This project, although somewhat tasking from a logistics perspective, has definitely been valuable in learning about the Winooski from both an aerial and detailed view. I myself am now very familiar with the ecological and social effects of dam construction, and will definitely think twice when driving past a placid lake that precedes a dam. I have also found that Vermonters especially are more aware of the concept of flood resilience and how this concept relates to the tradition and prevalence of small hydro-power dams in the state, especially after Hurricane Irene's devastation last year. This project has also reinforced the benefits (albeit limited in this case) of working in groups to achieve a more comprehensive understanding on a large concept, in this case the vast Winooski River. By having multiple perspectives focused on what is vital or in need or attention, I feel that our analysis has considered briefly many aspects of the river.
Often times, working in a seven-person group isn't the easiest in regards to synthesizing information. In my opinion, the group emerged with general interest in the health, use, and impacts of the Winooski River and surrounding ecosystem. I realized that synthesizing information could be made easy when speaking of natural systems, because everything is intertwined. In analyzing the vast array of the uses, activities, and happenings of the Winooski River, the group was able to find that the health of the river affects all that the river is. For example, if the river is a refuge for fish, the river must be in good quality to support diverse fish habitat. If a fisherman seeks pleasure in the tranquility of fishing, he can only do so if the Winooski is fishable, habitable, and enjoyable. If a swimmer needs to cool off on a certain day, they can only do so if there isn't E.Coli or farm and fertilizer runoff that would adversely affect health. And if a farmer would like to keep land, instead of lose land, on his farm, then he won't plant crops all the way to the edge of the river (and he would therefore indirectly protect the river). Our group stopped and took a step back, because the Winooski River means so many different things to so many different people. We wanted to see the bigger picture, the multiple perspectives of the Winooski and the multitude of windows it provides Vermonters and citizens alike.
-By Sam Smith and Evelina Nikolic, respectively
