HARDWICK — In a report compiled by Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Kristen Leahy, residents have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the flood mitigation efforts taking place in the area. The report first outlines town-wide initiatives before identifying the five main areas of flood impact, with section specific initiatives for each.
courtesy photo provided by the Town of Hardwick.
Town-wide initiatives include an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for flood models of the Lamoille River and the Cooper Brook. An engineering firm has been retained and work will be done by December 2025.
A Local Emergency Management Plan is under construction, with four new local categories being designated: emergency volunteer mobilization, emergency communications, emergency shelter, and the supply and support center. A draft version will be available by town meeting.
The Neighbor to Neighbor Supply and Support Center will become a sustainable and ready-to-go element of emergency response. Flood resilience website pages at hardwickvt.gov have been updated and now have more information for the public.
The Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws were updated in September 2024 and the Flood Hazard Area Overlay rules now match the requirements from the State of Vermont and FEMA. They will be ready for the anticipated update to the floodplain maps.
courtesy photo provided by the Town of Hardwick
Six bridges will have engineering underway for permanent replacements or upgrades by 2026. Eleven damaged roads will have updated culverts by the end of 2025. Additional mitigation projects are ongoing on all roads in town.
Of the five main areas of impact, the first identified was downtown Hardwick. There are several flood resiliency projects in process in this section, including the Mill Street restoration project, a scoping study for the downtown section, the restoration of the retaining wall next to the Village Restaurant and three property buyouts.
Resiliency projects in the Vt. Rte. 14 and Cooper Brook area include several unspecified elevations of buildings or property, one to two proposed EDA projects, two property buyouts and other various mitigation efforts.
The Wolcott Street commercial area has several mitigation and recovery efforts underway, including FEMA funded wastewater treatment plant upgrades, a Jackson dam feasibility study, seven property buyouts, one to two EDA projects and floodproofing concepts.
courtesy photo provided by Lori Ferland
East Hardwick also has a number of property buyouts. Mitigation projects include the FEMA-funded School Street Bank Stabilization project, the Better Connections Stormwater Overview, two proposed EDA projects and one historic property buyout.
The final section, the Granite Street Historic District, has three identified flood mitigation projects underway: One elevation, removing the fire station from the floodplain and a future mitigation project at the fire station site.
Leahy breaks down the completed flood resiliency projects in the 2024 Floodplain Town Report.
The Inn by the River parcel was purchased by the Town of Hardwick in the spring of 2023. The remaining structure was demolished and removed prior to the July 2024 flooding.
courtesy photo provided by the Town of Hardwick
In July 2024, Hay’s Service Station-Jiffy Mart and the Town of Hardwick lost 100 feet of property, three vehicles were swept downstream and three in-ground fuel tanks became precariously close to the Lamoille River. The continued erosion at this location is a threat to Hay’s Service Station, Hardwick’s downtown and the correlating Routes 14,15 and 16.
Temporary Bank Stabilization was done in July 2024 by the State of Vermont at the request of the town. A Hazard Mitigation grant is in process for bank stabilization and floodplain restoration. The RIVER program is working on the preliminary engineering.
According to the report, 65 Brush Street lost a corner of the building in the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie on August 10, 2024. The 41 Brush Street property, for which a FEMA buyout is in process, is also threatening to collapse. The retaining wall near the pedestrian bridge has received funding from FEMA to be replaced and repaired.
The town-owned property below the Cottage Street bridge has been identified as a location for a flood mitigation project. The Lamoille River is one component of the flooding issue. Flood benches and floodplain restoration on the property below the intersection of Cooper Brook and the Lamoille River may alleviate some of the pressure at that junction.
Another location identified in the report was the wastewater treatment facility plant. Substantially damaged by flooding in July 2023 and July 2024, the facility and its components will need to be elevated or removed from the floodplain. A feasibility study, benefit cost analysis and alternatives study are done and have been forwarded to FEMA for funding discussions.
courtesy photo provided by the Town of Hardwick.
Eleven damaged roads and culverts were repaired, graded, top-dressed and re-opened for travel after the July 2024 flood. Mitigation funds from FEMA helped with fortifying culverts on Kate Brook, Belfry, Bunker Hill, Smith Farm, Dutton, Nichols Pond and Stage House Roads, Sawmill Lane, Wright Farm, Stannard Mountain and Tucker Brook Roads.
Six bridges were damaged in July 2023 and 2024. Riverside Farms Bridge was completely destroyed, with a permanent bridge put in place in September 2024. The remaining bridges require upgrades.
Ten buyouts were arranged after the July 2023 flooding. Four substantially damaged properties were purchased by the town of Hardwick. Those houses were demolished in 2024 at 223 Mill Street, 2832 Craftsbury Road, 387 Carey Road and School Street in East Hardwick.
After the July 2024 flooding, the select board voted to re-open the buyout requests. Ten requests have been sent to the State of Vermont. Two are on the Haynesville Brook, two are on the Lamoille River in East Hardwick, two are in downtown Hardwick on the Lamoille River and four are on the lower Wolcott Street area. All have flooded on multiple occasions.
The report states six properties have requested elevation assistance after the flooding in July 2023 and July 2024. Two are on the Lamoille River and four are on Cooper Brook. The state of Vermont provided funding for elevations. A priority list was generated and an engineering firm will be contracted in early 2025.
Concluding the report, the mitigation efforts by the Hardwick Area Neighbor to Neighbor (NtN) group are explained in detail. NtN created a supply and support center to respond to the flooding in July 2024. Cleaning kits, dehumidifiers, sump pumps, fans, safety suits, masks, protective glasses and more were made available for the public. The supply center was utilized by Walden, Wolcott, Stannard, Greensboro and Woodbury in July 2024.
NtN and the town are working with consultants to enhance the Local Emergency Management Plan. A draft version will be available in early 2025.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
