Windham Regional Commission

The Green River Watershed Alliance rolls out the Confluence Project

In 2017, the Green River Watershed Alliance (GRWA) was formed with the support of the WRC and through a Watershed Resilience grant from the High Meadows Fund, to be a "community-led voice for the stewardship and protection of the Green River and its surrounding landscape." It aims to bring together residents from Marlboro, Halifax, and Guilford so they may establish the importance of their river, learn about its systems, and create watershed identity and a sense of place.  One of the ways it plans to do this is through the Confluence Project, a collaborative effort between the WRC, Vermont Performance Lab, and three area schools.

This project will develop watershed curricula that integrates science and the arts for the schools, and host a suite of public events based on watershed science, flood resilience, civic engagement, and public arts initiatives. The Alliance has a diverse and innovative group of community partners; and these upcoming events reflect that diversity well. 

Engaged participants look on during a stream table demonstration facilitated by the Saxtons River Watershed Collaborative, the lead inspiration in organization model for the Green River Watershed Alliance.
From winter headwaters snow-shoeing and vernal pool identification in the spring, to artist talks and a lantern-lit evening boat paddle, community forums and stream table demonstrations, the Confluence Project brings variety in public engagement within this watershed. In addition to these public events, the Confluence Project has partnered with three regional grade schools to conduct educational watersheds programming by investigating stream geomorphology, habitats for aquatic organisms, and human-stream interactions and combing these principals with art concepts. All three schools are hosting a Vermont Performance Lab artist in residence who will take these science principals and augment students' understanding through applications in art.

You can see the full list of public events on the GRWA's website: www.GreenRiverWA.org
Some upcoming highlights are:
• Sunday, February 18: Headwater Snowshoe at South Pond in Marlboro
• Saturday, March 17: Opening Reception at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
• Saturday, March 24: Conservation Easement Workshop for Landowners
• Saturday, April 14: Vernal Pool Identification Training
• Thursday, May 3: Panel Discussion- "Finding Meaning in our Shared Watersheds"

For more information about the Green River Watershed Alliance and to RSVP to any of the events, please contact WRC Planner Emily Davis, at edavis@windhamregional.org, or 257-4547 x 116.

Last Updated: 07 January 2021