Friends of the Winooski River

What Friends of the Winooski River does

Friends of the Winooski River is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont, focused on the restoration and protection of the Winooski River and its approximately 1,080-square-mile watershed that spans more than 30 cities and towns across central Vermont. The organization delivers a portfolio of environmental restoration programs including riparian tree and shrub planting (45,000+ trees planted historically, 5,000+ in 2025 alone), community-based water quality monitoring through the LaRosa program (8,000+ samples analyzed, 500+ in 2025), river clean-ups (50 tons of trash removed), and dam and culvert removal projects (three completed, with four more in development). It also operates complementary landowner assistance programs (Storm Smart and Stream Wise property assessments, offered free), educational programs (an Emriver Em2 stream table simulator available for rental), and recreational events (Onion River Ramble, River of Light), supported by a sub-brand initiative called the Barre Rivers Collective.

The organization's core technical capabilities center on applied river restoration science rather than software: stream geomorphic assessment, strategic wood additions for habitat improvement and phosphorus capture, green stormwater infrastructure design, and E. coli sampling protocols (e.g., the Stevens Branch assessment conducted with Stone Environmental). Its primary digital tool is an ArcGIS-based interactive watershed map documenting project locations. Business model mechanics rely on a hybrid funding mix: individual donations processed through Network for Good (one-time and monthly recurring), grant funding from state and federal sources (Vermont Clean Water Funds, Lake Champlain Basin Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation), modest fee-for-service revenue (paddling event registrations, stream table rentals, merchandise sales), and substantial volunteer labor. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

The organization serves a diversified stakeholder base including watershed residents and volunteers, private riparian landowners, Vermont municipalities seeking stormwater and floodplain management support, schools integrating watershed curriculum, and outdoor recreation users. It is led by Executive Director Michele Braun and governed by a board of directors, with a small paid staff (1-10 employees) supplemented by an active volunteer network with a thirty-year operating history.

Name

Friends of the Winooski River

Legal name

Friends of the Winooski River

Website

https://winooskiriver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friends of the Winooski River is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1998 that restores and protects the 1,080-square-mile Winooski watershed through tree planting, water quality monitoring, dam removals, landowner assistance programs, and community paddling and education events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), River & Wetland Ecotours (Canoe/Kayak, Mangrove/Swamp Tours) (THAAAEAE)

Keywords

• Watershed restoration
• River conservation
• Riparian restoration
• Water quality monitoring
• Environmental non-profit

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations provide the foundation for all work. Accepts one-time or monthly donations through Network for Good. Also accepts gifts of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
2. Grants: Larger restoration projects and outreach initiatives are largely grant-funded. Sources include State of Vermont Clean Water Funds, Lake Champlain Basin Program, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and other state/federal programs.
3. Event Registration Fees: Onion River Ramble paddling event: $20/person ($10 youth) if registered by May 29, increases to $25/$15 after. Movie Night tickets at $10 minimum donation.
4. Merchandise Sales: Shop sells baseball caps and organic cotton tote bags with option for pickup or shipping ($5 shipping charge).
5. Stream Table Rental: $100 rental fee for 1 day to 1 week period for individuals with training and experience using EmRiver stream table.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Friends of the Winooski River is a non-profit organization that restores and protects the Winooski River and its 1,080-square-mile watershed through volunteer-driven riparian tree plantings, water quality monitoring, dam and culvert removals, river clean-ups, free landowner property consultations, paddling events, and educational programs. It also operates an online merchandise shop, a fee-based stream table rental program, and an interactive GIS map showcasing its work across the watershed.

Product overview

Friends of the Winooski River operates as a non-profit river conservation organization offering a portfolio of environmental restoration programs and public engagement services rather than a unified technology product. The organization's offerings center on watershed protection through direct restoration activities (tree planting, dam removal, river clean-ups), community science (water quality monitoring), landowner assistance programs (Storm Smart and Stream Wise property assessments), educational tools (stream table simulator rentals), and recreational programming (paddling events and waterproof navigation maps). The Interactive Watershed Map serves as a digital tool displaying their project locations throughout the watershed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barre Rivers Collective: An initiative of Friends of the Winooski River focused on promoting and increasing river access in the Barre area through community engagement, creation of river access areas, and education. Previously known as Barre River Access Task Force.

