jeffersonville hazard mitigation plan3c01460c...feb 01, 2016 · the first clearing was made in...
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Jeffersonville, Vermont Hazard Mitigation Plan All-hazards mitigation plan for Village of Jeffersonville, Vermont
This plan was funded in part by a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Planning Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Lamoille County Planning Commission assisted in drafting this plan. FEMA Approval Pending Adoption Received: October 23, 2015
Adopted by Jeffersonville Board of Trustees: November 9, 2015
FEMA Formal Approval Received: November 19, 2015
Plan Expiration: November 19, 2020
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Contents
Plan Purpose ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Location ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Community Profile .................................................................................................................................... 4
C1 Governance and Existing Authorities, Policies, Programs, and Resources ........................................... 5
A1 and A3 Planning Process and Public Involvement ............................................................................... 10
A1 Planning Process: how it was prepared, who was involved .............................................................. 10
A3 Public involvement in planning process and drafting the plan ......................................................... 11
A2 Neighboring Communities, Local and Regional Agencies, Regulating Authorities, and Other
Interests ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities ..................................................... 12
Agencies that have the authority to regulate development .................................................................. 12
Neighboring Communities and Other Interests ...................................................................................... 13
A4 Existing Plans, Studies, Reports, and Technical Information .............................................................. 13
A5, A6 Plan Maintenance and Continued Public Participation .................... ...........................................14
B1 All‐Hazards Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................ 15
B2, B3 Hazard Profiles: Flooding; Landslide; Municipal Services/ Power Failure .................................... 19
Flooding ................................................................................................................................................... 19
B4, C2 The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)......................................................................... 27
Landslides ................................................................................................................................................ 28
Municipal Services and Power Failure .................................................................................................... 31
B3 Vulnerability Statement ........................................................................................................................ 33
C3 Hazard Mitigation Goals ....................................................................................................................... 33
C4, C5 Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Plan: Mitigation Priorities ......................................................... 35
C6 Integration into other Mechanisms ...................................................................................................... 39
D Plan Review, Evaluation, and Implementation...................................................................................... 40
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 41
Appendix A Meeting Attendance and Topic List ..................................................................................... 41
Appendix B: Outreach Materials ............................................................................................................. 44
Appendix C: List of Alternatives from 2013 Flood Model Final Report by Milone and MacBroom, Inc. 48
Appendix D: Supplemental Maps ............................................................................................................ 51
Appendix E: Village Mitigation Master Plan and Visual Renderings of Proposed Mitigation Projects .. 52
PlanPurposeThis single‐jurisdiction, all‐hazards mitigation plan is for the Village of Jeffersonville, Vermont. While the
Village of Jeffersonville is located within the Town of Cambridge, Jeffersonville is an independent
municipality under Vermont State Statutes. As such, it has an independent legislative body, independent
flood hazard regulations, a municipal sewer/ water system, and other forms of governance. The risk
assessment for Jeffersonville focuses on place‐specific hazards and/or vulnerabilities that Jeffersonville
has the authority to mitigate, which are flooding, landslides, and power/ water/ and wastewater system
failure.
Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. Mitigation
is taking action now—before the next disaster—to reduce human and financial consequences later
(analyzing risk, reducing risk, insuring against risk). Effective mitigation requires that we understand
local risks, address the hard choices and invest in long‐term community well‐being. Without mitigation
actions, we jeopardize our safety, financial security and self‐reliance1. This plan recognizes that
communities have opportunities to identify mitigation strategies and measures. This plan assists
Jeffersonville in assessing hazard risks and identifying strategies, goals, and objectives to mitigate
hazards and access funding for mitigation. This plan is an advisory document to assist Jeffersonville in
identifying mitigation priorities to reduce damage from natural hazards. It is not intended for use as a
regulatory document.
IntroductionThe first clearing was made in Jeffersonville in the 1780's by Jonah Brewster of Bennington, after whom
the Brewster River is named. He was one of a large company from that town which settled Cambridge.
The Brewster River afforded numerous mill sites which were steadily developed over the course of the
century. After the introduction of railroads to Jeffersonville this activity blossomed into a diverse wood
products industry. By the turn of the 18th century, large‐scale lumbering operations were cutting and
milling high on the neighboring mountainsides. The surrounding hills have long been a magnet for
tourists as well. While Jeffersonville had its own ski hill by the 1930s, since the fifties the growth of a
major ski development at Smugglers Notch Resort has had a revitalizing effect on the economy.
The core of the Village is based around Main Street, Church Street, and Mill Street. Main Street extends
to the north, lined by commercial buildings with period storefronts and comfortable Victorian village
homes. Church Street is lined with a beautiful church, a sprawling inn, the Town Hall which houses the
Post Office and Cambridge Town Office, and residences mostly dating from the 1870's ‐ 1930's. Route
108 south (Mill Street) is faced on either side with homes of the same era and the scenic Brewster River.
Parallel to Main Street, and running north from Church Street, is Maple Street. This quiet, tree‐shaded
residential street was mostly built up between 1880 and 1920. The Village core is rounded out by the
School Street‐Carlton Ave. loop, extending off of Main Street, dominated by the school and its
playgrounds, as well as residences, which represent 20th century expansion. Depot and Old Main Streets
are also part of the Village Core, the latter including two of the oldest structures in Jeffersonville.
1 http://www.fema.gov/what‐mitigation
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Residential development since 1960 has occurred primarily in four areas of the Village, all outside of the
core area: the “Deer Run Development” on a high ridge overlooking the village on the east, “Jeff
Heights” on a plateau above the village to the south, Mehean Drive, a subdivision adjacent to the
cemetery, and a senior citizen and low income apartment complex located on Mann’s Meadow between
Maple Street and Vermont Route 15. In the 1950s a Route 15 bypass was constructed. This diverted
most truck and commuter traffic around the Village Core, enhancing the turn‐of‐the‐century character
of the Village Core, but it also led to automobile‐oriented commercial development along Route 15
outside of the Village Core.
The appearance of the Village Core has changed little in the past 75 years. Most of the buildings retain
many of their historic features. Jeffersonville’s architecture is highly unusual in that the predominant
style on Maple and Main Street is a transitional Greek Revival‐Queen Anne. The overall effect of the
Village Core’s residential sections is of comfortable Victorian homes. The unique character of
Jeffersonville’s core area was recognized in 1986 when a large portion of it was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places. A major objective of this Hazard Mitigation Plan is the preservation of those
features and qualities which made the National Register designation possible while mitigating the most
dangerous disasters that threaten Jeffersonville’s fabric.
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Location
Jeffersonville is located on bottomland of the Lamoille River, at the mouth of the Brewster River, a
rushing mountain stream that drains the north side of Smugglers’ Notch. Above it, to the south, looms
the state’s largest mountain, Mount Mansfield. Route 15, the county’s major east‐west highway, and
Route 108, an important seasonal tourist road that passes through Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch,
intersect here. Jeffersonville is located next to fast‐growing Chittenden County, less than 30 miles from
Burlington. Chittenden County’s growth has already made itself felt in Jeffersonville, and it can be
anticipated that development pressures will only intensify in the upcoming years.
Jeffersonville recognizes the importance of the Smugglers Notch Ski Resort to the local and regional
economy. At the same time, development of the Resort has the potential to impact the Village. Given
that the Ski Area is located upstream from Jeffersonville, development must not unduly increase flood
risks in the Village. It is also in close proximity to the aquifer serving the Village water system and
therefore must not unduly impact the groundwater supply.
CommunityProfile
Since the 1970s, Jeffersonville’s population has witnessed numerous peaks and valleys. The population
has consistently grown by more than twenty percent in three of the last four decades. The most recent
population count for Jeffersonville is 729 persons (U.S. Census 2010). From 2000 to 2010, Jeffersonville’s
population increased by 161 persons (28%). See Figure 1.
The median age for Jeffersonville is 32 years old, which is 9.5 years younger than the state average. Age
distribution information is important in order to predict future service needs, especially schools, and
services for elderly residents who may be vulnerable to hazards. This is indicative of a community made
up of young families, which are likely to have school children and demand larger homes. Compared to
statewide figures, Jeffersonville has proportionally more young children and young families, and
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Figure 1. Population of Jeffersonville 1910-2010
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proportionately fewer “baby boomers” (ages 45 to 68). However, in the most recent census period the
number of baby boomers ages 54 to 60 residing in Jeffersonville has peaked significantly.
Of the 266 total housing units located in Jeffersonville reported in the 2010 U.S. Census, 41% were
single‐family detached houses. The remaining 58.9% were multi‐unit housing hosting anywhere from 2
to 19 units. Of the 232 units that were occupied, 72 housing units were owner‐occupied and 160 were
renter‐occupied.
C1GovernanceandExistingAuthorities,Policies,Programs,andResourcesJeffersonville is an incorporated village within the Town of Cambridge. It was incorporated in 1905 to
facilitate development of a community water system. Accordingly, its authorities, programs, and
resources are limited. Jeffersonville Village is governed by a five person Board of Trustees who serve in a
volunteer capacity. The Trustees oversee the community water and wastewater systems. The Village
maintains an office and employs a Village Clerk.
Cambridge’s planning documents recognize the importance of Jeffersonville as one of the Town’s major
centers, but documents largely defer to village plans in regards to future land uses within the Village.
Cambridge Town has its own local hazard mitigation plan; where Cambridge’s responsibilities and
Jeffersonville’s responsibilities overlap will be highlighted in this plan, but specific information regarding
Cambridge’s disaster threats, mitigation goals, and mitigation strategies are found in the Town and
Village of Cambridge, VT Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan covers only the Village of Jeffersonville.
Jeffersonville is bordered on all sides by the Town of Cambridge. The Town includes another
incorporated village, the Village of Cambridge. The Village of Cambridge has a three person Board of
Trustees. The Town has a three person Board of Selectman (the Selectboard). Each Board has its own
roles and responsibilities, which are illustrated in the table below (next page).
The Jeffersonville Village Trustees are responsible for management of most of the public infrastructure
in Jeffersonville Village (excluding roads and Town‐owned buildings). In addition, Jeffersonville
maintains an independent, all‐volunteer Planning Commission and an independent Municipal Plan. As a
result, Jeffersonville has the authority to adopt its own set of Flood Hazard Regulations (to require
housing in the flood hazard area to be safe for occupants), subdivision regulations, zoning regulations,
and fire codes (to enforce additional fire code requirements on rental units) and may adopt land use
regulations or ordinances independently from the Town of Cambridge; Jeffersonville is not subject to
land use regulations adopted by Cambridge. In 2011, Jeffersonville adopted a Flood Hazard Bylaw that
prohibits future development from being constructed in the 100‐year floodplain, as defined on the most
recent FEMA maps (Special Flood Hazard Area). The purpose of the bylaw is to reduce repetitive loss of
property and public expenditures during flooding events. The Town currently administers subdivision
regulations that include Jeffersonville’s boundaries. In general, village residents are supportive of
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responsible regulations and changes that are more effective in protecting the community’s economic,
social, and fiscal well‐being.
Jeffersonville Governance Structure
Activity Responsible Authority Notes Who Authorizes?
Village laws Jeffersonville Board of Trustees Village voters
Road maintenance Town of Cambridge Selectboard, Road Foreman
Town capital budget Town, Village voters
Property Taxes Town of Cambridge Assessors Town of Cambridge Town Clerk
Sewer Department Jeffersonville Board of Trustees Village Trustees
Water System Jeffersonville Board of Trustees Village Trustees
Planning Jeffersonville Planning Commission
Jeffersonville Municipal Plan is separate from Cambridge Municipal Development Plan
Village Trustees
State health codes Town of Cambridge Health Officer
Flood hazard bylaw Jeffersonville Planning Commission (drafting) Floodplain Administrator (administration)
enforced by the Board of Adjustment
Village Trustees
National Flood Insurance Program
Jeffersonville Board of Trustees
Subdivision Regulations
Town of Cambridge Planning Commission
Cambridge Selectboard
Conservation Commission
Cambridge Conservation Commission
Cambridge Selectboard
Fire Department Town of Cambridge Located in Jeffersonville
Cambridge Rescue Squad
Town of Cambridge Located in Jeffersonville
Emergency Management Director
Town of Cambridge
Cambridge Elementary School
Town of Cambridge Located in Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville Village Office
Village Clerk Located in Jeffersonville
Cambridge Town Office
Town Clerk Located in Jeffersonville
Vermont Designated Village Center
Jeffersonville Planning Commission
Village Trustees
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Commonly used acronyms:
ANR = Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
DEMHS = Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
EMD = Emergency Management Director, a municipally appointed position authorized by Vermont statutes
LCPC = Lamoille County Planning Commission
LEPC = Local Emergency Planning Committee 11
NIMS = National Incident Management System
NFIP = National Flood Insurance Program
VTrans = Vermont Agency of Transportation
The Town of Cambridge has the authority to tax buildings, even those located in the two villages. Like
many other incorporated villages in the state, Cambridge Village and Jeffersonville share many public
services and administrative functions with the Town. This plan will refer only to Jeffersonville, except
where noted. Because the village is limited in its taxing authority, Jeffersonville has limited funding
capacity to expand services beyond what sewer and water fees are regulated to cover. Accordingly, the
Village relies on grants, contributions, and/or collaboration with Cambridge Town to fund mitigation and
other improvement projects.
There are approximately 107 miles of road in Cambridge, of which 32 are under the jurisdiction of the
Vermont Agency of Transportation District 8, with a maintenance garage located on Route 15
approximately 4 miles east of Jeffersonville. The Town Highway Department is led by a Road Foreman.
Staffing for the road crew is minimal. The Town highway maintenance garage is located on Route 108
(Mill Street) in Jeffersonville. Cambridge has numerous bridges and culverts it must maintain on local
roads. Because of the high cost of bridge repairs, the Town relies heavily on state aid for such work.
Cambridge provides road maintenance for Jeffersonville.
The two significant state highways that bisect Jeffersonville are Route 15 (the region’s major east‐west
travel corridor) and Route 108, which runs north‐south (seasonally closed through Smugglers’ Notch to
Stowe during the winter). Vermont Route 109 runs from Jeffersonville north to Waterville. The Highway
Department relies on state authority, resources, and commitment to mitigate any
state road problems.
Jeffersonville currently receives electrical services from Green Mountain Power
(providing service to the majority of
town) and Vermont Electric
Cooperative, Inc. While the village is
completely dependent on outside
power production as its sole source of
electric power, solar arrays are
becoming more common on residential
structures. Some mitigation efforts,
such as routine tree trimming, can be
coordinated between the village and
the town.
Emergency Preparedness
A Local Emergency Management Director (EMD) is appointed by the Cambridge
Selectboard but works with Jeffersonville as well. The EMD works closely with the
Fire Department, Rescue Squad, Trustees, Selectboard, and local Road Foreman.
Figure 1 Cambridge's "StormReady" designation
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The EMD is the first point of contact identified in the Local Emergency Operations Plan, a document that
is updated annually and includes information such as: Points of Contact; Shelter Info; Hazardous Sites;
Vulnerable Populations; mutual aid resources; NIMS information; and important forms to be used
during an emergency for both Cambridge and Jeffersonville. The LEOP was most recently adopted in
April 2015. The Critical Facilities and Areas of Concern map below shows where important economic,
civic, and emergency facilities are located.
Jeffersonville is served by the Town’s volunteer Fire Department, located on Church Street in the Village.
The department is authorized to have 35 members. In 2011, Cambridge voters approved a bond vote to
construct a new fire station, adjacent to the existing building. The fire station is the only “Storm Ready”
shelter in the State of Vermont. The Cambridge Fire Department is a leader in HAZMAT response
throughout the region and is also active in mutual aid response, due to its strong HAZMAT capabilities.
Based on its proximity to neighboring Chittenden and Franklin counties, the Cambridge Fire Department
is a member of the Lamoille, Chittenden, and Franklin Mutual Aid Associations. The Emergency
Operations Center is located at the fire station as of 2014.
For emergency medical response, Jeffersonville relies on the Cambridge Rescue Squad. This non‐profit
service operates out of headquarters located in Jeffersonville. The squad currently has 31 members and
two ambulances. The nearest hospital is Copley Hospital in Morrisville, followed by the UVM Medical
Center in Burlington and Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans.
Law enforcement support is provided by the Vermont State Police (VSP) located on Route 2A in
Williston. The Lamoille County Sheriff Department also provides some services.
The Critical Facilities and Areas of Concern Map (below) was created by the Jeffersonville Hazard
Advisory Committee and highlights the areas of greatest concern to Jeffersonville; these are areas
impacted by hazards, vulnerable locations, and critical facilities. More information is provided in the
following pages about these areas; mitigation actions are designed to reduce impacts to many of these
locations.
Lamoille River
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1. R ental Housing 2. Pony Farm 3. Old R ailroad Station4. Cam bridgeTown Office/Post Office5. Fire station 6. Power Substation 7. Sewer Pum p Station8. Cam bridge R escue 9. Town Garage 10. Elem entary Sch ool 11. Sewage Treatm ent Lagoon12. Pum p Station-R obbie’s 13. Pum p Station 14. Storm Drains on Sch ool Street 15. Presch ool 16. Presch ool/ Daycare 17. Daycare 18. Mann’s Meadow Senior Housing19. Hanley’s Grocery Store20. Madonna Molbil 21. Gas Station & Deli & Bakery 22. Sm ugglers’ Notch R esort23. Covered bridge24. Private bridge 25.Historical Society 26. Cem etery27. Village Office28. Food Sh elf 29. Windridge Com m unity Center30. Jeffersonville Farm ers & Artisans Market 31.Fairpoint Com m unications 32. Jack F. Corse Inc. 33. G.W. Tatro Construction
Areas of Concern
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3233
Brew
ster R
iver
Lamoil
le Rive
r
CANYON RD ROBTOY RD
DEER RUN HTS
JEFF HEIGHTS RD
MA
PLE
ST
JUN
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L R
D
SCHOOL ST
DEPOT ST
W FA
RM
RD
MIHEAN DR
MAN
N'S
MDW
JEFF
HEI
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S CI
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CARLTON AVE
GR
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MIL
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OLD
MAI
N ST
BOURNE RD
98
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CRITICAL FACILITIES AND AREAS OF CONCERN VILLAGE OF JEFFERSONVILLE Tranverse Mercator,
VT State Plane,Meters, NAD83.
For planning purposes only.Not for regulatory interpretation.
Lamoille CountyPlanning Commission
PO Box 1637, 52 Portland StreetMorrisville, VT 05661
802.888.4548 f 802.888.6938www.lcpcvt July 2015
.
0 0.30.15Miles
Data Sources:Areas of Local Concern: Created by LCPC in 2014with input from the Hazard Advisory Committee,revised June, 2015.Critical Facilities, Tier II and EHS Facilities: DEMHS,2011.Roads: 1:5000 E-911 Road Data, 2014.Political Boundaries: 1:24000 USGS Quadrangles,VCGI,1991.Surface Water: On-screen digitized from 1:5000 digitalorthophotos using USGS 7 1/2' quadrangles and1:20000 color infrared aerial photography asadditional source material, VCGI for VHDUSGS,2001
LegendCR ITICAL FACILITIES AND AR EAS OF CONCER N
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G Emergency Sh elter
Governm ent
Power, Water & WastewaterServices
Multi-Fam ily HousingEnergyGrocery StoresEm ergency R esponseTelecom m unications
Transportation Infrstructureand Services
Com m unity Gath ering PlaceEducation and Daycare
State High way Class 2 R oad Class 3 R oadClass 4 R oadPrivate R oadLake/PondR iver/Stream
R OADS
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A1andA3PlanningProcessandPublicInvolvement
A1PlanningProcess:howitwasprepared,whowasinvolved
The Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Plan was awarded funding in 2012 through FEMA’s Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program 7% initiative. When the application was developed for that funding, LCPC staff
coordinated with Jeffersonville to identify potential committee members for the Hazard Advisory
Committee. A pool of names was collected from the
very beginning of the project.
As funding was awarded and the project began, a core
group of nine people was identified, including Village
Trustees, a representative of the business community,
a representative from the Cambridge Elementary
School, a Town of Cambridge representative, a Planning
Commission representative, the Emergency
Management Director, and two residents. This initial
group also included seven people from three state
agencies. As word spread about the project, other
interested parties began attending meetings and asked
to be a part of the email listserv. All meetings were
open to the public at all times. Please see the
attendance list found in Appendix A. For a copy of the
sign‐in sheets from each meeting, please contact
LCPC’s office.
Meeting announcements were initially posted on Front
Porch Forum, an online neighborhood forum that
reaches Jeffersonville and Cambridge residents. The
project was included in LCPC’s newsletter in fall 2013.
Initial steps in development go as far back as July 2012 when the first meeting for the project was held.
The first official meeting of the Committee was November 15, 2012. Subsequent meetings focused
specifically on the topics listed on the attendance table, found in Appendix A. Guest speakers included
George Springston and Les Kanat, researchers from Norwich University and Johnson State College, to
discuss their work on the Jeffersonville landslides. Melinda Scott, LCPC’s GIS Planner, presented results
of the Brewster River Stream Geomorphic Assessment. Milone and MacBroom, Inc (MMI) participated in
a series of meetings about the flood model work, helping the Committee understand the science behind
flooding and to test alternative theories about the impact of potential actions to mitigate flooding.
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Meetings and presentations provided both the opportunity to participate in the flood model and the
mitigation plan development and allowed participants to be directly engaged in the planning process.
Between meetings, LCPC staff had many conversations in person and through e‐mail with Committee
members, technical experts, state representatives, and Village trustees.
Meeting agendas and minutes are available by contacting LCPC directly.
A3Publicinvolvementinplanningprocessanddraftingtheplan
As mentioned above, members of the public participated in meetings organized as part of this plan’s
development. Drafting the plan began in earnest over winter/ spring 2015. The results documented in
meeting minutes, technical reports, and information gathering from multiple HMGP applications all
contributed to early drafting stages. The Committee and members of the public participated in
narrowing down mitigation action items at a meeting on May 5, 2015. Many of the mitigation actions
were identified in the MMI Technical Report.
LCPC worked to pull everything together into the mitigation plan, having the experience of developing
multiple hazard mitigation plans previously. This plan
was created through the community discussions about
hazard mitigation since 2011.
Given the integration of the municipal plan and the
hazard mitigation plan, the work established in the
municipal plan by the Jeffersonville Planning
Commission contributed greatly to this hazard
mitigation plan. There is significant overlap between
the two and a full picture of Jeffersonville is only
complete when both are read. The Planning
Commission undertook significant public involvement
in developing their municipal plan. Both plans are
reflective of the community and of the expertise
provided at hand.
As plan sections were developed, they were reviewed
by Committee member Jean Jenkauskas. Jean, Jeff
Coslett, Staci Pomeroy, and members of the Trustees
reviewed the full draft of the plan in June and July
2015. Their comments and suggestions were
incorporated into the plan, clarifying the impacts of
hazards. A FEMA Technical Assistance Team reviewed
the plan and provided input to strengthen and clarify the plan in June 2015. LCPC staff met with the
Board of Trustees on July 13 to review the plan. Their recommendations for clarifying plan language and
A map used during the January 29, 2013 Steering Committee
meeting for noting problem and opportunity areas. An
accompanying list has the names of places circled and identified
on the map. List was developed by the community.
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mitigation strategies were incorporated. The Advisory Committee met in August to review the draft
before sending it to DEMHS. The public was invited to send comments to LCPC’s Regional Planner or to
any member of the Advisory Committee via phone or email. The public was invited to attend all public
meetings to share comments in person. Comments were carefully considered by the Advisory
Committee and Trustees and integrated into the plan as appropriate and necessary.
A2NeighboringCommunities,LocalandRegionalAgencies,RegulatingAuthorities,andOtherInterests
Localandregionalagenciesinvolvedinhazardmitigationactivities
Through the Jeffersonville Hazard Advisory Committee, a number of local and regional agencies were
involved in the mitigation planning process. The full meeting attendee list can be found on the table in
Appendix A. Representatives from the Agency of Natural Resources participated in almost every
meeting. Meeting invitations were always sent to the Division of Emergency Management and
Homeland Security Mitigation Planning Team, the Department of Housing and Community Development
Planning Coordinator, and the Agency of Transportation District 8 Project Manager. Representatives
were invited to each meeting through e‐mail. Initial invitations were made via phone call. Organizations
selected representatives to include on the e‐mail list. Meetings were organized through Doodle polls
that allowed participants to offer their meeting availability.
LCPC staff coordinated the mitigation plan planning process and was involved in all meetings of the
Committee. LCPC staff also worked with the community to draft the plan and identify mitigation actions.
Agenciesthathavetheauthoritytoregulatedevelopment
ANR’s Floodplain Management Coordinator for this region, Rebecca Pfeiffer, participated in many
meetings of the Advisory Committee. She has also been an invaluable resource providing information
and technical assistance to the Committee and LCPC staff. As mentioned above, Committee
announcements were sent to a number of state agencies with the authority to regulate development.
The opportunity to participate was ample. Notification was sent regularly through e‐mail.
The Town of Cambridge often sent representatives to participate in the process. The Village of
Jeffersonville Trustees have been very active in providing input on this plan as well as providing input on
mitigation grant applications and project prioritization.
Members of the Jeffersonville Planning Commission participated in the Committee as well. The Planning
Commission has the authority to develop and propose changes to the Village’s flood hazard bylaws. If
Jeffersonville pursued other land use regulations, this Commission would be the body drafting those.
LCPC presented a synopsis of the flood modeling study and mitigation plan project on September 25,
2013 to state officials in Montpelier. Present were: Faith Ingulsrud (DHCD), Joe Segale (VTrans), Ken
Robie (VTrans), Kevin Marshia (VTrans), Jeff Ramsey (VTrans), and John Marowki (VTrans), John Lepore
(VTrans), Glenn Gringas (VTrans), Jesse Devlin (VTrans), Nick Wark (VTrans), Amy Bell (VTrans),Kate
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Hammond (DEMHS), Nathan Cleveland (Vermont Community Development Program), Rebecca Pfeiffer
(VTANR), Staci Pomeroy (VTANR).
NeighboringCommunitiesandOtherInterests
The Committee brought together a diverse group of participants. Given Jeffersonville’s small size, a few
people wear many hats. Represented on the committee include: business owners, residents,
Conservation Commissioners, Planning Commissioners, Trustees, Emergency Management, Fire
Department, artisans, historical society members, and the school board.
The Town and Village of Cambridge, as neighboring communities, were represented at the table. A letter
of invitation was mailed to the Cambridge Selectboard chair, with the Town Clerk copied on the letter,
when the project began. The Town appointed representatives to participate in the process.
Meeting and presentation notices were posted on Front Porch Forum, an online neighborhood forum
that reaches Jeffersonville, Cambridge Town, Cambridge Village, and neighboring communities. All
meetings of the Committee were open to the public. An article in the July 2015 Mountain Gazette
highlighted the work of the mitigation plan and potential mitigation projects.
Other ways that Jeffersonville included adjacent municipalities (and counties) in the planning process of
this plan has been by having participation of neighboring fire and rescue departments through the
Lamoille County Mutual Aid Association and the Emergency Medical Service District #4. During
emergency situations that require collaborative efforts with adjacent jurisdictions, an ad hoc group may
form to assess the status of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Meetings with all fire departments
and rescue squads in the county help plan for emergency response. The Cambridge Fire Department
maintains a mutual aid agreement for response with towns in neighboring Chittenden County.
A4ExistingPlans,Studies,Reports,andTechnicalInformationTo develop this plan and to provide Jeffersonville with relevant information necessary to develop
hazard mitigation strategies, the following resources were utilized. These documents were
reviewed, referenced, and formed to provide the content of the mitigation plan. Some, such as
reports about landslides, were presented as part of the Hazard Advisory Committee meetings.
Many are referenced throughout this plan:
i. Village of Jeffersonville, VT Municipal Plan 2014 – 2019 ii. Town and Village of Cambridge, VT Municipal Development Plan 2013 – 2018 iii. Village of Jeffersonville Flood Hazard Regulations, 2011 iv. Cambridge Emergency Operations Plan, 2015 v. Technical Report Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Plan – Flood Hazard Modeling And
Project Identification, Village of Jeffersonville, Vermont, Milone and MacBroom, Inc, March 2014
vi. 2013 State of Vermont Hazard Mitigation Plan
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vii. Lamoille County Multi‐Jurisdictional All‐Hazards Mitigation Plan (2011) and Cambridge Annex (2014)
viii. A Century of Landslide Activity in Glaciolacustrine Deposits in Jeffersonville, Vermont, USA, Springston, G.E. MSc., Sevi, Adam F. P.E. Ph.D. & Kanat, Leslie. Ph.D. (2014)
ix. Multi‐Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, FEMA, 1997 x. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center xi. United States Geologic Survey website xii. National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction
Service xiii. American Community Survey 2005‐ 2010 xiv. U.S. Census, 2010 xv. Emergency Response Guidebook 2012 xvi. Lamoille County Erosion Study Final Report, February 2014 xvii. Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural
Hazards, FEMA, January 2013
A5,A6PlanMaintenanceandContinuedPublicParticipationMaintaining the plan means that Jeffersonville will continue to seek public participation after the plan
has been approved and during the plan’s implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The process of evaluating and updating the plan will include continued public participation through
public notices posted on the municipal website, notice in the municipal building, Front Porch Forum,
LCPC newsletter and website, and other forms of media inviting the public to the scheduled meeting,
which will likely occur at a Trustee level or delegated by the Trustees to an appropriate individual or
organization. Additional stakeholders invited to participate in meetings will be the Planning Commission,
School Board, Fire Chief, Rescue Chief, LCPC, Conservation Commission, and other interested
community members who participated in the Advisory Committee. Also invited in the future will be the
VT Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR), as they are able to provide assistance with NFIP outreach
activities, models for stricter floodplain regulations, delineation of fluvial erosion hazard areas, and
other applicable initiatives.
Monitoring: This Plan is a living document and is intended to be used as a tool to guide mitigation
efforts in Jeffersonville. The community, in consultation with LCPC, will monitor plan progress and
implementation. When implementation actions are completed, the Trustees and LCPC will make note of
these for future plan updates. Implementation of the mitigation actions identified in C4, C5 will be the
responsibility of the identified party(ies) under the “Leadership” column. Community members will be
available as a resource to assist the Trustees in following the Plan’s recommendations. The Hazard
Advisory Committee will meet as necessary to review the plan and report their progress to the Trustees.
Evaluating: Ultimately, the success of the plan will be measured by the implementation of projects and
the forward motion of long‐term projects. As demonstrated by Jeffersonville so far, mitigation is a
15
collaborative effort. An annual evaluation of the priorities of the identified mitigation actions will be key
to ensuring implementation of the plan and effectiveness of each prioritized action item. There is no one
person or group responsible for ensuring its success; rather, it is the joint effort of those with a stake in
mitigation to continue seeing projects along. As such, the Plan allows for new actions to be identified in
the five year interim period and amended as appropriate after evaluation. Amendments should be made
only after the public has had the opportunity to provide input and the Hazard Advisory Committee has
reviewed proposed changes. Amendments would be approved by the Trustees during regularly
scheduled, publicly noticed Trustee meetings. LCPC may be involved as part of the evaluation process as
a partner in assisting Jeffersonville with its mitigation strategies.
Updating: At minimum, the plan will be updated at least once every five years. Prior to the end of the
five year period, the plan will undergo a formal update and submission to FEMA for re‐adoption.
Traditionally, LCPC is responsible for providing an 18‐month notice to the municipality to begin the plan
update process. It is at the municipality’s discretion who updates the plan. This could be the Planning
Commission, Trustees, or the Hazard Advisory Committee depending on the ability to complete the plan
update as required.
Public Participation: The Village will continue to seek public engagement after the plan has been
approved and during the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation phases. As noted, the Hazard
Advisory Committee, a committee of the Village which must follow open meeting process, will be a
major partner to maintaining this plan. As mitigation projects progress to completion, ample press
should be given to local media (traditional and social/new media) to highlight progress. Reports at the
Annual Village Meeting should highlight the progress of this plan. Village Trustee meetings will continue
to be open to the public and the public will be invited to participate in monitoring, evaluating, and
updating this plan. Many of the mitigation actions call for broad public involvement or targeted public
interest participation, such as business groups. These are all avenues for encouraging public
participation in the implementation and evaluation of this Plan.
Jeffersonville will also continue incorporating mitigation planning into their long term land use and
development planning documents. It is recommended that Jeffersonville continue to incorporate
elements of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan when updating the municipal plan and flood hazard
bylaws. The incorporation of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into the municipal plan and flood hazard
bylaws will also be considered after declared or local disasters. The Village will also consider
collaborating with Cambridge on ideas for future mitigation projects.
B1All‐HazardsRiskAssessmentThe following table includes a list of all hazards that may affect Jeffersonville. These hazards follow
those found in the 2013 State of Vermont Hazard Mitigation Plan. For this plan, Jeffersonville has chosen
to include a hazard profile for the most significant hazard risks and those locations which are most
16
adversely affected, which includes information on location, extent, previous occurrences, and future
probability for each hazard. The most significant hazard risks are identified by check marks in the table.
This list was developed based on three basic questions contemplated by the Advisory Committee, and
used in conjunction with the matrix showing impact and probability (below):
‐ What bad things can happen? ‐ How likely are they to occur? ‐ How bad could they get?
The process was an attempt to inventory the known hazards, establish the likelihood of them occurring
in the future, and then assess the community’s potential vulnerability to each. In performing this
analysis, we are then able to prioritize actions that are designed to mitigate the effects of each of these
disaster types and ultimately make Jeffersonville a safer place.
For more information on the hazards not identified as significant, please refer to the State of Vermont
Hazard Mitigation Plan. A reader may also find it helpful to refer to the local hazard mitigation plans of
other communities in Lamoille County for information on hazards of greater significance and with
different mitigation authority than Jeffersonville.
It is important that we learn from the past in order to avoid the same disasters and their outcomes.
Disasters that have occurred within Jeffersonville, the larger region, and the State of Vermont can give
us good information about what types of disasters we can expect in the future and what kinds of
damage they might cause. However, while this historical data can inform our perspective of what might
happen in the future, it is by no means a prophecy. While Jeffersonville might not have been impacted
by a specific hazard in the past, this does not necessarily mean it will never be affected in the future.
The following table reflects the hazards that we believe can be expected, or are at least possible, in the
area. We have considered factors such as probability, location, and areas with the biggest risk of impact
to rank each and determine which hazards pose the greatest threats to life and property in Jeffersonville
Village. The worst threats (check marked in the table, below) are then followed‐up with discussion and
mitigation strategies through the rest of this Plan.
17
Type Probability
2 Location Biggest risk of impact3
Most Significant threat?
Natural Hazards
Flood inundation and flash floods
High Village center, along Brewster & Lamoille Rivers, and areas marked on the “Areas of Concern” map
Infrastructure Transportation network Structure damage
Severe storms, including windstorms, hurricanes and tropical storms
High Village wide Transportation network and access Debris Power outages
Structure fire Medium Village center Structure damage Loss of life
Landslide Medium Deer Run, properties on western side of Brewster River
School Structures Environmental damage Flood‐induced impacts
Ice jams and ice dams Medium Lamoille & Brewster Rivers
Transportation access Other flood‐induced impacts
Earthquake Rare Village wide (this hazard has no evidence of providing a threat to Jeffersonville)
Structure damage Infrastructure damage
Tornado Unlikely Low‐lying, flat areas Structure damage Debris
Wildfire/forest fire Unlikely Forested areas Economic vulnerability
Drought Medium Village wide Agriculture Economic disruption
Hailstorm Rare Village wide Property damage
Winter storms and ice storms
High Village wide Transportation access (debris) Power outages Other flood‐induced impacts
Human / Technological hazards
Invasive Species High Village‐wide, especially along rivers
Native vegetation and wildlife
Dam Failure Rare Village wide, especially along rivers
Flash flooding – flood‐induced impacts
2 High: 90% ‐ 100% probability of happening in the next year. Medium: 50% to 90% probability of happening in the next year. Unlikely: 10% ‐ 50% probability of happening in the next year. Rare: 0 – 10% probability of happening in the next year. 3 Key areas of the community affected by the hazard.
18
Municipal Services / Power Failure
Medium Village wide; properties on municipal sewer
Health impacts Economic disruption
Hazardous materials spill Medium Along transportation corridors
Environmental / ecological damage Public health
Terrorism Rare Village wide (this hazard has no evidence of being a threat to Jeffersonville)
Road network Public health
Nuclear Power Plant Failure
Rare This hazard has no evidence of being a threat to Jeffersonville
Public health
Infectious Disease Outbreak
Rare Village wide, school, Mann’s Meadow
Public health
The Advisory Committee discussed the results of the hazard ranking activity and decided to focus on
hazards that had the potential to impact the Village most frequently and with the biggest risk of impact,
as well as those they have the most ability to mitigate. While other natural hazard events may occur, the
prospect of worse damage caused by flooding and its greater frequency of occurrence is of greater
The matrix to
the right was
used as part
of an exercise
to assess
impact and
probability.
