10/06/2025
Vermont is facing its most extreme drought in decades, with 78% of the state in severe drought. Some stream gauges and groundwater wells are at the lowest levels seen in Vermont since we began keeping records 109 years ago.
As climate change brings more extreme floods and droughts, there are tangible things we can do to buffer against these events and reduce their impacts on both the human and the natural world.
🌿Restore wetlands: these natural sponges slow down floodwaters and store water during dry spells
🌿Reconnect rivers to their floodplains: giving rivers room to spread out reduces flood risk and improves groundwater recharge
🌿Reforest riverbanks: trees and shrubs stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and shade streams to keep them cool and reduce evaporation
🌿Remove river barriers: dams often alter natural river flow and disconnect rivers from their floodplains, reducing the landscape’s ability to absorb or store water
Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor
