Better Amenities on the Way for Visitors to Waterbury Reservoir Access Areas

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Waterbury, Vt. – Eight months of work is underway to improve public access areas at the Waterbury Reservoir. The project will require temporary closures at some sites while work is underway, and will include improvements to parking lots, erosion prevention, and boat ramp upgrades.


  • Installation of a new composting toilet
  • Installation of a concrete boat launch
  • Paving of the access road and parking area (may occur in Spring 2019 depending on weather conditions)
  • Erosion control and site drainage improvements
  • Traffic flow improvements
  • Installation of a concrete boat launch
  • Re-grading the parking area
  • Guard rail installation
  • Erosion control and site drainage improvements
  • Installation of a concrete hand carry access ramp
  • Re-grading the parking area
  • Erosion control and site drainage improvements


The locations include Waterbury Dam Boat Launch, Blush Hill Boat Launch and the Moscow Paddler Access. Green Mountain Power (GMP) will be doing the work as part of the company’s commitment to improving the Waterbury Dam and surrounding areas. GMP recently received a renewed license from the Federal Energy Regulation Commission to operate a hydropower generation facility at the Waterbury Dam.
The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation says the popularity of the Waterbury Reservoir is growing. “The improvements that Green Mountain Power will make over the next 8 months could not come at a better time,” said Susan Bulmer, Northeast State Parks Regional Manager.

“We know what a valuable community resource this waterway is and we’re glad to work with the state to make these important upgrades,” said Jason Lisai, Green Mountain Power’s Director of Generation Operations.

 As part of the Green Mountain Power improvements, a parking area, river access, and anglers’ trail were recently installed along Little River Road just downstream of Waterbury Dam. The trail was constructed as a collaborative effort with the Vermont state trail crew and GMP. This river access is currently open to the public for use.

All three locations will be finished for the 2019 summer season. Long-term maintenance and management will be performed by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.

Waterbury Reservoir is the ninth largest water body in Vermont, created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a flood control project. There are two State Parks and 30 remote campsites located on its shores and many people access the reservoir for boating, wildlife viewing, swimming, camping, and fishing each year. Waterbury Reservoir is surrounded almost completely by state land, managed primarily by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation as part of the 44,444-acre Mount Mansfield State Forest.

Scheduled Closures:
Waterbury Dam Boat Launch
Closed: October 14 - November 8, 2018 and February 8 – February 18, 2019
Site improvements will include:

Blush Hill Boat Launch
Closed: November 9 - November 27, 2018 and February 19 - February 27, 2019
Site improvements will include:

Moscow Paddler Access
Closed: November 28 - December 6, 2018
Site improvements will include:

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