Products and services

• Tree Planting & Riparian Restoration Program Annual restoration service that plants native trees and shrubs along streams and rivers within the Winooski watershed to restore riparian buffers, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat; delivered through volunteer participation for watershed residents and partner organizations.
• Water Quality Monitoring Program (LaRosa) Community science service coordinating trained volunteers to collect and analyze water quality samples across the watershed, with samples processed at the Vermont Agriculture and Environmental Laboratory for phosphorus, nitrogen, chloride, and E. coli.
• Storm Smart Property Assessments Free property assessment service for private landowners providing personalized recommendations for green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens, rain barrels, and water bars.
• Stream Wise Program Free property assessment and recognition service that awards private landowners who maintain wide buffers of native plants along their streamfront properties to support stream health and resiliency.
• Stream Table Rental Program Fee-based rental of an Emriver Em2 stream table for 1 day to 1 week at $100, available to trained individuals, schools, and partners for demonstrating river geomorphology, erosion, deposition, and channel meanders.
• Winooski River Watershed Waterproof Map & Guide Double-sided, waterproof, ten-panel paper map covering 240 river miles of the Winooski watershed, designed for paddlers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Onion River Ramble Annual approximately 6-mile guided paddling event on the Winooski River from Long Trail Access to Richmond, with registration of $20 per person ($10 youth) by May 29 and $25 ($15 youth) after, plus optional lunch add-on; proceeds benefit river conservation work.
• River of Light Annual full-moon community paddle event on the Winooski River from Heineberg Bridge to Lake Champlain in Colchester with illuminated boats.
• River Clean-Up Events Annual community river clean-up events held in September, including the Montpelier River Cleanup and Barre River Cleanup, removing trash and debris from the Winooski River and its tributaries.
• Dam and Culvert Removal Projects Restoration service removing dams and replacing poorly designed culverts to restore natural river processes and improve aquatic organism passage, delivered in partnership with state agencies, The Nature Conservancy, and US Fish & Wildlife Service.
• Storm Water Projects Project-based service designing and installing systems with commercial and municipal partners to slow, retain, and filter stormwater before it enters waterways.
• Public Access Improvement Program Service improving paddling, fishing, and swimming access points throughout the watershed, including site assessments and volunteer monitoring through the Barre Rivers Collective.
• Interactive Watershed Map Web-based interactive GIS map displaying the organization's restoration, dam and culvert, and stormwater installation projects throughout the Winooski watershed, with toggleable layers.
• Friends of the Winooski River Merchandise Branded merchandise shop selling baseball caps and organic cotton tote bags, available for pickup at the Montpelier office or shipped for a flat $5 shipping charge.
• Movie Night Fundraiser Annual community movie night fundraiser with sliding-scale admission at a $10 minimum donation that supports Free VT Rivers, co-branded with Good Measure Brewing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 tons of trash removed from the Winooski River
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder providing grants for riparian buffer planting, Storm Smart program, stream table funding, and dam removal projects. Partners on Stream Wise landowner assessment program.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding and expertise for dam removal projects including Camp Wihakowi Dam removal. Watershed Restoration Program Manager Shayne Jaquith consulted for educational content on dredging.
• Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners through Clean Water Funds, Watershed Grant program, Ecosystem Restoration Program, and Rivers Program for dam removal and floodplain restoration.
• US Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Fish and Wildlife program providing technical assistance and partial funding for planting projects. Funded Camp Wihakowi Dam removal.
• Central Vermont Regional Planning CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with commission and town staff to identify and prioritize dirt road runoff issues for stormwater management.
• Friends of the Mad RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for stream table program. Shared Storm Smart program lessons to help expand across Winooski Watershed. Coordinates Mad River Watch program.
• Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for stream table. Staff available for Storm Smart property assessments across entire Winooski Watershed.
• Stone EnvironmentalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted to design and lead E. coli sampling program for Stevens Branch assessment from Williamstown to Montpelier.
• UVM Water Resources InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director participated in panel discussions on river corridor management as part of UVM's Water Connects dialogue series.
• Free VT RiversminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProceeds from Movie Night event directly support this group working to restore and reconnect Vermont rivers.
• Norwich UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture class involved in Dog River Park design concepts. Norwich coordinates Dog River Conservancy for research and education.
• Mad/Dog Chapter of Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant partner in restoring health of Dog River system; collaborated on Dog River Park project.
• Vermont Natural Resources CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Dam Task Force; 2025 was record-breaking year for dam removals in Vermont.
• UmiakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor outfitter providing shuttle service for Onion River Ramble paddling event.
• Good Measure BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthfield brewery that created co-branded IPA debuting at Movie Night event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the Mad River: Vermont-based watershed advocacy non-profit running nearly identical programs: riparian plantings, water quality monitoring (Mad River Watch), Stream Wise assessments, and Storm Smart landowner consultations. Listed as an active project partner within the subject company's data.
• Connecticut River Conservancy: Regional watershed non-profit delivering river restoration, water quality monitoring, riparian plantings, dam removal advocacy, paddler recreation, and landowner outreach across the Connecticut River basin — a near-perfect operational analogue at a larger geographic scale.
• Charles River Watershed Association: Non-profit watershed organization running stream restoration, water quality sampling, green stormwater infrastructure, and community science across an urban/suburban New England watershed. Operationally comparable as a single-watershed advocacy and restoration group.
• Friends of the Rappahannock: Virginia-based watershed advocacy non-profit focused on river restoration, riparian buffers, water quality monitoring, and grassroots community engagement around the Rappahannock River — closely mirrors the subject's volunteer-driven, donor + grant-funded programmatic mix.

Broad incumbents

• Lake Champlain Basin Program: Federal/state-funded program coordinating water-quality, habitat, and stormwater work across the entire Lake Champlain basin. Functions as a top-down counterpart and is an active grant funder of the subject company.
• The Nature Conservancy (Vermont Chapter): Global conservation non-profit with a strong Vermont presence. Provides direct funding and technical expertise for the org's dam removal portfolio (Camp Wihakowi Dam), placing it as both a funder and a strategic peer in water resource conservation.
• Vermont Natural Resources Council: Statewide advocacy non-profit co-coordinating the Vermont Dam Task Force with the subject org. Overlaps on policy advocacy around river restoration, dam removal, and stormwater funding — not a direct operations peer, but the closest policy-level comparable.

Regional players

• Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District: Local NRCD delivering Storm Smart assessments and watershed technical assistance throughout the Winooski basin. Named project partner; functionally competes for the same state grant pool and landowner engagement in the same footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/winooskiriver
• Facebookfacebook.com/winooskiriver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-the-winooski-river-incorporated
• Instagraminstagram.com/winooskiriver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Winooski River