This matrix
contributed
to identifying
“Most
Significant
Threats” and
the hazard
profile in the
below
section.
19
concern to the Village. Hazards not addressed in this plan are not because they may never happen, but
because they are not of greatest concern or most significant threat to the community. While the
Village’s vulnerability to some hazards was ranked similarly to hazards that are addressed in more depth
in this Plan, the Committee believes that the Village is well‐prepared and well‐versed in planning for and
responding to winter weather hazards and wanted to remove that hazard from further analysis. In
relation to hazards faced by Jeffersonville, unless specifically noted, these hazards face all areas of the
village to some degree
After engaging in discussions using their best available knowledge, Jeffersonville identified the following
“significant hazards” that they believe their community is most vulnerable to:
‐ Flood inundation and flash floods ‐ Landslide ‐ Municipal Services/ Power failure
Because the Village is served by a public water system and those properties not connected to the public
water system use private wells, the Village is more vulnerable to water supply contamination impacting
a larger portion of the population. However, it is recognized that private wells are still vulnerable to
contamination, just not on the same scale as the public water system.
B2,B3HazardProfiles:Flooding;Landslide;MunicipalServices/PowerFailure
Flooding
Flooding, including flash flooding and fluvial erosion, is Jeffersonville’s most commonly recurring
hazard and biggest threat. The community vulnerability to a flood is high and likelihood of
occurrence is frequent. Flooding is the overflowing of rivers, streams, drains, and lakes due to
excessive rain, rapid snow melt, or ice. Flash flooding is a rapidly occurring flood event usually from
excessive rain. Fluvial erosion is the process of natural stream channel adjustments and moves with
the flow of water and sediment. Fluvial erosion causes erosion of sediment in some areas, while
causing aggradation of sediment in other. Fluvial erosion processes occur more quickly and severely
during flood events. The river corridor is the space that a river channel needs to follow its natural
meander belt for geomorphic equilibrium – the width that the river needs to move.
Flooding of land adjoining the normal course of a stream or river has been a natural occurrence
since the beginning of time. If floodplain areas were left in their natural state, floods would not
cause significant damage. Development has increased the potential for flooding because rainfall
that used to soak into the ground or take several days to reach a body of water now quickly runs off
streets, parking lots and rooftops, and through human‐made channels and pipes. Other factors that
20
affect the severity of a flood include: steeply sloped watersheds; re‐grading or filling in or near the
edge of floodplains, which obstructs flood flows and backs up water; bridges, culverts, and other
obstructions; debris from the watershed; contamination, including soil road oil, farm/lawn
chemicals, and animal waste.
A floodplain means any area of land susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. For
the NFIP, a floodplain is made of the floodway (the stream channel and portion of the floodplain
that must remain open to permit passage of water without raising the water surface elevation by
more than one foot) and the flood fringe (the portion of the floodway outside the floodway).
Floods are often measured by their chance of flooding in any given year and by the water surface
elevation. The Special Flood Hazard Area, as designated by FEMA Flood Insurance Risk Maps (FIRM),
identifies the 100‐year flood and the 500‐year flood. The 100‐year flood designation applies to
areas with a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. A 100‐year flood may occur two years in a row
or not occur for ten years. The 100‐year flood is known as the base flood. This is the standard by
which the NFIP is based. The base flood represents a compromise between minor floods and the
greatest flood likely to occur in a given area. Base flood elevations are indicated on the FIRM and in
the Flood Insurance Study. See the Flood and Fluvial Hazard map (below) for where the flood
elevations are identified in Jeffersonville.
Jeffersonville is located inside the Lamoille Watershed, predominantly within a river valley, with the
Lamoille River following Route 15 east‐west and the Brewster River feeding the Lamoille going
north ‐ south. The village is located at the base of Mt. Mansfield, the tallest mountain in Vermont.
Smugglers’ Notch Ski Resort is located along the Mansfield Range and consists of three mountains:
Morse, Madonna, and Sterling.
In general, roads, bridges, residences, and businesses along the Lamoille and Brewster Rivers have
experienced repeated damage caused by flooding. Areas within the Village are subject to some
extent of flooding almost annually. Roads that are
frequently subject to flood damage and temporary
closure include Vermont Routes 15, 108, and 109,
Church Street, Depot Street, Main Street, and Old
Main Street. With the frequency of flood events
happening more rapidly, local officials have
expressed concern that flooding is starting to
impact structures and road segments in places
where flooding has not occurred previously.
The road network is often one of the first signs
displaying the extent of flooding. The Bridge and
Figure 2 The Brewster River is quickly eroding. When it floods, flooding goes into Jeffersonville Village and has the potential to close Route 15
21
Culvert Map (page 23) identifies the locations of critical municipal culverts (those in poor condition,
undersized, or needing replacement – excluding culverts on state owned highways), bridge ratings,
and the location of river corridor and fluvial erosion hazard areas that may compound poor
drainage or flooding problems. When the Wrong‐Way Bridge is closed in Cambridge, traffic is cut off
from the rest of Cambridge and Jeffersonville, causing major traffic re‐routes. In the event that the
Route 15 Bridge is closed, which happened in 2011, traffic is detoured onto local roads which are
not suited for handling mass volumes of cars. This is such a concern to Cambridge Town that the
Municipal Plan includes the following language:
Route 15 is regularly flooded by the Lamoille River at the Wrong Way Bridge. When this occurs, traffic is detoured onto Upper and Lower Pleasant Valley Roads, which currently provide the only alternative routes between Lamoille County and the Burlington area during major flood events… traffic volumes on these local roads increase from about 900 vehicles per day to more than 7,000 vehicles per day. Neither road has the adequate base or geometry to accommodate such volumes on a regular basis. Due to heavy flooding, this detour was used three times in 2011. Both Upper and Lower Pleasant Valley Roads incurred heavy damages as a result.
Historically, heavy rain events that occur outside Cambridge and Jeffersonville can significantly cause a rise in rivers in Jeffersonville without directly falling in Jeffersonville, causing flood conditions. Specifically, areas to the north in the Lamoille Valley, the Lamoille North Branch in Waterville and Belvidere, and heavy rains on the Mt. Mansfield range to the south all affect the Lamoille River in Jeffersonville. After a winter with significant snowfall, heavy snowmelt in the spring can lead to increased flooding as the water comes off the mountain. Extent: Extent is the strength or magnitude of the hazard. A flood gauge was installed in 2010 on the Lamoille River to measure flood stages for advanced warning. Flood stage occurs at 450 feet. The gauge is monitored regularly by Cambridge Emergency Management, with the gauge monitored frequently during anticipated flood events. Technology has made flood preparedness much simpler today than in the past. The National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service keeps live updates of the flood gauge stages, making it easier for commuters and residents to check flood stages of the Lamoille River before getting in their cars. Flood categories (stages) and impacts are in the table on page 24.
Lamoille River
Brew
ster R
iver
Lamoille River
Lamoille
River
CANYON RD
UPPER
PLE
ASANT VA
LLEY
RD
ROBTOY RD
WILLIAMSON RD
DEER RUN HTS
JEFF HEIGHTS RD
VAN
AT R
D
MA
PLE
ST
JUN
CTI
ON
HIL
L R
D
SCHOOL ST
DEPOT ST
W FA
RM
RD
MIHEAN DR
MAN
N'S
MDW
JEFF
HEI
GHT
S CI
R
CARLTON AVE
GR
IST
MIL
L D
R
OLD
MAI
N ST
BOUR
NE RD
FLOOD AND FLUVIAL HAZARD MAPVILLAGE OF JEFFERSONVILLE
Tranverse Mercator,VT State Plane,Meters, NAD83.
For planning purposes only.Not for regulatory interpretation.
Lamoille CountyPlanning Commission
PO Box 1637, 52 Portland StreetMorrisville, VT 05661
802.888.4548 f 802.888.6938www.lcpcvt April 2015
0 0.30.15Miles
Data Sources:Structures: E911 ESITE data, 2014.Roads: E911 road centerlines, 2014.Surface Waters: VCGI for VHD-USGS, 2001.River Hazards/Impacts: Derived from StreamGeomorphic Assessments, ANR and LCPC, 2007and 2013.Floodways,100-Year and 500-Year Flood Zones:Flood Insurance Rate Map, FEMA, 1983. Floodplainsfor planning purposes only.River Corridor/Fluvial Erosion Hazard Areas: VTANR River Management, 2015.
LegendSTRUCTURE
STATE HIGHWAY
STATE FOREST HIGHWAY
CLASS 2 ROAD
CLASS 3 ROAD
CLASS 4 ROAD
PUBLIC ROAD / UNDERTERMINED CLASS
UNKNOWN / PRIVATE ROAD
TRAIL
LAKE / POND
RIVER / STREAM
BANK ARMORING
BANK EROSION
MASS FAILURE
FLOODWAY
RIVER CORRIDOR/FEH
100-YEAR FLOOD ZONE
500-YEAR FLOOD ZONE
VILLAGE BOUNDARY
Lamoille River
VILLAGE ACCESS POINT
VILLAGE ACCESS POINT
VILLAGE ACCESS POINT
Brew
ster R
iver
Lamoille River
Lamoill
e Rive
r
CANYON RD
UPPER P
LEASANT
VALL
EY R
D
ROBTOY RD
WILLIAMSON RD
DEER RUN HTS
JEFF HEIGHTS RD
VAN
AT R
D
MA
PLE
ST
JUN
CTI
ON
HIL
L R
D
SCHOOL ST
DEPOT ST
W FA
RM
RD
MIHEAN DR
MAN
N'S
MDW
JEFF
HEI
GHT
S CI
R
CARLTON AVE
GR
IST
MIL
L D
R
OLD
MAI
N ST
BOURNE RD
BRIDGE AND CULVERT MAPVILLAGE OF JEFFERSONVILLE Tranverse Mercator,
VT State Plane,Meters, NAD83.
For planning purposes only.Not for regulatory interpretation.
Lamoille CountyPlanning Commission
PO Box 1637, 52 Portland StreetMorrisville, VT 05661
802.888.4548 f 802.888.6938www.lcpcvt May 2015
.
0 0.30.15Miles
Data Sources:Culverts: Cambridge Culvert Inventory, LCPC 2011Bridge Federal Sufficiency Rating: VTrans, 2009Roads: 1:5000 E-911 Road Data, 2014.Political Boundaries: 1:24000 USGS Quadrangles,VCGI,1991.Surface Water: On-screen digitized from 1:5000 digitalorthophotos using USGS 7 1/2' quadrangles and1:20000 color infrared aerial photography asadditional source material, VCGI for VHDUSGS,2001
LegendBRIDGE WITH FEDERALSUFFICIENCY RATING LESS THAN50 (OUT OF 100)
Culverts by Size and OverallCondition:Unknown
0 - 12
12 - 24
24 - 48
> 48
Poor0 - 12
12 - 24
24 - 48
> 48
Fair0 - 12
12 - 24
24 - 48
> 48
Good0 - 12
12 - 24
24 - 48
> 48
?¤
?×
?¤
?×
Culvert Condition Definitions:Good - At least 75% open, few if any minor deficiencies.Fair - At least 50% open, some existing ordeveloping deficiencies.Poor - At least 25% open and/or has serious deficiencies.
24
Flood Depth (feet)
Effects
447 Action stage
The Lamoille River will begin to leave its banks around Jeffersonville and downstream through Cambridge Village. Persons with interests in the floodplain such as farmers, campers, and seasonal canoe and kayak operators, should move their equipment to higher ground.
450 Flood stage
Water will rise to near the edge of Route 15 in Cambridge Village at the Wrong Way Bridge. There will be widespread field flooding from Jeffersonville downstream through Fairfax.
451 Moderate Flood Stage
Water will cover Route 15 in Cambridge Village at the Wrong Way Bridge. Traffic diversions may be necessary and motorists planning to travel Route 15 through Cambridge should allow extra time to detour around the flooded roadway. There will be widespread field flooding from Jeffersonville downstream through Fairfax.
451.5 Route 15 in Cambridge becomes impassable. Traffic diversions will be required and motorists planning to travel Route 15 through Cambridge should allow extra time to detour around the flooded roadway. There will be widespread field flooding from Jeffersonville downstream through Fairfax.
453 Major Flood Stage
Water will begin to enter streets in Jeffersonville. The north end of Old Main Street will flood first, and low lying homes will be affected. Portions of Route 15 between Johnson and Fairfax will begin to flood and there will be widespread field flooding along the river.
