Lea Kilvadyova | Live Well Lamoille

The Jeffersonville Culvert Program

Nov 27 2018

By: Lea Kilvádyová, Lamoille County Planning Commission

This is a story of one community’s dedication to improving the health of its residents by reducing the occurrence of flooding in the historic core of their village. Read about the intent behind installing a new large culvert under VT Route 15 in Jeffersonville.

Due to its location at the confluence of the Brewster and Lamoille Rivers, the Village of Jeffersonville lies within the 100-year floodplain and is prone to severe flooding. During 2011, Jeffersonville was inundated with floodwaters three times and experienced extensive damage to roads, culverts, businesses, and homes. Mann’s Meadow, housing for families and seniors, was evacuated due to road closure, power outage, and building flooding.

Arial photo of Jeffersonville’s 2011 flooding with an approximate location of flood mitigation improvements (in red).

Following the 2011 floods, the community worked with regional planners from Lamoille County Planning Commission and Milone & McBroom Engineers to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the flooding in Jeffersonville. One part of the plan, and the most recent improvement implemented in November 2018, was the construction of a large flood bypass culvert under Route 15. (A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow under a road, trail, or similar obstruction from one side to the other side.)

The culvert is located between the new Union Bank building and the Joinery/Jeffersonville Automotive. The culvert is designed to reduce flood damages in the Village of Jeffersonville by allowing floodwaters from the Brewster River to flow out of the Village before impacting structures and property. Based on the detailed flood modeling completed after the spring 2011 flooding, the culvert – along with the larger Greenway Bridge installed last year – will significantly reduce flood levels and greatly reduce the need for road closures or evacuations of Village residents in the future.

New flood bypass culvert under Route 15 in Jeffersonville

The culvert construction has been made possible in part by funding provided by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Vermont’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program. For more information, contact Lamoille County Planning Commission at 888-4548.

Cool Down in These Lamoille County Public Swimming Holes

Aug 21 2018

By: Lea Kilvádyová

When summer temperatures spent days hovering close to 90 degrees, I found it refreshing to cool down in Vermont’s bodies of water. Brooks, rivers, ponds and lakes, Lamoille County has got it all!

Journey's End_Johnson VT Swimming

In Johnson, where I live, the community has been working diligently to preserve public access to water so we all can enjoy this precious resource in perpetuity. “Journey’s End” is a spectacular swimming hole and waterfall carved into the bedrock of Foote Brook. It takes a short 10-minute walk to reach Journey’s End from a public parking pull-off about 0.4 miles up Plot Road. The trail has been cleared, is well marked, and the walk is easy thanks to Johnson Conservation Commission building wooden bridges and steps along the way.

Journey's End_Johnson VT Swimming

My other recommendation is for Beard Recreation Park, located on School Street just below the Powerhouse Covered Bridge. For generations, local residents and visitors have enjoyed a beautiful, Olympic-sized swimming hole and a beach along the Gihon River. The Town purchased and conserved the land in 2015. Thanks to the Town’s effort, this land will now forever be accessible to the public as the “Beard Recreation Park”. With approximately 600 feet of river frontage, this parcel possesses beautiful shoreline, waterfalls, and swimming spots along the Gihon River. The park also features a picnic table, a grill, and a stone stairway installed by Johnson Conservation Commission.

For more information on places to enjoy in Johnson all year long, visit www.johnsonconnect.net.

Join Lamoille County Planning Commission By Becoming a 3-4-50 Vermont Partner

Feb 27 2018

By: Lea Kilvádyová

The Lamoille County Planning Commission was recently recognized by the Vermont Department of Health for their commitment to supporting healthy worksites and healthy communities. The Lamoille County Planning Commission received a 3-4-50 certificate from the Health Department for being proud partners of the wellness initiative.

Caleb Magoon, Chair of the Lamoille County Planning Commission Board accepts the 3-4-50 Certificate of Partnership from Valerie Valcour of the Vermont Department of Health.

3-4-50 signifies 3 behaviors – lack of physical activity, poor diet, and tobacco use – that lead to 4 chronic diseases – cancer, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, and lung disease – resulting in more than 50 percent of all deaths. 3-4-50 is a statewide effort to create an epiphany about the behaviors that lead to chronic disease in our state and to engage partners from all sectors in strategies to improve health across our state.

Caleb Magoon, Chair of the Lamoille County Planning Commission Board stated, “The Board worked hard to weave together relevant subjects, trends, and livability principles, such as health, wellness, and economic opportunity, into each chapter of the Regional Plan. “

The Regional Plan is a planning document for all of Lamoille County, which is prepared with extensive public input. The Lamoille County Planning Commission Board reviewed the 3-4-50 principles and unanimously agreed that these wellness principles align with the Regional Plan.

Valerie Valcour of the Vermont Department of Health said,” 3-4-50 Vermont partners, like the Lamoille County Planning Commission and Lamoille County Mental Health help to create healthy and thriving Vermont schools, businesses, communities and individuals. Our Partners understand the importance of community-based efforts to help create a healthy and thriving Vermont, and we are pleased to be working with them.”

Additional information on wellness in your community and becoming a 3-4-50 Vermont Partner is available at https://healthvermont.gov/3-4-50.

A New Community Resource: The Boardwalk at Barnes Camp in Stowe

Dec 05 2017

By: Lea Kilvádyová

Ribbon cutting and boardwalk opening ceremony held on Oct 27, 2017.

Last month, Governor Scott, Congressman Peter Welch, and members of the Smugglers’ Notch Partners celebrated the opening of the Boardwalk at Barnes Camp Visitors’ Center in Smugglers’ Notch at Stowe. The five-foot-wide Boardwalk is approximately an eighth of a mile long and is a universally accessible portion of the Long Trail. The Boardwalk is built on spiral piers over a wetland and offers stunning, and previously unavailable views of the Notch. The Boardwalk is situated near Barnes Camp –a historic building built in 1927 — which played a key role in the development of Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy before the advent of ski lodges and resorts.

Mike DeBonis, Executive Director of the Green Mountain Club noted, “Wheelchair users and through hikers alike can enjoy the unique wetland, interpretative panels and spectacular views on this fully accessible portion of the Long Trail.” DeBonis added that the relocation of the Long Trail portion that connects to the Boardwalk will be completed in the Spring and hikers will be able to park at the Barnes Camp Visitors Center to hike over the Notch.

Interpretative panels narrate the natural history of the area.

The Lamoille County Planning Commission served as project manager for the Boardwalk. Senator Sanders obtained a generous Federal Highway earmark that funded about eighty percent of the construction costs. The remaining funds were provided by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Green Mountain Club, Spruce Peak Resort Association, Lamoille County Planning Commission and Lamoille Economic Development Corporation.

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