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Northern River Assessment Project Findings of Fluvial Geomorphic Assessments A fluvial geomorphic assessment seeks a scientific understanding of how the nature of a river's watershed and human land use affect the river channel. Rivers are constantly adjusting to many changes, from dam building or breaching to road and railroad building and even deglaciation. Understanding how these changes alter the width, depth, and form of a river channel is essential for identifying potential problems in a river system and identifying long-term solutions for channel instability. The results of our 2004 and 2005 investigations are presented below. New river restoration planning is underway on Mill Brook in Stark and the lower Mohawk River in Colebrook. Learn more. Erosion Maps of Northern River Towns The erosion maps posted here were created for CRJC by Dr. John Field of Field Geology Services, based on his 2004 assessment of 85 miles of the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire and Vermont. Each town has received a large planning scale version of these maps, showing erosion and riverbank condition. At right: Northumberland, NH (Note: Mapping software is not necessary to view or print these maps, although 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: Download the guide that accompanies these maps (large file): Causes and Management of Bank Erosion on the Upper Connecticut River Vermont Erosion Maps Canaan (northeast, north, central, south) Lemington (north, central, south) Bloomfield (north, central, south) Brunswick (north, central, south) Maidstone (north, south) Guildhall (north, south) Lunenburg (north, central, south)    New Hampshire Erosion Maps Pittsburg (central, south) Clarksville (north, central, south) Stewartstown (north, central, south) Colebrook (north, south) Columbia (north, central, south) Stratford (north, central, south) Northumberland (north, central, south) Lancaster (north, central, south) Dalton (north, south) Fluvial Geomorphology Assessment of the Northern Connecticut River, Vermont and New Hampshire  Field Geology Services, October, 2004 A fluvial geomorphic assessment of 85 miles of the northern Connecticut River between Murphy Dam in Pittsburg, NH downstream to Gilman Dam between Gilman, NH and Lunenburg, VT has identified the major natural and human factors controlling channel morphology and causing bank erosion. Final Report selected appendices:  Phase 2 Cross-Sections of 18 Reaches Options for Restoration at the Colebrook Industrial Park Bank Stabilization Implementation and Assessment of the Connecticut River near Colebrook and Groveton, New Hampshire. Field Geology Services, January 2006 Continuing efforts to address bank erosion problems along the Connecticut River have led to the permitting of a bioengineering project at the Colebrook Business Park, a detailed assessment of bank instability at the Northumberland Cemetery, and production of erosion hazard maps for each town in the study area. Bank instability at the Northumberland Cemetery is related to several factors including: 1) the breaching of the Old Wyoming Dam 3.0 miles downstream of the cemetery; 2) the breaching of Nash Stream Bog Dam in the Upper Ammonoosuc watershed; and 3) the resulting sand bar development on the Connecticut River at the confluence with the Upper Ammonoosuc River. Final Report selected appendices:  Phase 3 Survey Data Hydraulic Modeling Results Bioengineering Design Specifications, Colebrook Business Park Conceptual Restoration Designs, Northumberland Cemetery Fluvial Geomorphology Assessment of Northern Connecticut River Tributaries Field Geology Services, January 2006 A fluvial geomorphic assessment of the Mohawk and Upper Ammonoosuc Rivers, tributaries to the Connecticut River in New Hampshire, has identified the major natural and human factors controlling sediment delivery to the Connecticut River mainstem where bank erosion threatens the Colebrook Business Park (adjacent to the Mohawk River) and Northumberland Cemetery (adjacent to the Upper Ammonoosuc). Final Report selected appendices:  Lower Mohawk River Conceptual Design Options  Mill Brook Conceptual Design Options       Mohawk River Stream Restoration Planning Restoration planning is occurring on the lower Mohawk River near its confluence with the Connecticut River in Colebrook, NH. The project will result in engineering designs for the long-term resolution of erosion problems at the Colebrook Business Park on the mainstem of the Connecticut River, caused by sediment deposition at the mouth of the Mohawk River after the channel was artificially straightened several decades ago. Other benefits will be the creation and improvement of habitat and reduction of sedimentation. The work is an outgrowth of previous studies (see above) and is supported by grants from the Upper Connecticut River Mitigation & Enhancement Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation and the Watershed Assistance and Restoration Program of NH Dept. of Environmental Services. Field Geology Services is conducting the study.