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BRATTLEBORO A floodplain restoration project at a former housing complex on the Whetstone Brook recently received a 2024 Engineering Excellence Award.

"These awards go to projects that have significant positive impact in our communities and have innovative engineering elements," said Jessica Clark Louisos, senior water resources engineer for SLR International, which designed the project. "The Melrose Terrace Floodplain restoration project combined many elements including removal of buildings and infrastructure from the floodplain, lowering and reforesting to naturalize floodplain, and increasing capacity of the road crossing to function together and reduce flood risk. I am proud to have been a part of this innovative floodplain restoration project that has already functioned as designed during multiple recent floods causing significantly less damage than prior floods."

Christine Hazzard, executive director of Brattleboro Housing Partnership, which owns and manages 307 rental units for seniors, persons with disabilities and families, said the Melrose Terrace projecthas already successfully served its purpose in five weather events.

"When it is not actively preventing flooding, it is a beautiful space to enjoy and access the Whetstone Brook," said Hazzard. "Brattleboro residents should be very proud of the proactive steps across town to address the inevitable flooding we will most likely continue to see."

Hazzard thanked SLR Consulting engineers Jessica Clark Louisos and Roy Scheff for designing and implementing the project.

During Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011, the housing complex was flooded and residents were evacuated. Following a multi-year project, many of those residents were relocated to new housing at Red Clover Commons on Fairground Road. Eleven apartment buildings with a total of 80 units at Melrose Terrace were removed as part of the project, which was finished in the fall of 2022 after 28,000 cubic yards of fill was removed and a riparian forest was planted.

Town-owned infrastructure, including a road connection, drinking water main, and sewer main, were all redesigned to relocate as much as possible out of the vulnerable floodplain areas. George Miller Drive was removed from the floodplain where possible, rerouting it between existing buildings where a majority of the road connection would not be flood prone.

This project was developed as part of the 2015 Vermont Economic Resiliency Initiative. BHP, with support of Vermont Emergency Management and the town, secured FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Vermont Community Development funding to advance the project through design and permitting.

A study revealed that constriction at the George Miller Drive bridge raised Tropical Storm Irene floodwaters by five-and-a-half feet, which was resolved "with an innovative approach including installation of a large overflow culvert and lowering the road surface to provide controlled overtopping during storms over 25-year recurrence," states the project narrative. "Modeling shows that the combined benefits of the project reduce flooding during a Tropical Storm Irene size flood by up to seven feet at the site and two feet in the upstream [Glen Park Mobile Home] community."

"As planned, the new floodplain has slowed and stored flood waters, collected sediment and debris that may have blocked downstream bridges, and reduced flooding in the area," continues the narrative.

The river is naturalizing at the site after being channelized and constricted between walls and the bridge for almost 60 years. The floodplain forest is rejuvenating with a mix of native grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees included in the extensive planting plan.

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Melrose Terrace floodplain restoration receives national engineering award - Brattleboro Reformer