Climate change will bring more floods and more droughts, with impacts felt by our communities and absorbed by our rivers. But with 7,000 miles of rivers in Vermont, where are the best places to protect land for maximum flood resilience? Get a behind-the-scenes look at the science, mapping, and stories behind how Vermont River Conservancy prioritizes where and how to protect rivers, especially to benefit the most vulnerable Vermonters.

About the Presenters :
Kassia Randzio: VRC Development and Operations Director. Kassia joined VRC’s staff in 2021, bringing with her nearly two decades of experience at state and national conservation nonprofits, here she’s worked to inspire people to invest in protected lands and waters. She leads efforts that make each of VRC’s conservation successes possible — from writing grants to secure funds for dam removal, to connecting donors with opportunities to protect riverside wetlands and forests, to overseeing the organizational systems that support all VRC’s efforts. Kassia shares the stories of the impact VRC has on wildlife, families, and communities.
Erin De Vries: VRC Conservation Director. Erin constructs conservation partnerships and leads strategic visioning for protection and restoration of waterways and broader watersheds across the state. With a background in Lake Champlain and Great Lakes watershed work, Erin began at VRC as a River Steward in 2021. She loves meeting landowners, watershed partners, and municipal planners and managers alongside a stream or wetland to hash out how to enhance special places, protect assets, and promote community resilience. Her mantra is respect, relate, conserve, restore, celebrate, repeat.

About our Naturalist Journeys 2026 Winter Presentation Series: This season is about understanding how our watersheds function, how our rivers flow, and which actions move us towards—or away from—becoming a more resilient riverside community. The series runs December through March.