Otter Creek Floodplain, Middlebury, Vermont

In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene brought intense flooding to Otter Creek, causing severe damage to the city of Rutland, but minimal damage to Middlebury, located only 30 miles downstream. Middlebury’s conservation and restoration of Otter Creek’s floodplain and wetlands mitigated potential flood impacts and damage. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program protects lands suitable to act as floodplains by placing parcels into conservation easements, and protects 2,148 acres along Otter Creek. The program restores natural hydrology of the land by plugging ditches, removing berms, digging depressions to increase habitat complexity, and planting native vegetation. This reduces flooding and associated damage and improves water quality and habitat.