The Batten Kill Watershed Alliance was created in 2001 to promote good stewardship of the river and its tributaries in both Vermont and New York. The Alliance has received grants from the EPA through River Network and from the GMNF. It is governed by a nine-member board of directors that includes anglers, canoeists, and landowners from both states. Alliance accomplishments have included erosion control and bank stabilization projects, implementation of a River Steward program during the past three summers, and sponsoring public presentations on topics concerning the river. The Alliance has just completed a major bank stabilization project along the Batten Kill in Jackson, NY at Battenkill Riversports.

The Batten Kill has its origins in the Green and Taconic Mountains of Vermont. The watershed area of about 450 square miles lies within nineteen towns of New York and Vermont. The river begins in forested headwaters and flows through towns, farms, fields, and forests, turning west to enter New York and join the Hudson.

This river flows through peaceful and scenic valleys, and provides habitat for trout and other wildlife, as well as recreation for swimmers, hikers, canoeists, tubers, and nature lovers. The Batten Kill is nationally known as a trout stream. However, some changes have come to this watershed in which the quality of life matches the scenery. The brown trout population has declined recently, for reasons yet unknown. Severe floods in December 2000 caused great damage to roads, fields, and houses. Farmland is being lost to erosion. Impermeable paring lots grow in size and number, increasing run off, pollution, and sedimentation in streams and alertering the balance of ground water absorption and flooding.

The Batten Kill Watershed Alliance was formed in May 2001. It was the culmination of a series of meetings that involved people representing different areas in the watershed, different interests and river uses, and different state, federal, and local agencies or governments. The organization is dedicated to the good stewardship of the Batten Kill watershed through mobilizing the resources of the communities in both states.

In preparing to fulfill this vision, the group obtained non-profit (501c-3) status from the IRS. We have received grants from the EPA through River Network, and from the US forest Service, Green Mountain National Forest, that finance our startup operations. We have a great opportunity to improve the condition of the river and the communities through which it flows.