453.5 In Jeffersonville, Main Street, Depot Street, and Maple Street will begin to flood. Businesses along Route 15 in Jeffersonville will flood. Route 15 between Johnson and Fairfax will be inundated and impassable in some areas. There will be widespread field flooding from Jeffersonville and downstream through Fairfax.
From the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service
History of Occurrences: Flooding in parts of Jeffersonville happens frequently. In recent memory,
the two worst flooding events occurred in 1995 and 2011, but 1927 is still remembered as one of
the worst floods in Vermont. A history of major flood events that resulted in federal disaster
declarations, starting in 1990, is listed below. The flood of 1927 was a major flood incident that
resulted in catastrophic damage. Flooding in 1982 and 1984 involved property damage in
Jeffersonville Village and caused residents to evacuate their homes.
25
Year Disaster
Declaration Description of Damages
Cost to
the
Town*
1990 DR‐875 Flash Floods affected six Vermont counties. Up to six inches of rain fell; roads closed.
$96,706
August 1995 DR‐1063 Record setting heavy rains caused flooding in six north‐central VT counties. This was one of the few times since 1927 that a flood not only affected public infrastructure but also personally impacted residents. Preliminary damage assessments indicated individual losses greater than damages to infrastructure. Flood levels exceeded the 500‐year event in several areas along the Lamoille River.
$38,464
July 1997 DR‐1184 Excessive rain caused flash flooding and destruction of private & public property
$1,825
July 1998 DR‐1228 Eleven of the fourteen Vermont counties experienced severe damage from excessive rainfall. The torrential rains came in much the same pattern as they had in the summer of 1997, but occurred further south than the 1997 floods. The flash flooding left many homes destroyed, roads and bridges damaged, and communities cut off from the rest of the state.
$361,344
2001 Heavy snowfall in the winter of 2000‐2001. Severe flooding as the spring thaw melted mountain snow due to higher than normal temperatures. Water flooded homes and caused damage to public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and culverts.
$545
August 12 –
September
12, 2004
DR‐1559 Severe thunderstorms on August 12, 29 and 30 caused flooding and washed out roads. A federal disaster was declared in seven counties. Public Assistance used for projects from damage to public infrastructure.
$95,000
July 21 – August 21, 2008
DR‐1784 & DR‐1790
Severe storms and flooding caused federal disaster declaration in 7 counties, including Lamoille. Cambridge suffered flood damage to public infrastructure.
$48,000
October 1, 2010
No declaration
Moderate‐ stage flood unknown
April 10 ‐ 27,
2011
DR‐1995 Excessive rain and severe floods swept across northern Vermont and the Champlain Valley, with a federal disaster declared for 7 counties, including Lamoille. Jeffersonville was inundated with floodwaters during the storm, while the town experienced extensive damage to roads and culverts. Moderate and major flood stages.
$142,523
August 9, 2011
DR‐4022 Flooding and wind damage associated with Tropical Storm Irene led to the extension of a federal disaster declaration for all fourteen Vermont counties. Cambridge endured localized basement flooding and minor road damage. Road closure and evacuation of senior housing. Homes flooded.
$22,000
26
May 29,
2012
DR‐4066 Flash flooding, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds struck parts of Vermont, including Lamoille County, causing a federal disaster declaration for 3 counties. Public Assistance funds were allocated to repair roads, bridges, and culverts. Cambridge had 7 projects requiring federal assistance.
$42,000
May 31, 2013
Minor stage flooding. Travelers on bike paths were at risk of being swept away due to sudden, high‐velocity floodwater.
unknown
April 15,
2014
DR‐4163 Spring flooding and snowmelt caused the rivers to rise. Traffic was re‐routed from local and state rounds. Infrastructure was impacted. Temperature dropped 60 degrees overnight, causing rain to freeze and icing of floodwaters.
unknown
*Some costs are estimates as data is made available. Costs are associated with Cambridge Town’s Public Assistance funding received and may include expenses incurred in both Cambridge and Jeffersonville. Costs are associated with public repairs.
Flood Model
In 2013, as part of the development of this Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Village of Jeffersonville and
the Lamoille County Planning Commission hired the engineering firm Milone and MacBroom, Inc. to
develop a model of flooding in the Village:
Like many Vermont villages, towns, and cities, early settlement patterns and the more recent
history of development have landed Jeffersonville in a floodplain setting. Furthermore,
transportation infrastructure with elevated embankments has been placed in many river
valleys. Development in the floodplains of large rivers and small streams is the primary
reason that flood damages were so extensive in the region during the 2011 flooding.
Furthermore, flood water surface elevations were locally elevated due to reduced flow
capacity at undersized structures that were either backwatered or clogged with sediment
and large woody debris. Other mechanisms of increased flooding observed around Vermont
over the past several years include reduced floodplain access even in areas where
development did not exist.
This project evaluates the flooding in Jeffersonville and establishes several alternatives that
will reduce flood and erosion risks over the long term in this dynamic river confluence in a
developed village setting. This project generally consisted of data review, survey, hydraulic
modeling, alternatives analysis, and conceptual design.
The model identified an area known as the “flood chute”. The flood chute occurs naturally and
stems from the Route 15 road embankment. During high flows, the combined flow from the
Brewster River and Lamoille River backwater heads west along the southern side of Route 15,
eventually returning to the Lamoille River two‐thirds of a mile downstream from the ordinary
confluence of these two rivers. Flow in the flood chute inundates structures in the village. Past
27
floods have occurred when the flow from the Brewster River heads west before passing under
Route 15. Flooding could take place due to undersized bridges, sediment deposition during floods,
and backwatering from the Lamoille River. Each of these is common in flat confluence areas and
likely contributes to flooding in Jeffersonville.
The model found that changes to the existing transportation infrastructure, such as replacing the
existing railroad bridge with a new bridge on wider abutments, and installing a large culvert, and/or
a series of smaller culverts, under Route 15 in the vicinity of the new roundabout, would reduce
flood levels in the Village by transferring floodwaters from the Brewster River out of the Village
more quickly. These measures would also have the potential benefit of decreasing the likelihood
that floodwaters would close Routes 15 and 108. A Route 15 closure represents a major hazard
during a disaster, as it could prevent Jeffersonville residents from leaving the Village in the case of
an evacuation or medical personnel from reaching Village residents. In addition, since both
Cambridge Rescue and the Fire Department are located within the Village, a Route 15 closure could
prevent them from protecting much of Cambridge Town.
This modeling provided key action items for future flood mitigation techniques, found in Table C4,
C5. It also demonstrated that some projects will have little, no, or negative impact on future
flooding. The list of alternatives is included in Appendix C. The full Technical Report is available on
LCPC’s website, www.lcpcvt.org.
B4,C2TheNationalFloodInsuranceProgram(NFIP)
Use of flood insurance claim and disaster assistance information is subject to the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended, which prohibits public release of the names of policy holders or recipients of
financial assistance and the amount of the claim payment or assistance. However, maps showing
general areas where claims have been paid can be made public.
A high concentration of Jeffersonville's development is located within the floodplain. Currently,
there are 14 policies in force. Since 1978, there have been no repetitive loss property claims in
Jeffersonville. There have been four claims filed for structures located in Jeffersonville, for a total
payment of $56,000. Many structures in Jeffersonville fall under long‐term ownership
arrangements where mandatory purchase of flood insurance has not been enforced. Many property
owners are willing to adapt to frequent flooding rather than paying exorbitant flood insurance
costs.
Jeffersonville will continue to regulate and enforce NFIP requirements through its floodplain
management ordinance, including regulating new and substantially improved construction in
Special Flood Hazard Areas. Jeffersonville has a “no build, no fill in the floodplain” rule.
Flood hazard regulations limit development in the floodplain. The Administrative Officer is
responsible for enforcement of the flood hazard bylaws.
28
As previous events have made clear, however, even areas beyond the NFIP designated 100‐year
floodplain are vulnerable to flood related hazards. Channel adjustments with devastating
consequences have frequently been documented wherein such adjustments are linked to historical
channel management activities, floodplain encroachments, adjacent land use practices and/or
changes in watershed hydrology associated with conversion of land cover and drainage activities,
within and beyond the NFIP floodplain. The Floodplain Map identifies areas that have experienced
flooding in the past.
It is worth noting that the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for
Jeffersonville have not been updated since 1982. Given the frequency and intensity of storms,
global climate change, development patterns, and changes in the watershed, there is a strong
desire and need for Jeffersonville residents to have the most accurate information available to
understand the limits of the Special Flood Hazard Area and function of the Lamoille and Brewster
Rivers.
Through this hazard mitigation plan, Jeffersonville is assisting the community with participation in
the NFIP and reducing flood risk. The Village will continue to regulate and monitor activities that
happen in the floodplain.
Landslides
Vermonters were surprised to witness a series of three landslides in 1999 in Jeffersonville near the
Brewster River, where one home was seriously undermined and subsequently purchased through HMGP
funds. The earth displaced into the river also presented a problem in the event of flooding, as it
dammed the floodway.
A “landslide” is the downslope movement of soil, rock and organic materials under the influence of
gravity and also the landform that results from such a movement (Springston, Sevi, and Kavat). This
includes mudslides, rock falls, rock slides, and earth flows. They may consist of natural rock, soil,
artificial fill, or any combination of these materials. In Jeffersonville, the type of landslide that may occur
is a slide or a flow, characterized by the strains distributed throughout the mass of materials, usually
distinguished by high water content and the distribution of velocities resembling a viscous fluid – the
most common occurrences in much of North America.
Small‐scale erosion happens on a consistent basis within the interface between land and rivers /
streams, otherwise known as a riparian corridor. This is a part of normal, natural processes and as such,
is necessary for the properly functioning of the ecosystem of these waterways. A more troubling form of
landslides and erosion is a type severe enough to damage infrastructure such as roads, bridges, culverts,
and homes / businesses. The predominant mode of flood damage is associated with fluvial erosion
hazards. Fluvial erosion is the process by which the width and depth of stream channels changes over
time, resulting in eroding stream banks and buffer areas. Vermont’s landscape has historically
contributed to the widespread practice of channelizing rivers and streams to maximize agricultural land
29
uses and facilitate the development of transportation infrastructure. This practice essentially has forced
fluvial systems into a condition that is not sustainable. When energized by flood events, catastrophic
adjustments of the channel frequently occur, usually resulting in damage to adjacent or nearby human
investments.
A significant percentage, if not a large majority, of landslides are located within riparian corridors and
are frequently associated with fluvial processes. Human investments typically threatened or damaged by
fluvial‐associated landslides usually are not avoided through the mechanism of floodplain zoning due to
the development location being well above the 100‐year floodplain. As a result of these land use
conflicts, public and private investment is lost to catastrophic events, bank failure, and the undermining
of property by the shifting position of rivers, streams, and shorelines.
The threat of future landslides in Jeffersonville is summarized best by Springston, Sevi, and Kanat (2014):
Given that landslides have occurred on this slope for more than 100 years and that the river is
still removing material at the base of the slope, it is highly likely that additional landslides will
occur here in the future. The present‐day pattern of slope failures at the site suggests that the
most likely area for a large failure is to the north of the 1999 slide [note: residences currently
located here]. The toe of this slope needs to be protected from erosion by the Brewster River as
substantial toe erosion at this location would make slope failure much more likely.
A second area of concern is… to the east of the school. This is currently the site of an active
landslide‐gully complex that is gradually eroding back into the field on top of the terrace.
Although preliminary analysis suggests that the likelihood of a major slope failure is less than in
the area to the north of the 1999 slide, monitoring will be continued.
Although the major 1954 and 1999 events and the minor 2006 and 2011 events did not result in
significant damming of the river, a larger landslide or one containing more trees could
conceivably result in damming of the river and consequent flooding in the village.
In terms of the timing of slope failure, this site stands in contrast to most others that we have
encountered in Vermont. The general case is that slope failures are far more likely to occur
during or soon after heavy snowmelt and/or rainfall events. Here, by contrast, the 1999 failures
occurred during a relatively dry spring and summer, with the last period of above‐average
precipitation having taken place during the previous summer... the slow decline of water levels is
consistent with the fact that pore‐pressure can remain high within the slope for long‐periods of
time, resulting in a long‐term reduction in the stability of the slope.
Parts of Lamoille County are in an area designated by the United States Geological Survey as “High
susceptibility, moderate incidence”. See USGS website for more info ‐
http://www.usgs.gov/faq/?q=categories/9752/2611
30
Extent: The worst landslide that can be expected to occur would be similar to that which occurred in
Jeffersonville in 1999, which destroyed one home. Landslide damage can be measured according to the
Richter Scale, Beaufort Scale, or flood levels per the flood gauge as discussed earlier, depending on the
trigger for the landslide. In Jeffersonville, the flood depth guide (above) and number of structures
impacted would be a likely measure of magnitude, or amount of earth moved.
