In 2022, The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission’s (NEIWPCC) 32nd Annual Nonpoint Source (NPS) Conference was held April 27-28 in Woodstock, Vermont. NEIWPCC describes the conference as “a regional forum to share information on NPS pollution issues, research, and related projects.” At this year’s conference, one of OCE’s own, Craig Jewett, P.E., was selected by NEIWPCC to provide an engaging presentation on the “Relocation & Reuse of the Woodstock Snow Dump.”
Woodstock is somewhat unique in that it hauls snow from the village center area to a designated snow dump. Craig’s presentation explained how after Hurricane Irene, the dump had a reduced storage capacity, and this provided an opportunity to address the many issues with the snow dump, including its direct discharge of snowmelt to the Ottauquechee River, its location within the floodway/floodplain, and residents’ desire to repurpose one of the few pieces of public land in the village center area.
Craig’s presentation highlighted not only how the relocation of the snow dump eliminated the stormwater issues related to the original snow dump, but also how a community-wide effort transformed the old snow dump into a beautiful riverside park, created with a VT ANR Ecosystem Restoration grant and assistance from a number of organizations, from The Woodstock Foundation to the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and other local volunteers.