Flooding has been at the forefront of our minds in the past year, from the summer floods that mostly spared the Mad River Valley, to the December floods that reminded us that even in the winter, the river will do what the river does. But flooding can also be a learning opportunity. It reminds us of our strength as a community and provides an opportunity for us to look ahead and build resiliency in our communities to maintain the safety and well-being of the land and water and all their inhabitants.

In this panel, we’ll hear from individuals from Montpelier and Hardwick who are at the forefront of response and recovery in their communities. We’ll also hear from representatives from Vermont Fish and Wildlife about the impact of floods on aquatic life and from representatives of Friends of the Winooski who have been involved in different floodplain reconnection projects before and after these recent floods.

We hope that hearing from community leaders and experts on what has worked for other Vermont communities will inspire us in the Mad River Valley to take action that ensures preparedness for future climate change.

Light dinner and childcare will be provided. Please RSVP here https://www.friendsofthemadriver.org/news/community-resilience-series-learnings-from-the-2023-floods if you plan to attend and contact onome@friendsofthemadriver.org with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.