Jackson Dam

The Town of Hardwick, Hardwick Electric Department, and the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District are inviting residents, property owners, businesses, and anyone with an interest in the Jackson Dam project to participate in a community survey.

As the project moves from feasibility into the next phase of engineering and planning, community input will help the Jackson Dam Steering Committee better understand what information people would like to receive, what questions they have, and what issues are most important to them.

This survey is not a vote on the future of the dam. Instead, it is an opportunity to help guide community engagement and ensure that future discussions address the topics that matter most to residents.

The survey is open through August 28, 2026.

Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/vYnKGmGofcjcmFFW6

Paper copies are available at:

  • Hardwick Electric Department
  • Jeudevine Memorial Library
  • Hardwick Town Manager’s Office

Additional project information, reports, and meeting materials are available on the Town’s Jackson Dam webpage. Jackson Dam – Hardwick, Vermont

Public Site Visit – Confluence Floodplain Restoration Project

 in Flood Management/Resilience

Friday, August 14
2:00 p.m.

Join the Town of Hardwick and SLR Consulting for a public walking tour of the Confluence Floodplain Restoration Project.

This is not a formal presentation. Instead, participants will have the opportunity to walk the project area with the engineering team, view the site firsthand, and discuss the project in the landscape where the work is being planned.

The site visit will include conversation about the river, floodplain restoration, project goals, and the next steps in the planning process. Questions are encouraged throughout the walk.

We will meet at the Cottage Street Bridge, but parking in the immediate area is limited. If you are able, please walk to the meeting location or park nearby on West Church Street or at Atkins Field and walk to the bridge.

Please wear sturdy footwear suitable for uneven terrain and dress for the weather.

Questions? Contact Kristen Leahy at (802) 472-1686 or zoning.administrator@hardwickvt.gov.

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