Project Update: Derway Cove Celebration! On September 27, 2022 the Lake Champlain Land Trust and Winooski Valley Park District welcomed our partners and the public to Derway Cove to help us celebrate the permanent conservation of this new riverfront access area.
Project Update: (April 2022): Derway Cove is now open! Paddlers can park at the Derway Cove / Derway Island Natural Area parking area and carry or pull their canoe or kayak approximately 300 feet from the gate to the launch site. All are welcome to use the canoe carts stored at the gate. Email us at for more information.
At the northernmost tip of the City of Burlington, where bicyclists, runners, and walkers pedal and stride across the Burlington Bike Path bridge over the Winooski River, you will find a small cove teeming with life. A haven for birds, fish, amphibians and aquatic mammals, as well as several rare plant species, this critical wetland could soon be transformed into a new riverfront park.
Working in partnership with the Winooski Valley Park District (WVPD), this unique conservation project seeks to restore critical riverbank habitat, protect the water quality of Lake Champlain, and improve public access to the Winooski River and Lake Champlain beyond.
Previously home to River’s End Marina, the former owner has been working with the Partners to conserve the property and open it to the public. Located within the Winooski River floodplain, large sections of the property flood every spring. This project will remove all buildings from the site and restore the land to a natural state, vastly increasing its ability to absorb and retain floodwaters.
Easily accessible from Downtown Burlington and Colchester, plans for the park call for a car-top boat launch, bike parking, and fishing access.
Summer 2020 Update: Restoring the Riverbank
This June the Partners planted 150 water quality-improving trees and shrubs. Upcoming projects include improving access for fishing, birdwatching, and paddling. Stay tuned for more updates!
December 2019 Update: Demolition of Marina Buildings
Big changes are happening at the Derway Cove site! The former marina buildings are down in preparation for access improvements in 2020. Click here to view a video of the demolition and before and after images.
Conserving a Key Riverbank Parcel to Protect Biological Diversity and Water Quality
Situated at the mouth of the Winooski River, the Derway Cove site has outstanding ecological value. The property has approximately 1,000 feet of frontage on the Winooski River and two acres of Class II wetlands. Moreover, the land supports healthy remnants of Lakeside Floodplain Forest and Silver Maple-Sensitive Fern Riverine Floodplain Forest natural communities, which are both ranked by the State of Vermont as uncommon natural communities.
In addition to impressive ecological value, this conservation project has important implications for the area’s water quality. During the Lake Champlain Flooding in 2011, the property was inundated and its buildings were damaged or washed away. By removing the rebuilt buildings and planting native trees and shrubs along the riverbank, this project will restore the site’s ability to absorb and filter runoff and floodwaters. This model restoration project will help others visualize more appropriate uses for floodplains and improve the quality of the water flowing from the Winooski River into Lake Champlain.
Ensuring Free Public Access for All
If we are successful in our fundraising, Derway Cove will become an easily accessible gateway to the Winooski River and Lake Champlain. The envisioned park will offer residents and visitors a quiet spot for picnicking, fishing and bird-watching. The park will also serve as an outdoor classroom for local schoolchildren.
Protecting Rare Plants and Animals
Both the seasonally flooded property and the waters off its shore support five rare plant species. The mouth of the Winooski River supports 13 rare animal species, including Lake Sturgeon, Pink Heelsplitter (freshwater mussel) and Mudpuppy (salamander). In the spring, the Winooski River surges with several game fish species travelling upriver from Lake Champlain to spawn, including the prized Landlocked Atlantic Salmon and Walleye.
The Derway Cove project will also buffer and expand an intact cove of conserved lands at the heart of this ecologically and recreationally significant landscape. The property is positioned between Derway Island Natural Area (WVPD) and Mayes Landing (LCLT and WVPD), and is directly across the river from Delta Park (WVPD).
Since 1978, the Lake Champlain Land Trust has conserved 17 islands, 25 miles of shoreline, and more than 15,000 acres—including more than 25 public access natural areas.
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