Project Background

The Lake Iroquois Lake Watershed Action Plan, completed in 2024, provides a comprehensive assessment of the Lake Iroquois and adjacent Patrick Brook watersheds. The study evaluated water quality, hydrology, and existing infrastructure throughout the watershed and identified a series of stormwater mitigation projects aimed at improving flood resiliency, reducing nutrient loading and protecting aquatic habitat. Two highly ranked projects included improvements to stormwater infrastructure along Enos Road and the Partridge Hill Road system, including Red Pine Road, all located in the Town of Hinesburg, Chittenden County, Vermont.

These project areas lie within a forested, low-density residential portion of the Patrick Brook watershed, which drains into Lake Champlain via the La Platte River. Stormwater runoff from the neighborhoods flows into Patrick Brook after first passing through an approximately 8,000 m² wetland. The roads themselves are privately owned and unpaved, with a mix of gravel and dirt surfaces.

Enos Road is approximately 600 meters in length and does not run adjacent to any perennial stream. Its drainage area is primarily forested, with the only developed areas being residential lots and a narrow utility corridor. Partridge Hill Road runs parallel to a tributary of Patrick Brook for roughly 400 meters, with the stream eventually passing under the road and into the downstream wetland. Red Pine Road, a spur off Partridge Hill, shares similar characteristics in land use and hydrologic connectivity.

Given the existing conditions and land use, the proposed project will focus on implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) practices appropriate for rural, forested roadways. These practices include the installation of vegetated swales, upsized culverts to restore and improve hydrologic flow, and sediment traps to reduce erosion and sedimentation downstream. All proposed improvements are consistent with the rural character of the area and are designed to work in harmony with the existing landscape and drainage patterns.