The Passumpsic River is a 22.7-mile-long tributary of the Connecticut River, in Vermont. Though primarily a Caledonia County river, it is the only river to flow through all three counties of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (NEK). It has an impressive watershed, draining 507 square miles.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation along with other partners – including Caledonia and Essex Counties Natural Resources Conservation Districts, Northwoods Stewardship Center, Northeastern Vermont Development Association, and Connecticut River Conservancy – are working together to update a plan for cleaning up waters in the Passumpsic River watershed and are looking for community input. What lakes and rivers are important to you? How can we protect them?  If you are based in this region, please fill out our brief survey to help direct state and local priorities.

The plan will include basin-specific water quality goals, objectives, and strategies to protect public health and use of Vermont waters. If you’d like to learn more about our shared watershed, you can explore the Passumpsic River Tactical Basin Planning Story Map.

Passumpsic River Photos

Site of former East Burke Dam (removed by CRC in 2017).

Passumpsic Valley Land Trust Murphy property, which is being restored to floodplain forest by CRC (2020-2023)