2022 VT Riparian Buffer Practitioners' Meeting Archive

Welcome to the 2022 VT Riparian Buffer Practitioners' Meeting archive! You can access the full schedule of presentations, with more detailed descriptions of sessions and individual talks, here. To watch a video of a session, see "Watch video" links below. Some presentation slides have been shared--those are linked from their descriptions.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Session 1 - introductions & Partner Updates       Watch video

• Meeting background, logistics, and structure - Alison Adams
• Various brief partner updates (Todd Menees, VT DEC, provided the slides for his update)

Session 2 - Updates on direct seeding and site prep work       Watch video

• Annalise Carington (Conservation Innovation Grant Project Director, Vermont Land Trust)
• Pete Emerson (Fisheries Biologist, VTFWD) & Dr. Fritz Gerhardt (Conservation Scientist, Connecticut River Conservancy)

Session 3 - The role of mycorrhizae in riparian forest restoration       Watch video

• Thomas Horton (Professor of Mycorrhizal Ecology, SUNY-ESF)
• Jess Rubin (Myco-Phytoremediation Researcher, Practitioner and Educator for UVM and MycoEvolve)

• Lynda Prim (Intervale Conservation Nursery Manager)

Session 4 - Managing riparian areas for pollinators, birds, and other biodiversity      Watch video

• Bob Zaino (Natural Community Ecologist, VTFWD)
• Cassie Wolfanger (Conservation Research Fellow, Audubon Vermont & Lake Champlain Sea Grant)
• Jason Mazurowski (Researcher & Adjunct Instructor, Gund Institute for Environment at UVM)

Session 4 - Act 76 updates      Watch video

• Gianna Petito (Grants Coordinator, DEC Clean Water Initiative Program)

Session 5 - Buffers & Profitable Agroforestry Opportunities for the Lake Champlain Basin     Watch video

• Audrey Epp Schmidt (Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Propagate), Mandy St. Hilaire (Project Resource Manager, Propagate), Teddi Stark (Watershed Forestry Program Manager, Pennsylvania Dep’t of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry)

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Session 1 - Herbaceous competition and invasives: from phragmites to knotweed to stone mulch       Watch video

• Kelly Stettner (Black River Action Team)
• Dr. Simon Pearish (Associate Professor of Biology, Norwich University)
• Ben Machin & Bill Musson (Redstart Consulting)

Session 2 - Managing emerald ash borer in riparian forests       Watch video

• Dr. Tony D’Amato (Professor of Forestry, UVM)
• Allaire Diamond (Ecologist, Vermont Land Trust)
• Joanne Garton (Technical Assistance Coordinator, Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program)

Session 3 - In-stream restoration and strategic woody additions       Watch video       

• Ben Gabos (CREP Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Agriculture)
• Patrick Hurley (Project Manager, Memphremagog Watershed Association)
• Allaire Diamond (Ecologist, Vermont Land Trust) & Shayne Jaquith (Watershed Restoration Manager, The Nature Conservancy Vermont)
• Dr. Jud Kratzer (Fisheries Biologist, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department)
• Kelley Tucker (Executive Director, Ausable River Association)

Session 4 - Finding new and creative ways to fund projects       [No video]

• Discussion led by Alison Adams (Watershed Forestry Partnership)