Join us on Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at the Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite St., Hardwick, for a conversation about building emergency go bags for households, families, and pets. We’ll share practical tips on what to include, how to get started, and why being prepared can make a difference during an emergency.
The free community meal begins at 5 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series is hosted by the Town of Hardwick in partnership with the Center for an Agricultural Economy.
Questions? Please contact Kristen Leahy, Resilience & Adaptation Coordinator at 802-472-1686.
The Town of Hardwick and the Caledonia County Natural Resource Conservation District are seeking letters of interest from Hardwick community members interested in serving on the Jackson Dam Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee will provide a structure for community engagement, project communication, and coordination as the Jackson Dam project moves from feasibility analysis into future design and planning phases. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity and will help support public outreach, identify community questions and concerns, and facilitate communication among project partners, Hardwick Electric Department, municipal officials, businesses, and residents.
The committee is expected to meet approximately once per month, although meeting frequency may vary depending on project activity. The initial meeting will be in August 2026.
The Town is seeking individuals who are interested in helping support community conversations and ensuring that residents have meaningful opportunities to learn about the project and provide feedback throughout the process. Residents, business owners, and other community stakeholders are encouraged to apply.
Interested individuals should submit a brief letter of interest describing their interest in serving on the committee and any relevant experience, interests, or perspectives they would bring to the role.
Letters of interest should be submitted by Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
The Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District (CCNRCD) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an engineering team to assist with the next phase of technical evaluation and conceptual design work related to Jackson Dam and the Hardwick Lake area.
The project builds on the feasibility analysis completed earlier this year and will provide additional information about the site’s conditions, opportunities, and constraints. Work will include field investigations, hydraulic and hydrologic analysis, sediment evaluation, environmental review, FEMA benefit-cost analysis, conceptual design development, permitting coordination, and public engagement activities.
The purpose of this phase is to develop the technical information needed to evaluate potential future options for the site and support informed decision-making by project partners, community members, and local officials.
The selected engineering team will work with CCNRCD, regulatory agencies, and a local steering committee throughout the process. Community engagement will remain an important component of the project as additional information is gathered and alternatives are explored.
The Request for Proposals is available through the Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District website:
One of the best moments for me at this week’s Community Meals happened around a stream table.
As part of the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations series, Alison Spasyk from Lake Champlain Sea Grant joined us at the Atkins Field Community Meal with a stream table that quickly became a focal point for conversations about watersheds, flooding, rivers, and resilience.
Community members of all ages gathered around the table, asking questions, experimenting with water flow, and connecting what they were seeing to local conversations about flooding, rivers, and resilience.
As residents explored the stream table, conversations ranged from local flooding and Jackson Dam to the broader watershed. One of the things many people forget is that Hardwick is part of the Lake Champlain Basin. The water that falls here eventually makes its way to Lake Champlain, connecting our community to a much larger watershed.
The highlight of the evening came when a resident from the Granite Street neighborhood told me that the stream table helped her better understand concepts that had previously been discussed during a recent public meeting. The presentations had been clear, but as a visual learner, seeing the water move through the model brought those ideas into focus.
Several conversations also turned to Jackson Dam. While the stream table was not intended to model Jackson Dam specifically, residents began using it to think through questions about water movement, storage, flooding, and watershed dynamics. Watching those connections happen in real time was awesome.
Moments like these are exactly why the Atkins Neighborhood Conversations were created. Not everyone can attend a formal presentation or public meeting, but many people are interested in learning more about the issues affecting our community. By partnering with existing community events and gathering spaces, the goal is to create opportunities for conversation, questions, and learning in places where people are already spending time together.
Our next Atkins Neighborhood Conversation is:
DREDGING 101
Dredging is a topic that comes up frequently in Hardwick, especially after flooding events.We’ll be joined by Shayne Jacquith, who brings years of experience with dredging and river work. If you’ve ever had questions about dredging, river management, sediment, or flood resilience, this is an opportunity to ask them.
Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6 pm to 7 pm, Atkins Field Community Meals in the Pavillion at 140 Granite Street
The Town of Hardwick and the Center for an Agricultural Economy are hosting Atkins Neighborhood Conversations, a summer community discussion series held alongside the Monday Community Meals at the Atkins Field Pavilion.
These informal conversations are intended to bring neighbors together, share practical information, and create space for questions about flooding, preparedness, recovery, and community resilience.
Location: Atkins Field Pavilion, 140 Granite Street Community Meal: Mondays, 5:00–6:30 PM Conversation Begins: 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Conversation Schedule
June 15 — Lake Champlain Sea Grant Stream Table Demonstration Explore river dynamics with an interactive stream table. Test scenarios like dredging, dams, armoring, and road crossings to see how rivers respond during storms. Hands-on and open to all ages.
June 22 — Dredging 101 An informal conversation with Shayne Jaquith, River Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, about dredging and river dynamics. Open discussion and questions encouraged.
July 13 — Go Bags Emergency preparedness for households, families, and animals.
July 20 — Flood Insurance Understanding insurance, claims, and community questions.
July 27 — Update from the Hardwick Resilience & Adaptation Office An update on flood recovery progress, resilience projects, and what’s next for our community.
Pull up a chair. Share a meal. Join the conversation.
