The East Branch Ausable River Restoration at Rivermede Farm

When complete this project will restore deep pools and stable riffels to the East Branch Ausable in Keene Valley, New York.  Not only are the benefits to aquatic life tremendous, seven landowners including the Town of Keene will regain land lost to the river since 1945.  This project is a cooperative effort between Trout Unlimited, the Ausable River Association, the Town of Keene, Army Corp of Engineers, and  Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District.  It is funded by Trout Unlimited, the Kelsey Trust, the Champlain Watershed Improvement Coalition of New York, New York State DEC Bond Act, and Army Corp of Engineers.

This section of river is badly overwidened; the river has become shallow, flow has slowed, and the river can no longer carry the sediment load coming from upstream.  This self perpetuating build-up leads to more widening as the river attempts to find a route around the sediment pile.

Fish spawning habitat is destroyed as the gravel bed becomes clogged with fine sediment.  The river is also warmer than comfortable for native brook trout because of the absence of trees to shade the waterway.  As a consequence, the area has been rated very low for wildlife habitat by NYS DEC.

Progress has been made and project is slated to start restructuring the river in 2010.

Air photo of Rivermede Farm project: