For decades, the trees at White’s Beach have shaded beachgoers and provided natural beauty for all who visit. At South Hero’s only public town beach, these majestic trees also play a key role in anchoring the shoreline and preventing erosion. But, as anyone who has visited the town beach recently knows, the trees are in rough shape. Some of this is species-specific: Cottonwoods generally only live 60-80 years. Also, living on the shoreline can be a rugged place, where trees are subject to battering from waves, wind, and ice. Back in 2024 the town had to remove a number of them which were deemed hazardous. The arborists also limbed up the remaining trees to buy a few more years' time.
Now, in 2026, the remaining trees have noticeable damage and health issues and could potentially pose a safety risk. Losing the remaining trees will be a blow to the character of the beach and the quality of the experience, and would remove one of the last naturally stabilizing features along the shoreline. The good news is that the town has not been idle. Anne Zolotas, town tree warden and selectboard member, has brought together a coalition of local nonprofits and the town recreation commission, who are working together to come up with a solution.
As of now, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, Grand Isle County Natural Resources Conservation District, and South Hero Land Trust, have jointly applied and have received funding from the Lake Champlain Basin 5 Clean Water Service Provider to come up with a design for replanting. They tapped Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, a local environmental engineering firm, to help create a plan which will support the recreation assets at the beach as well as protect water quality.
The lake Champlain shoreline is a dynamic place, and the town beach, with its south facing explore and long lake fetch (the distance of open water) make this an especially difficult place to establish vegetation. However there is a technique, called bioengineering, which is well-suited for this kind of site. The plan is to construct “living” erosion control that mimics naturally stable shorelines, which incorporates native plants, biodegradable products, and other natural materials to stabilize shorelands, prevent erosion, protect property, and support healthy lake ecosystems. This design includes stone and natural materials working in tandem to create a functional and beautiful shoreline that will be resilient to the forces of waves, wind, ice and flooding for years to come. With the addition of steps, the beach will also be more accessible to those with mobility challenges than before. And, the design incorporates shade trees along with low growing shrubs, ensuring there will be a next generation of shade trees to preside over this beloved community gathering space.
Once we gather and incorporate feedback from the community, Fitzgerald will complete a final design which we will use for applying for construction funds. We have received positive encouragement from the CWSP funders and expect this project to be funded, at which point we’d work on implementation, which could start in early 2027.
