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Riverbank erosion is one of the most prevalent and misunderstood problems on the Connecticut River and its tributaries. While it is the nature of rivers and streams to flood and change course, human activities are having an increasing impact on river behavior. The Challenge of Erosion in the Connecticut River Watershed Learn more about this complex river process, and browse CRJC's set of fact sheets, below. (Note: To view or print these fact sheets, Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer. If you do not already have this software, you may download it for free. Click here: ) Northern River Assessment Project CRJC is engaged in a multi-year study of the northern Connecticut River and selected tributaries, in cooperation with Field Geology Services, with the support of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, and local communities. Among our discoveries is that a full third of the 85 miles of the Connecticut River from Murphy Dam in Pittsburg to Gilman Dam in Lunenburg was straightened in the late 1800s, probably for log drives. The river has been attempting to restore a natural path ever since. For more information on this research, including erosion maps for 16 northern Vermont and New Hampshire towns, click here. RIVER DYNAMICS AND EROSION What makes a river behave as it does? There are many causes of bank erosion; what factors in a basin affect erosion in the stream that drains it? How can you and your community help prevent it?   RIPARIAN BUFFERS Find out how shrubs, trees, and/or grass, growing along the banks of a river or stream, do many jobs: filter polluted runoff, provide habitat and privacy, and improve the stream communities they shelter. What are the features of the better buffer, and how should it be managed? What help is available? STREAMBANK STABILIZATION What methods have proven useful in slowing erosion in the Connecticut River Watershed? Here is a quick, illustrated guide to a variety of approaches, including the advantages and disadvantages of each and the best time of year for installation. Each site is different, and requires a practiced eye: here you can find the people and the programs that can help. PERMITS Remember, permits are needed for any work on a riverbank, but this can get tricky in a waterway shared by two states. This guide provides information on the different types of permits and how they may be obtained.   FIELD ASSESSMENT Here is a handy sheet to help you locate factors causing or resisting erosion at your site. Other Publications on River Morphology