What's New
The Draft 2021 Batten Kill, Hoosic, and Walloomsac Tactical Basin Plan has been released for public comment.
A summary of the draft plan is available in this Story Map.
The public is also invited to attend one of two public meetings offered on June 24 and July 8 to provide feedback on the plan.
- June 24 –Virtual meeting, 5:30-7:00 pm. (Click here to join the meeting)
- July 8 –Virtual (with in-person option) meeting, 3:00-4:30 pm. (Click here to join the meeting)
- In-person option at the Arlington Town Hall located at 3828 VT Route 7A, Arlington, VT
The Basin Plan encompasses portions of 16 towns in Southwestern Vermont, including Arlington, Bennington, Dorset, Glastenbury, Manchester, Peru, Pownal, Readsboro, Rupert, Sandgate, Shaftsbury, Stamford, Stratton, Sunderland, Winhall, and Woodford. The plan contains three key elements:
- A health assessment of the rivers, lakes, and wetlands within the Batten Kill, Hoosic River, and Walloomsac River watersheds.
- 39 strategies to improve water quality, including methods to decrease runoff from farms and roads, protect and restore water bodies, and limit overflows from wastewater treatment facilities.
- Tips for landowners, watershed organizations, and towns interested in receiving funding and technical assistance to help protect and restore water resources.
Comments should be directed by email: ANR.Basin1Comments@vermont.gov or by mail to Angie Allen, Basin 1 Comments, 430 Asa Bloomer State Office Bldg., 88 Merchants Row, Rutland, VT, 05701-5903. Comments should be postmarked or submitted via email by 4:30pm on July 22nd, 2021. Comments received by this date will be addressed in a responsiveness summary.
The Vermont portions of the three rivers which comprise this river basin have the unique distinction of being the only watersheds within Vermont that are part of the larger Hudson River regional basin. The Batten Kill, Walloomsac River and Hoosic River and their associated tributaries have their origins in the southwest corner of Vermont and collectively comprise what is referred to as Basin 1. The watershed area of the Batten Kill in Vermont is about 200 square miles. The Walloomsac River in Vermont drains a watershed of about 139 square miles and eventually flows into the Hoosic River in New York. The watershed area of the Hoosic River in Vermont is about 89 square miles. The Taconic Mountains, Vermont Valley and Southern Green Mountains make up the three biophysical regions that play an integral part in the dynamic nature of the 428 square mile Basin 1.
For more information about this important effort, contact Watershed Coordinator Angela Allen 802-490-9081.
Basin Specific Reports
- Biological and Aquatic Life Use Attainment Assessment Barney Brook, Bennington, VT
- Aquatic Life Use Attainment Assessment of Fayville Branch
- Trout Population Response to Cover Habitat Enhancement in the Batten Kill Main Stem
- Population Modeling for Batten Kill Trout
- River Corridor Planning on the Batten Kill, Vermont
- Batten Kill Trout Management Plan 2007-2012
- Comparative Assessment of the Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Characteristics of the Batten Kill with Several Other Wild Trout Streams in Vermont
- Assessment of Trout Cover and Its Relationship to Trout Abundance in the Batten Kill Main Stem and Four Rivers in Reference Watersheds
- Assessment of Possible Pesticide Accumulation in the Sediment of the Batten Kill River, 2008
- USFS South Of Route 9 – Integrated Resource Assessment Project
Additional Resources
- Completed Basin Plan Example: Upper Connecticut and Passumpsic River Basin
- Tactical Basin Planning
- DEC's Batten Kill, Walloomsac, Hoosic Rivers Water Quality Assessment Report (August 2002)
- Map of Vermont's 15 Major Drainage Basins
- Vermont DEC River Management Program
- Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions
- Bennington County Regional [Planning] Commission
- Bennington County Conservation District
- A Comparative Assessment of the Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Characteristics of the Batten Kill with Several Other Wild Trout Streams in Vermont
- Batten Kill Watershed Alliance
- Batten Kill Conservancy
- Hoosic River Watershed Association
- Southwestern Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited
- Vermont League of Cities & Towns
- Vermont Water Quality Standards
- Whipstock Hill Preservation Society