History of Occurrences
Year Notes
1911 First recorded landslide
1922 Two recorded slides
Around 1942 Little data exists but photographs indicate previous toe erosion
10 and 11 May, 1954 Two slides recorded
11 April, 18 April, 4 July 1999 Series of slide‐flows; one threatened house acquired through HMGP funds
2 July, 2006 Slope failure due to weeks of heavy rains
May 2011 Slope failure at site of 1999 slide due to heavy rains and snowmelt
Right: 1911 slide
School
Slide
31
MunicipalServicesandPowerFailure
One of the most common impacts of major natural disasters can be the prolonged loss of electricity, whether from localized damage to distribution systems or from remote impacts to generation and transmission facilities. While not itself a natural hazard, power outages are a common problem due to the greater frequency of high winds, heavy snow, and ice accumulation. The greatest risk from electrical service events is those which cause outages lasting more than a day and those which affect a wide area. This was the case during the January 1998 ice storm, severe storms in 2003, and the ice storms of 2013 and 2014, which impacted several Jeffersonville residents. A substation owned by Green Mountain Power is located in a flood prone area in Jeffersonville; if flooded, this substation could cause a power failure in multiple communities across Northern Vermont. Based on the rural character of the village and its concerns with transportation infrastructure in inclement weather, protracted loss of power could significantly endanger health and safety, have substantial economic consequences, or cause stress and severe inconvenience to residents and businesses. The shortage of energy and food supplies could threaten the welfare of the citizens of Jeffersonville. The dependency upon out‐of‐state sources can become a problem when normal deliveries are interrupted. Major electric utility companies have active, ongoing programs to improve system reliability and protect facilities from damage by ice, severe winds, and other hazards. Typically, these programs focus on trimming trees to prevent encroachment of overhead lines, strengthening vulnerable system components, protecting equipment from lightning strikes and placing new distribution lines underground. Additionally, Cambridge Town may reduce vulnerability to power outages by tree pruning along town highways.
Looking east across Brewster River at sites of recent landslides
1999 slide Rough location of 2006 slide
Location of 2011 slide
32
Sensitive populations such as the elderly or handicapped may be susceptible to extreme temperatures when power is lost and heating systems are run on electricity (versus gas or natural fuels). If power is lost, some populations may need to be relocated to areas with power so that medical equipment can function. Limited mobility of some persons may make it difficult to relocate in general or in times of emergencies. Jeffersonville encourages neighbors to check on those who they may believe to be at risk during times of emergency. Mann’s Meadow Senior Housing Complex was evacuated during the spring 2011 flooding due to the threat of isolation. The CARE (Citizens Assistance Registry for Emergencies) program started by the United Way is a self‐reporting system for people who may need special assistance during an emergency. In the future, Jeffersonville and Cambridge could work together to map the location of sensitive populations and trouble spots on roads that reach those populations to identify additional routes. Water and Wastewater System Jeffersonville has a municipal water system installed in 1910 and upgraded in 1984. Over 200 connections are served by this water supply, which has a capacity of 700,000 gallons. Loss of water service is a generally rare occurrence. Most residences are served by a water system operated by the Village of Jeffersonville. Municipal water supply sources and distribution systems and wastewater treatment and collection systems are frequent victims of flooding, particularly remote pump stations not adequately flood proofed. Each public community water system and non‐transient non‐community system are required to have a Source Protection Plan (SPP) which assesses risks to the system, provides a means to manage those risks, and a contingency plan for source problems. Jeffersonville’s sewer treatment facility is susceptible to flooding. In February 2015, a water main break caused by severe frost depth caused a multi‐week disruption of the Jeffersonville water system. This incident highlighted the need for a communications plan to alert residents not to drink the water and then to boil water until flows resumed normally. Inundation of the facility is a threat. The following matrix provides an overview of the hazard:
Hazard Location Vulnerability Extent Impact Probability
Power Failure
Village wide; Mann’s Meadow Senior Housing Complex
Human Health
Loss of service for multiple structures; weather depending
$0 ‐ $50,000 Likelihood of hazardoccurring based on past events: Medium: 50% to 90% probability of happening in the next year.
Water/ Sewer Failure
Jeffersonville Village
Human Health
Loss of service for multiple structures
Too great to quantify; based on 2015 incident: $40,000
Likelihood of hazardoccurring based on past events: Low: 10% to 50% probability of happening in the next year.
33
B3VulnerabilityStatementKey issues or problems addressed by the mitigation strategies in the table C4, C5 will reduce
vulnerability from flooding and landslides to the following: structures (residential housing, commercial
buildings); public infrastructure and investments such as roads, bridges, culverts, and municipal
buildings; access; and threats to senior citizens, children, and those who have a disability or medical
issues (see Hazard Mitigation Goals, C3). Other vulnerable systems include economic and environmental
functions. B2, B4 Hazard Profile lists specific information about past events for each hazard and
describes the components of the Village that are vulnerable should these hazards occur in the future.
Jeffersonville Village in particular would be a vulnerable in the event of a catastrophic flood, as would
other flood prone areas in the entire town of Cambridge. Below is a summary of major findings:
Infrastructure The threat to public infrastructure from hazards can lead to negative health impacts.
Without an operating sewer system, the likelihood of a public health outbreak is great. The sewer
treatment facility serving Jeffersonville Village is susceptible to flooding. In winter, lack of power can
disrupt heating systems, causing residents to endure the deep cold of a Vermont winter. This was the
case during the January 1998 ice storm, severe storms in 2003, the ice storm of 2013, and the ice storm
of 2014. A substation owned by Green Mountain Power is located in a flood prone area in Jeffersonville;
if flooded, this substation could cause a power failure in multiple communities throughout Northern
Vermont. A break or contamination in the water system leaves virtually all ratepayers vulnerable to
effects of no or contaminated water. In February 2015, a water main break caused by severe frost depth
caused a multi‐week disruption of the Jeffersonville water system.
Access During a flood or during a landslide event, virtually all residents will be impacted. Flooding has
the potential to close all major access points out of the village. When the Wrong Way Bridge in
Cambridge Town is closed due to flooding major traffic detours must be staged affecting Jeffersonville.
Roads, bridges, residences, and businesses along the Lamoille and Brewster Rivers have experienced
repeated damage caused by flooding with annual impacts. Roads that are frequently subject to flood
damage and temporary closure include Vermont Routes 15, 108, and 109, Church Street, Depot Street,
Main Street, and Old Main Street. Many critical facilities are located along these major routes.
Infrastructure components and sizing of a bridge and culverts within the Village contribute to high flood
water potential. The school and the residential development located atop the DeerRun are vulnerable to
landslide impacts. One house in this area has been lost to landslide activity; others remain vulnerable to
the same fate due to continued instability of the site.
People Elderly residents may be some of the most vulnerable people impacted by flooding, power
outages, heavy or enduring snow accumulation, or a landslide. If Mann’s Meadow needs to be
evacuated, as it was in the spring of 2011, that is a great burden on the senior citizens who live there.
While it is more likely that immediate measures will be taken, such as evacuating the school, to reduce
potential impacts to children, if a worst‐case scenario landslide were to occur while school is in session,
the impact on children may be grave: potentially trapped in the below‐grade cafeteria, exposed to
contamination, potential for electrocution, etc. See the Hazard Profile for more information.
34
Many of Jeffersonville’s recreation areas are located in flood prone or landslide vulnerable areas.
Jeffersonville’s only American Red Cross certified emergency shelter is the Cambridge Elementary
School, which is located in a vulnerable area. During high volume or flash flooding incidents, failure of
residents to evacuate the area quickly, or being in the “wrong place at the wrong time” could cause
danger to life. Recreation fields and the bike path may be flooded rapidly in a flash flood or high water
event, causing flowing water across the bike path and cutting off egress.
Economics If the village roads are impassable and flood waters rise, economic vulnerability becomes
high for the local economy and for all who must clean up and repair their property. The Jeffersonville
Village center thrives with local businesses and stores. Parts of Jeffersonville flood to some extent
almost annually. Houses and other structures, including the school, municipal buildings, and businesses,
are susceptible to impacts of high floodwaters. Closing a business, for a day or multiple days, causes a
disruption in service. Employees could become isolated inside the village or unable to work, losing
income. Closing the physical therapy practice as it has in the past could impede recovery from health
concerns. Many residents are self‐employed or rely on tourism. Inoperability of trades people and
businesses could have detrimental impacts on the resilience of Jeffersonville’s economy.
Environment The riparian corridor is imperative to the function of the Brewster River. Erosion, high flood
events, and landslide damage this corridor. Vegetation and other flood plain restoration are needed to
support the river bank and reduce damage from flood flow. Fishing is not only a popular activity but part
of the ecological cycle of the area’s rivers. Pollutants carried by rushing flood waters present not just
health risks to humans and pets, but also significant dangers to aquatic life.
C3HazardMitigationGoalsThrough a series of public meetings and hazard research, the Jeffersonville Hazard Advisory Committee
established the following hazard mitigation goals:
1. Reduce the risks of flooding to Jeffersonville residents and minimize the loss of life and property caused by flooding.
2. Promote economic development consistent with sound floodplain management. 3. Maintain the historic character and fabric of Jeffersonville when mitigating natural and human/
technological hazards. 4. Improve safety of all users of the transportation network, including pedestrians. 5. Ensure the continuity of vital community services, such as emergency response, during major
flooding events and other disasters. 6. Enhance/maintain the flood attenuating capacity and other ecological functions of the Brewster
River and Lamoille River floodplains. 7. Protect community against compounded hazards (i.e. fuel oil spill or structural fire during flood
event; damage caused by debris in flood water, etc). 8. Reduce long term maintenance costs due to response and recovery of hazards. 9. Reduce the impacts to adjacent communities from flooding that cause economic and quality of
life disruptions. 10. Reduce community vulnerability from landslides to structures, infrastructure, access, and
people.
35
C4,C5JeffersonvilleHazardMitigationPlan:MitigationPriorities* Actions listed on this table are from results of the flood model, Jeffersonville Municipal Plan, and Committee meetings
Mitigation and Preparedness Actions Leadership (e.g. Trustees, EMD)
Time Frame (approximate
year(s))
Potential Funding Sources
Hazard(s) Mitigated
Comments
Highest Priority – those with the highest benefit and ability to complete
Replace the Railroad/Cambridge Greenway Bridge with a wider, low‐profile recreation bridge and widen the constricted channel adjacent to the bridge (Alternative 2c).
Cambridge Selectboard, Cambridge Town Clerk, Jeffersonville Trustee Chair, EMD, LCPC Transportation Planner, state agency representatives identified in grant
In progress Expected completion date: 3 years from HMGP approval; ~2018
HMGP, ERP Flooding, erosion Grant application currently under review by FEMA; ERP funds secured. See attached rendering in Appendix E
Install larger culverts under Route 15 on both sides of the roundabout. (Alternative 13e).
Village Trustee Chair, LCPC Transportation Planner, VTrans District 8 Technician
In progress Expected completion date: 3 years from HMGP approval; ~2018
HMGP, Vtrans, CDBG Flooding Grant application currently under review by FEMA. See attached rendering in Appendix E
Restore floodplain along Brewster River downstream of the school property: lower ground elevation at Windridge/ Pony Farm property, excavate area to create flood bench to store local water, create depressional meadows in floodplain, and improve ecotone habitat by planting floodplain edge with overstory and understory native trees (Alternative 9a).
Cambridge Community Center (Cambridge 360); Cambridge Elementary School Board; property owners; LCPC Regional Planner; Trustee Chair
2017 ‐ 2020 ERP, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Watershed Grant, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Intervale tree donation program, River Corridor Easement Program
Flooding, Erosion, Landslide
See attached rendering in Appendix E.
Improve stormwater management planning and practices
Planning Commission; Road Foreman; School Board
2015 ‐ 2020 MPG; LCPC Flooding Moving School Busses would help with this.
Medium Priority – high community benefit but lower on list of priorities; fewer funding sources secured
Install large culverts under Route 108 at the north approach of the new bridge (Alternative 15b). Steps include: Talking with Vtrans; adding the project to Vtrans project list; establishing an annual funding stream; engineering analysis; etc.
VTrans District 8 2015 ‐ 2025 VTrans Flooding Long‐term action item to be phased in over multiple years.
