Stream corridor plans, which are built on Dr. John Field's Batten Kill geomorphology study, are intended to identify human impact on rivers and then implement solutions.

"It's really important to see how we humans affect the stream and throw off the equilibrium," said Pytlik. "To achieve equilibrium, there needs to be equal watershed input."

Restore the equilibrium

Equal input, she said, is a balance between water and sediment. Human interference has thrown off the equilibrium, caused damaging floods and disrupted the ecosystem. Seventy-five percent of Vermont's streams, she said, are not in equilibrium. The plans work in three phases, said Pytlik. Phase one is computer study of maps and changes over time, phase two is studying in the river and the third is to create a plan to solve it.

Deforestation, she said, allowed for massive amounts of sediment to flow into the rivers. Dams and other modifications have trapped sediment behind them keeping it from flowing downward. Roads and buildings have straightened the river and cut out wetlands and floodplains. Floodplains and wetlands are important, she said, because it slows the flow rate down and sediment gets deposited out of the river. The increase in speed of waterflow, said Pytlik, begins to deteriorate embankments.

Pytlik said that there were five floods in the last four years costing Vermont $60 million dollars. The floods, she said, are more destructive because of the deterioration. A cycle is created, she said, where humans encroach the rivers boundaries with developments, which causes destructive floods. In response to the floods, human try to contain the river. Towns, she said, use minimum standards of flood zones when they should allow for more floodplains for sediment to be deposited.

"Basically, in Vermont, it all comes down to local zoning," said Pytlik. "People might think they're not at risk but they are."

To protect the river, Pytlik suggests that removing berms, which were put up to contain the waterflow, planting stream buffers, removing structures, creating floodplains and stabilizing the banks.

The river management program is funded by both the U.S. Forest Service and Gov. Douglas' Clean and Clear program.

The meeting began with Executive Director Cynthia Browning of Arlington, Vt., telling the group of about 15 people that the recent "rock snot" finding in the Batten Kill will not halt their programs. The Batten Kill Watershed Alliance has been installing structures on the sides of the river to protect trout from predators as well as providing a place for them to eat.

"We don't know how long it's been there and we don't know what it'll do," said Browning.

The alliance also re-elected board members James Henderson and Al Klein. Browning will be stepping down as executive director and the board is beginning to look for a replacement. Browning, also a Vermont state representative and town Select Board member, said she does not have the time to keep the position.

Browning was working 12 to 15 hours a week, but the board would like an employee to work 30 hours a week. The position pays $20 an hour.

"I think it could be a great job for somebody," said Browning. "The best part is when you get your feet dirty in the river, hopefully without rock snot."

Vice Chairman Greg Cuda said that the job entails coordinating projects and funding, writing newsletters and grants and general oversight of the alliance. "It has a lot of different facets," said Cuda.