August 5, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti

*At the Waterbury Center State Park day use beach, a path is marked off for swimmers to get to the water and to minimize foot traffic. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Turning off Route 100 in Waterbury Center into the state park access road finds an obstacle course of water-filled potholes to dodge.

The check-in station has cheerful perennials blooming and the vegetation around the overflow parking lot along the drive is a vibrant green under Saturday's overcast skies.

But as you approach the swimming area and boat launch, a jarring brown landscape stretches to the water’s edge. The grassy lawn is empty save for a small flock of seagulls. Wooden stakes hold up roping that marks off a walking path to the water. The rack of rental kayaks and paddle boards stands full near the Umiak booth.

Two park staffers work the afternoon shift as visitors with out-of-state plates slowly drive in, circle the parking lot, and keep rolling by offering sympathetic smiles and waves.

Not exactly a day at the beach.

Like many locations around Vermont right now, Waterbury Center State Park’s day use area is in flood recovery.

When the July 10-11 storm came, the reservoir held back many times its usual capacity and water levels filled the man-made lake’s basin nearly up to the park ranger check-in booth. After the rains, water receded very gradually, settling in for days across an area now delineated by brown, dead grass, the ground still soft and water-logged.

Park officials say the spot has survived past flooding and it will bounce back once again.

“As during previous high-water events, the grassy beach area will need rehabilitation. For now, while arrangements are being made to recover the space, and to prevent further damage or injury, much of the beach has been cordoned off,” explained Chad Ummel, operations manager for the state parks northeast region.

Veteran park staffer Walter Carpenter called the recent flooding the highest levels he’s ever seen at the reservoir. “This is the wettest July in 16 years here at this park,” he said, describing how he recently paddled through wooded sections of the park usually nowhere near the water line.

Looking out at the brown lawn and then up at the dark clouds overhead, he sighed. “It has to dry out. It was underwater for days.”

*July 11, 2023. Water swallows the park access road. Photo by Cheryl Casey*

The park’s page on the Vermont State Parks website doesn’t sugarcoat the current status, either: “Waterbury Center State Park has reopened, but it got hit hard by high water and is still recovering. There will be access to the water via a path; however, a large portion of the lawn is temporarily closed off for revegetation,” it states.

The good news is that water levels have returned pretty much to normal for summertime and water quality is good, Ummel said. Water testing is happening regularly in multiple locations around the reservoir.

*Looking east, the walking trail is open along the water. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti*

Results so far have been fine allowing for the park and swimming area to be open. The state reports water testing results at state park beaches on its website and both Waterbury Center and Little River state parks in Waterbury are in the good or “green” range currently.

Meanwhile, park staff are being creative in managing the visitor traffic that happens when the sun is shining. More than 100 youngsters from the local summer recreation program visited earlier in the week, Carpenter said. They fanned out over the grassy hillside and enjoyed cooling off in the water.

On days with more activity than Saturday, Carpenter said that staff are directing people to the areas less-affected around the grounds. They also give visitors asking for alternatives suggestions for checking out other state parks like Elmore and Crystal Lake and Lake Willoughby that weren’t flooded recently.

Eventually the ground will dry and reseeding will take place. Given the wet summer weather though, Carpenter said he isn’t sure green will return before the park officially closes for the season on Oct. 9.

“We need a hand from that yellow orb in the sky,” he said.

Click to enlarge photos below.