36
Acquire water rights to Cambridge Village‐owned spring in South Cambridge
Village Trustee Chair, EMD 2016 ‐ 2017 Village funds Water supply disruption
Protect and re‐vegetate high flow path of the “flood chute” with water‐tolerant plants to collect and filter floodwater
Conservation Commission, CRO Team Leader, Business community
2015 ‐ 2018 Business owner donations, NEGEF, CRO volunteers; local nurseries; Intervale tree donation program
Flooding Potential high benefit for low cost (compared to major measures). Will help a lot w/ stormwater management & floodwater contamination issues
Apply soil stabilization measures to prevent erosion / landslides (e.g. plant vegetation with strong root systems or protect the toe of the slope with hard armoring)
to be determined 2018 ‐ 2022 ERP; Vermont Community Foundation Green Mountain Fund; NEGEF
Flooding, Landslide
Install mitigation treatments to protect wastewater treatment facility from shut down during high flood events
Sewer operator, Trustee Chair
HMGP, Village funds, ANR, USDA Loan programs
Water / Sewer supply disruption
Preserve existing green space in the 100‐year floodplain and investigate ways to utilize such green space to provide additional flood protection for developed properties.
Planning Commission, Conservation Commission, Trustees, LCPC, Selectboard
In progress Expected completion: 2017‐18
VT Brownfields funds, ERP, transfer development rights, other grant programs
Flooding
Upgrade water system, storage, and protection Sewer operator, Trustee Chair
USDA Grant and/or Loan Program; conventional loan
Water / Sewer supply disruption
Continue to upgrade all existing undersized water mains. Priority is be given to undersized mains serving fire hydrants with the highest existing population density.
Sewer operator, Trustee Chair
In progress Expected completion: 2025
USDA Grant and/or Loan Program; conventional loan
Water / Sewer supply disruption
Phased in approach as funding allows
Re‐locate school bus parking from the river, remove pavement, and allow vegetation to re‐grow
Cambridge Elementary School Board; Trustees
2018 School Board; ERP; in concert with other projects as funding arises
Flooding, Erosion Could be incorporated as part of Floodplain Restoration
Low Priority – benefit to community not as great as cost, time, and ability to implement
Reduce obstruction of sidewalks by better defining the edge of sidewalks through use of curbing and/or striping; Install ADA compliant ramps and detectable warnings at all existing and new crosswalks.
Village Trustees, Safe Routes to Schools, School Board, LCPC Transportation Planner
In progress Expected completion: 2020
Vtrans; Village Trustees; other grant programs
All hazards Scoping study currently underway
37
Develop and expand communications / advanced warning system tied to river gauges that notifies residents of potential flood risks, such as VT Alert and social media sites
EMD, Village Trustees 2015 ‐ 2016 Low to no cost depending on approach
All hazards
Initiate a procedure for regular tree trimming and pruning near utility lines; inventory and removal of hazardous trees in right of way
Road Foreman, Cambridge Selectboard ‐ Trustees communication
2017 As part of routine maintenance
Power Failure Road foreman is under jurisdiction of Selectboard.
Create Neighborhood Emergency Network for support during / after emergency. Share resources and knowledge, help clean up, provide emotional support, institute communication chain, and other activities as identified.
CRO Team Leader, Residents
Create 2015/ Test 2016 or during next big event
Sweat Equity All hazards
Limit/ reduce/ prevent Floodwater Contamination Issues: to be determined by Conservation Commission
Conservation Commission; sewer operator
2015 ‐ 2019 Local funding; grants as available
Water/ Wastewater Failure; Flooding
Consider enrollment in the “Community Rating System” as a tool to reduce flood insurance premiums.
Planning Commission; Village Clerk, LCPC Regional Planner
2016 ‐ 2021 LCPC; Sweat Equity Flooding Consider Village enrollment, Town enrollment, or LCPC as regional administrator
Consider and implement preferred option(s) for limiting development on landslide prone hills and hazard areas, through such actions as: ‐Defining high‐risk areas in land use plans; ‐Creating guidelines or restricting new development in high‐risk areas; ‐Locating utilities outside landslide areas to decrease risk of service disruption; ‐Restrict activity that would strip slopes of essential top soil; ‐Create setback limits on parcels in high‐risk areas
Planning Commission, Trustees, LCPC Regional Planner; Cambridge Planning Commission & ZBA (if included as part of Subdivision Regulations)
2018 ‐ 2019 MPG; LCPC Landslide Potential joint project between Jeffersonville and Cambridge
Floodproof / elevate buildings to the 500‐year flood elevation: ‐ Work with property owners, businesses, and community services in floodprone areas to floodproof structures ‐ Elevate important utilities, HVAC systems, telecommunications systems, and computer servers ‐ Elevate public buildings and utilities. – Elevate homes/ businesses. Critical structures (denoted in yellow on Master Plan) given highest priority.
Trustee Chair, Village Clerk, Property owners, ACCD, Business Community
2015 ‐ 2050 HMGP, Property Owner Contributions, Village funds
Flooding Need to see progress of combination of mitigation activities.
38
Property acquisition(s) of critical structures (denoted as yellow buildings on Master Plan) – determined on a case by case basis based on building’s contribution to flooding in village, landowner interest, and financial implications
Property Owner, Trustees, other non‐profit as opportunities arise
2015 ‐ 2050 HMGP, CDBG, Property owner contributions, in‐kind match
Flooding Need to see progress of combination of mitigation activities.
Establish a revolving loan fund to assist owners of historic structures in making flood mitigation improvements. May be a two phase project: feasibility analysis and implementation.
Trustees, Business community
2020 Village funds, private bank, philanthropic organization
Flooding DEMHS is concurrently working on state project to do similar work
Least important but should be pursued if opportunities, resources, and need arise - no time frame given
Identify a Commodity Point of Distribution in or near Jeffersonville.
DEMHS Operations Chief, EMD
Free All hazards May be jurisdiction of DEMHS
Educate property owners on most recent fire safety codes.
Village Clerk, ZBA Free Structure Fire Pamphlets from State/ FEMA could be made publicly available or handed out with floodplain permits
Update regulatory strategies for locating new development in the Village
Planning Commission; Trustee Chair; LCPC Senior Planner
MPG; LCPC Flooding, Landslide
May be completed
Purchase development rights of properties within the floodplain to permanently prevent development in those areas.
Property Owners, ANR Rivers Management Program
River Corridor Easement Program
Flooding, erosion May not be any additional properties available
HMGP = Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; ERP = Ecosystem Restoration Program; ACCD= Agency of Commerce and Community Development; DEMHS = Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; EMD = Emergency Management Director; LCPC = Lamoille County Planning Commission; NEGEF = New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
*Projects prioritized by members of the Hazard Advisory Committee, LCPC, ANR, and other project partners (please see Appendix A for list of names). Criteria included: potential benefits of implementation, cost, community willingness, and timeliness. Individual responses were collated and priority projects were ordered based on respondents’ priorities, analysis of the Flood Model Alternatives, actions identified in the Jeffersonville Municipal Development Plan 2014 – 2019, ideas discussed during the Committee meetings, and the above discussed criteria.
39
C6IntegrationintoothermechanismsFor this hazard mitigation plan to be truly effective, it cannot stand on its own. Like hazard
mitigation plans, municipal plans are updated every 5‐years. Jeffersonville most recently adopted its
plan May 29, 2014. Hazard mitigation planning and policies are incorporated throughout the
Jeffersonville municipal plan. Because Jeffersonville already integrates hazard mitigation planning
into municipal and land use planning, recommendations identified in the municipal plan are
identified in this plan as mitigation strategies. The following action items and overarching goals and
objectives are below:
To focus growth in the Village Core and Village Residential Areas (provided these are located
outside of the 100‐year floodplain – as defined on the most recent FEMA maps) in order to
reduce development pressures on important land resources outside of the Village.
Development of new structures within the 100‐year floodplain (as defined on the most
recent FIRM map) is prohibited. Redevelopment of existing structures is allowed, provided
the footprint of the building is not increased. All development shall comply with Flood
Hazard Area regulations adopted in 2011.
The Trustees should work with the Town of Cambridge and the Vermont Agency of
Transportation to improve pedestrian safety on Village streets.
The Trustees should pursue funding opportunities to implement flood resiliency measures
outlined in the Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The Trustees should continue to invest in upgrades to the sewer and water systems within
the existing area of service. Upgrades to existing infrastructure shall be given priority over
line and service area expansions.
The Planning Commission should explore options to protect the historic character of the
Historic District, including traditional zoning and “form based code.”
The Planning Commission should consider creating a plan for the flood hazard area to
address recreational opportunities, flood hazard protection, and the potential for
implementing water quality measures. This may include developing and utilizing Fluvial
Erosion Hazard Maps to minimize losses from flooding and erosion.
The Planning Commission should pursue funding, perhaps through a municipal planning
grant program, to conduct an economic assessment of Jeffersonville and to develop a
strategy for maintaining the vitality of the Village in light of restrictions imposed by flood
hazard areas.
New development in the landslide prone area is strongly discouraged.
Additional ideas for integrating the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms include:
Development, amendment, administration, and enforcement of flood hazard bylaws
40
Long‐term planning and financing of the sewer treatment facility and municipal water
system
Coordination of and financing services with the Town of Cambridge Selectboard
Planning and projects that protect the floodplain and provide recreational opportunities for
residents, such as the Jolley Property park planning
Participation in a Community Resilience Organization
Representation on and participation in the Lamoille County Planning Commission Board of
Directors, which develops a Regional Plan and provides technical assistance to Jeffersonville
Other projects as identified by the Jeffersonville Planning Commission
DPlanReview,Evaluation,andImplementationWhen Lamoille County began developing hazard mitigation plans in 2005, a Multi‐Jurisdictional All‐
hazards Mitigation Plan for Lamoille County included ten annexes, one for each town. Jeffersonville was
subsumed under the 2005 Cambridge Town Annex with very few mentions. While this Jeffersonville
Hazard Mitigation Plan is a new plan for this jurisdiction, it is considered by FEMA an “update to an
existing plan”. As such, it is required to address changes in development, progress towards local
mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities.
Changes in Development: The 2005 annex was not explicit about development in Jeffersonville Village.
Over the last ten years, the village center has continued to flourish while some new construction on the
periphery has occurred. Since 2011, new floodplain regulations and infrastructure placement have
limited new construction within this already‐contained village. Development changes are addressed in
the Introduction, Community Profile, and Governance sections.
Progress towards Mitigation Efforts: The only Jeffersonville‐specific mitigation action in 2005 was a
Fluvial Geomorphic and Landslide Assessment to evaluate landslide potential in Jeffersonville. Stream
geomorphic assessments are in process throughout Cambridge and Jeffersonville’s water bodies. Some
have been completed, others in different phases. This item is ongoing.
Changes in Priorities: As the 2005 plan did not highlight Jeffersonville’s unique situation, there were no
priorities for Jeffersonville. Thus, this plan recommends a new set of mitigation priorities.
