Wild Branch River Corridor Plan
A Phase 1 Stream Geomorphic Assessment following Agency of Natural Resources Protocols was completed for Wild Branch watershed by LCPC during summer 2005.
The Wild Branch has a watershed size of 39.3 square miles just above the confluence of the Lamoille River in the Town of Wolcott and drains from its headwaters in the Lowell Mountains near the Lamoille County and Orleans County boundary within the Town of Eden. The Wild Branch heads south through the Town of Eden and then briefly flows through the Wild Branch State Wildlife Management Area. Downstream of the Wildlife Management Area, the Wild Branch flows into Orleans County within the Town of Craftsbury and then crosses back into Lamoille County in the Town of Wolcott. The Wild Branch flows into the Lamoille River at approximately 665 feet above sea level, which then drains westerly into Lake Champlain.
The communities of Wolcott, Craftsbury and Eden have the opportunity to provide long-term protection to the river corridor and encourage the reestablishment of floodplain vegetation and healthy in-stream habitat. A list of fourteen potential restoration and conservation projects was developed during project identification. Types of projects include: river corridor protection through corridor easements and conservation efforts, improving riparian buffers, replacing undersized structures, berm removal, and arresting active incision.