41
Appendix
AppendixAMeetingAttendanceandTopicList
7/24/2012
Pre-
engineering
meeting
11/15/2012
Project
overview;
major
hazards;
potential
actions
12/11/2012
Mapping
hazards;
critical
facilities;
goals and
objectives
2/28/2013
Brewster
River SGA;
Goals;
Mitigation
Measures
5/9/2013
Flood
model
kick-off
8/26/2013
Flood
model
alternat-
ives
1/27/2014
Flood
model
final
present-
ation
3/24/2014
Landslide
4/23/2015
Profile of
hazards;
mitigation
strategies;
master
plan; CROs
5/5/15
Mitigation
actions;
hazards
Prioritize
Strategies
8/13/15
Final Plan
Review
Rick Fletcher Cambridge Historical Society Property Manager, Resident x x x x x x x x
Tammy Fenton Village Trustees Resident x x x x x
Dave Severance Cambridge Rescue Squad Former EMD x x
Jean Jenkauskas Planning Commission
Conservation Commission,
Resident x x x x x x x x x x x x
Jeff Coslett Business - Union Bank Resident x x x x x x x x
Jay Allen Village Trustees Resident x x x x x x x
Larry Wyckoff Town Selectboard Business Owner x x x
Ilene Schmidt Business - Jeffersonville Pottery Resident x x x x x
Jan Sander
Cambridge Elementary School
Board
Planning Commission,
Resident x x x x x x x
John Dunn Soccer club
Cambridge 360, Physician,
Resident x x x x x
Daphne Allen Resident x
Tom Wyckoff Board of Adjustment DRB, Planning Commission x x x
Shaun Phillips Planning Commission Resident x x x
Deb Bouton Resident x
Emily Resident x
Michael Montague Board of Adjustment
Donald Lange Village Trustees Resident x
Pam Sills
Business -Sunrise Physical
Therapy x x
Kathy Pyorala KEFP LLC x
Gerry Pultid KEFP LLC x
Gary McNally Resident
Sharon McNally Resident
Ethan Lakota Cambridge Historical Society x
Melody Tobin Business - Landlord x
Art Tobin, Sr. Business - Landlord x
Doug Babcock
Cambridge Emergency
Management
Cambridge Planning
Commission x x
Rich Westman State Senator Cambridge resident, farmer x
Bill Sander Village Trustees Resident x x
Jeff White Resident x
Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Advisory Committee - Meetings, Members, and Guest Speakers
Name Organization / Affiliation Other Community Roles
Meeting Dates
7/24/2012
Pre-
engineering
meeting
11/15/2012
Project
overview;
major
hazards;
potential
actions
12/11/2012
Mapping
hazards;
critical
facilities;
goals and
objectives
2/28/2013
Brewster
River SGA;
Goals;
Mitigation
Measures
5/9/2013
Flood
model
kick-off
8/26/2013
Flood
model
alternat-
ives
1/27/2014
Flood
model
final
present-
ation
3/24/2014
Landslide
4/23/2015
Profile of
hazards;
mitigation
strategies;
master
plan; CROs
5/5/15
Mitigation
actions;
hazards
Prioritize
Strategies
8/13/15
Final Plan
Review
Jim Ryan DEC x
Staci Pomeroy DEC, Rivers Program x x x x x x x x
Rebecca Pfeiffer DEC, NFIP Coordinator x x x x
Roy Schiff Milone & MacBroom guest speaker x
Jessica Louisos Milone & MacBroom guest speaker x
Randy Reid Vtrans x
Faith Ingulsrud DHCD x
George Springston Norwich University guest speaker x
Les Kanat Johnson State College guest speaker x
Peg Elmer Hough CROs guest speaker x
Seth Jensen LCPC x x x x x x x x
Taylar Foster LCPC x x x x x x
Melinda Scott LCPC x x
Bonnie Waninger LCPC x
Name Organization / Affiliation Other Community Roles
Meeting Dates
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AppendixB:OutreachMaterialsNotices posted to Front Porch Forum, an online community social media tool 05/16/12 ‐ Need Wrong Way Bridge Flooding Notices? Have you wondered if the Wrong Way Bridge has closed when the Lamoille River floods? Dave Severance, Cambridge’s Emergency Management Director, told us about a great tool that provides automatic notices linked to the USGS stream gauge on the Lamoille River in Jeffersonville. By subscribing to the system and creating a few parameters, the system will send an email or text message to your email account or cellphone. You can change your parameters at any time, and you can link to any gauge on the USGS system throughout the US. Thanks, Dave, for convincing USGS to put a gauge in Jeffersonville and letting us know about this technology! 05/18/12 ‐ Reducing Disaster Losses Sound planning and preparedness – as consistently demonstrated by Cambridge and Jeffersonville’s emergency response community – can reduce risks to life and property. The Lamoille County Planning Commission was recently awarded a $29,374 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant to work with the Village of Jeffersonville, property owners, emergency service organizations, local citizens, and other partners to develop a hazard mitigation plan for Jeffersonville. LCPC submitted the application at the request of the Village of Jeffersonville, which wanted to initiate a broad look at potential mitigation actions that could reduce disaster losses. The community will assess its vulnerabilities and identify and prioritize potential mitigation activities. The plan will consider community goals for economic development, natural resource protection, hazard mitigation, and transportation infrastructure. The award includes funding for LCPC staff assistance to develop the plan and for a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of one or more activities proposed in the plan. Mitigation actions can be undertaken by a variety of entities, including individuals, businesses, civic organizations, and municipalities. Typical hazard mitigation activities can include repair or upgrades to local roads and bridges, acquisitions/buy‐outs, structural elevations or relocations, replacement of undersized culverts, remediation of stream bank erosion, elevating utilities out of basements, securing shelves, water heaters and fuel tanks, developing business continuity of operations plans, notification and warning systems, or even buying flood insurance to protect your home, business or belongings. The goal is to reduce losses. For more information, contact Seth Jensen, Senior Planner, at [email protected] or 888‐4548. The project is expected to begin in late June. Invitations, updates, and announcements will be posted on FPF. 07/21/12 – Jolley Property Brownfield Assessment At the request of Jolley Property and the Village of Jeffersonville, the Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC) is conducting a brownfield assessment at the Jolley Property. Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. LCPC works with willing properties owners and prospective owners/developers to assess, cleanup, and reinvest in these properties to insure an informed property transfer, promote economic development, protect the environment, and reduce blight. We hire qualified consultants to complete the assessments. LCPC
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receives grant funds from the US EPA for its brownfields work. Both the State of Vermont and EPA review all workplans and reports to insure quality control. Public meetings are scheduled when reports are completed, tentatively in December 2012 or January 2013. We will post the meeting notices on Front Porch Forum. Brownfields work will begin at the Jolley Property next week. Our consultant, The Johnson Company, has scheduled a geophysical survey of the property for Aug 7‐10. This survey uses ground penetrating radar to detect underground anomalies, such as unknown underground tanks. When the survey is underway, it will look like the person is pushing a self‐propelled mower over the entire site. In advance of the survey, the property will be mowed and obstructions flagged. The mowing may happen next week. When the survey results are available, the consultant will develop a detailed site investigation plan for approval by the EPA and State of Vermont. For more information, please contact Bonnie Waninger, LCPC Executive Director, at [email protected] or 888‐4548. 10/29/2012 – Jeffersonville Hazard Mitigation Plan This fall and winter, the Lamoille County Planning Commission and Village of Jeffersonville will be working with property owners, emergency service organizations, local citizens, and other partners to develop a hazard mitigation plan for Jeffersonville. This plan will be developed with input from a local hazard mitigation advisory committee made up of local residents, officials, business owners, and emergency responders. The plan will lay the groundwork for future “mitigation” activities in Jeffersonville. Typical mitigation activities can include repair or upgrades to local roads, bridges, and culverts, acquisitions/buy‐outs, structural elevations or relocations, remediation of stream bank erosion, elevating utilities out of basements, securing shelves, water heaters and fuel tanks, developing business continuity of operations plans, notification and warning systems, or even buying flood insurance to protect your home, business or belongings. The plan will also evaluate these actions in the context of other community and economic development goals. The Hazard Mitigation Plan will be developed with support from a $29,374 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant awarded to the Lamoille County Planning Commission. LCPC submitted the application at the request of the Village of Jeffersonville. For more information, contact Seth Jensen, LCPC Senior Planner, at [email protected] or 888‐4548 or the Village of Jeffersonville at 644‐5534.
Press Release
Jeffersonville Flood Hazard Study Complete
Like many Lamoille County communities, the Village of Jeffersonville experienced severe flooding in the
Springs of 2011 and 2014. Like many communities throughout Vermont, Jeffersonville was built near
the Brewster and Lamoille Rivers to take advantage of the opportunities for transportation, energy, and
agriculture that the rivers provided. However, this location at the confluence of the Brewster and
Lamoille Rivers also makes areas of the Village particularly vulnerable to flooding.
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In order to better understand the risks posed by flooding, the Village partnered with Lamoille County
Planning Commission (LCPC) to hire the engineering firm Milone and MacBroom to develop a Flood
Hazard Model and Alternatives Analysis. The study can be found on LCPC’s website at www.lcpcvt.org.
The model was built using new and existing surveys, as well as historical data from stream gauges
throughout the Lamoille River watershed. The model tested flooding during different sized events (10‐
year, 100‐year, 500 year floods, etc.) The model also evaluated potential courses of action which could
reduce flood risks in the Village. The model revealed at least four “preferred alternatives” that, in
combination, could reduce flood levels by a foot or more in some areas of the Village. Potential
alternatives range from modifications to transportation infrastructure, particularly along Route 15, to
restoring floodplain access along the Brewster River. LCPC is now working with the Village of
Jeffersonville, the Town of Cambridge, and various State agencies to determine the feasibility of
implementing these alternatives.
Information from the model will be incorporated into Jeffersonville’s new Hazard Mitigation Plan and
will also assist the Village in meeting the newly required “flood resiliency” element for its Municipal
Plan. For more information about the model, contact Seth Jensen, Senior Planner, at [email protected].
For more information on Hazard Mitigation planning throughout Lamoille County, contact Taylar Foster,
Regional Planner at [email protected].
The old railroad bridge (now part of the Cambridge
Greenway) over the Brewster River in Jeffersonville. The
Bridge is low and narrower than the river channel which, as
seen here during the April 2014 storm, causes flood waters to
back up into the Village. Replacing the bridge with a higher,
wider bridge is one of the mitigation options identified in the
Jeffersonville Flood Hazard Model. LCPC assisted the Town of
Cambridge in securing a Hazard Mitigation Grant to
implement replacement of the bridge.
The article below was featured in the July 16, 2015 Mountain Gazette, a news publication for the
Cambridge/ Jeffersonville area.
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September 25, 2013 Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Montpelier Meeting Summary – full notes of this meeting available by contacting LCPC. Present: Joe Segale (VTrans), Roy Schiff (MMI), Jessica Louisos (MMI), Faith Ingulsrud (DHCD), Ken Robie (VTrans), Kevin Marsha (VTrans), John Lepore (VTrans), Glenn Gringas (VTrans), Kate Hammond (DEMHS), Nathan Cleveland (VCDP), Jesse Devlin (VTrans), Nick Wark (VTrans), Amy Bell (VTrans), Rebecca Pfiffer (VTANR), Staci Pomeroy (VTANR), Jeff Ramsey (VTrans), John Marowki (VTrans), Bonnie Waninger (LCPC), Seth Jensen (LCPC)
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B. Waninger gave background on flooding and village development. No easy answers, but need some solutions/actions. Schiff: doing modeling with end result of conceptual design. Long history of filling, road development, mountainous stream, etc. Bridges have capacity, but water pushes back. Looked at Brewster levels, Lamoille levels, and interactions. Scaled from Johnson USGS gauge for Lamoille and West Branch of Little River for Brewster. West Branch has similar signature. 2011 event was 50 year event on Brewster and 25 year event on Lamoille. Have backwatering from Lamoille flood events. One dimensional modeling. Sediment transport was not part of the model. Model demonstrated that Rt. 15 embankment holds floodwater in village area (water can't get into Lamoille River). Plate girder rail bridge holds water back. How do we get water beyond road embankment? How model worked. Tested existing conditions and changed existence of structures. Reviewed alternatives and explored infrastructure changes. Constrictor is areas of fill and areas where channel can't access floodplain. Explored fill removal and floodplain excavation. 9a is school/Windridge excavation. No Lamoille benefit, but good school benefit. 9b is school athletic fields, which has benefits. Both help water levels at school. School is at critical area for affecting change because it is the bend point of the Lamoille/Brewster backflow. Can change where sediment builds up. No silver bullets, but we can make an impact with combinations. M&M recommended set of alternatives: 1) replace RR bridge, 2) overflow culverts under Rt. 108 bridge, 3) big cross culverts under Rt. 15, and 4) floodplain lowering from school to Rt. 15. School operates as local emergency shelter. Impact to property values? Unknown. HMGP for Advance Assistance was rejected by FEMA. Interesting to have total value of properties affected. Ballpark costs will be generated; looking for gut‐check comments from agency staff to feed into community discussion. True likelihood comes down to costs and ability to fund; cost is reality check for preferred alternatives package. BCA assistance possible thorough DEMHS.
AppendixC:ListofAlternativesfrom2013FloodModelFinalReportby Milone and MacBroom, Inc.
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AppendixD:SupplementalMapsMilone and MacBroom, Inc.
SHEET NAME
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SHEET NAME
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ALTERNATIVES
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AppendixE:VillageMitigationMasterPlanandVisualRenderingsofProposedMitigationProjectsby Milone and MacBroom, Inc.
PROPOSEDCOMMUNITY CENTERAT WINDRIDGE
PROPOSED SOCCER FIELD
SILO
FARMERSMARKET
PARK
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Above, Visual Rendering of the Cambridge Trail Bridge HMGP Project
Below, Visual Rendering of the Floodplain Restoration along Brewster River
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Above: Visual Rendering of the large bypass culvert under Route 15, which would double as a pedestrian walkway