OUR COMMITTEE
Photo Credit: Shana Stewart-Deeds
The Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild & Scenic Committee is formed of town appointees and partners who help guide the future of our designated Wild and Scenic rivers, and make decisions about how federal funds should be allocated to best maintain and improve the rivers according to the Management Plan. Our goal is to highlight, uphold, and enhance the quality and special features of these rivers and protect access, so that residents and visitors may fully enjoy our beautiful landscape.
We have two representatives (appointed by town and village selectboards or trustees) from each of the eight towns and villages that are covered by the designation (Westfield, Troy, North Troy, Montgomery, Richford, Berkshire, Enosburg, and Enosburg Falls), as well as partners from the town of Lowell, state and federal agencies, and other organizations who work to protect and enhance these rivers.
The Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm, at locations that rotate throughout our towns; Committee meetings are always open to the public - please see our Meetings page to find out where the next meeting will be held.
We currently have openings for representatives from the Towns of Enosburgh, Enosburg Falls, Berkshire, Montgomery, Troy, and North Troy.
If you live in any of these towns and want to be a part of our Wild and Scenic Committee, please contact us.
Jacques Couture
Westfield
Committee Chair
Organic dairy farmer and proprietor of Couture’s Maple Shop and B&B, Jacques Couture has made his home on the Missisquoi River in Westfield since 1970. He and his wife Pauline have raised six children in that time, all the while proving themselves to be excellent stewards of the land. Never a man to avoid responsibility, he continues to serve the community in many ways including various volunteer positions for the town of Westfield and the Vermont Sugar Makers Association. The Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild & Scenic Committee is very fortunate to have Jacques’ valuable input as our Chair.
Susan Staples
Richford
Vice Chair
Susan is a Michigan native who lived on both coasts before moving to Northern Vermont in 1996. She and her husband Scott built their home on land with abundant wildlife and a crystal-clear brook that feeds the Missisquoi River. They are waterway stewards for the Richford to Enosburg Falls section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, as well as volunteers for the annual Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal. Susan joined the Wild & Scenic Committee to share her enthusiasm for our rivers with people who live and recreate in our communities. Susan enjoys exploring North America with her husband, but she’s always content to return home to Vermont, where they spend their free time kayaking, skiing and hiking.
Cynthia Scott
Montgomery
Treasurer
Cynthia has been involved with the Wild & Scenic Committee from the beginning; first as the Coordinator of the Missisquoi River Basin Association, and now as a representative from Montgomery. Her tireless efforts to conserve and protect the Missisquoi watershed are greatly appreciated!
Wendy Scott
Enosburgh
Secretary
Wendy Scott fell in love with mountains and rivers when her family took her camping and skiing as a child. She has traveled extensively in northern Canada on long canoe trips with her husband Al and friends, which led to a renewed interest in the preservation of rivers. She has been involved with the Wild & Scenic Committee since the beginning. Wendy is retired from teaching after 30 years and is enjoying having more time to volunteer, paddle, bike, ski and garden. She lives in the Cold Hollow Mountains with her husband Al.
Daniel Seeley
Richford
Town Representative
In 1957, Dan started hiking the Long Trail, in sections, north from the Massachusetts border. By the time he reached the watershed of the Missisquoi River at the Canadian border a few years later, he had decided that Vermont would be his future home. After careers as an astrophysicist, biochemist, cabinet maker, high school physics teacher, he was fortunate to find a place to build an energy efficient home in Richford with access to dark skies. His interest in wild places and conservation led him to UMATR.
He is also a member of the Green Mountain Club, Richford Conservation Commission, Cold Hollow-to-Canada Woodlots Program, Missisquoi Basin Water Quality Council, and the Energy and Climate Committee of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission.
Bryan Dickinson
North Troy
Town Representative
Bryan has been a high school math teacher for over a decade. He grew up in the Champlain Valley and, after a lengthy stay in New Mexico, has returned to northern Vermont. Looking for ways to connect his students to their environment, he stumbled upon UMATR and was surprised to find out that the Missisquoi is part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers system. He is excited to spread the word and be part of the future of UMATR.
Jennifer Grace
Westfield
Town Representative
Jennifer grew up in southern NH, attended the University of NH, studying art and English. She has always had a love for arts & sciences! In the late 1980’s she moved to MA to pursue a career & education in nursing; working in Boston area hospitals. In 2001 she started her career as a school nurse and later got her Masters in Education. During her time in public schools, she worked with a grant to educate students, and promoted a school-wide curriculum on health & environmental sciences. In 2015 she took an early retirement from the Mass school system & returned to NH to work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. During Covid she made numerous trips to VT to get away, and fell in love with the Northeast Kingdom. She moved to Westfield 2 years ago, retiring from nursing a year ago. She has since started a small specialty dark chocolate business; Sweet Mountain Chocolate, pursuing her entrepreneurial spirit! She enjoys being in, on and around water, and an avid open water swimmer. She loves to knit and enjoys her home with my Bella dog & Dixie cat. She views the world from an art, science perspective. Becoming a board member of UMATR fulfills her love for our local environment and preserving our waterways!
Do you want to help protect and preserve your local rivers?
We invite you to join us!
We currently have openings for representatives from the Towns of Enosburgh, Enosburg Falls, Berkshire, Montgomery, Troy, and North Troy.
If you live in any of these towns and want to be a part of our Wild and Scenic Committee, please contact us.
Lindsey Wight
Executive Director
Sarah Lunn
Field Coordinator
Lindsey grew up in central Vermont, but spent her post-college years travelling the country and exploring other states, mountains, and rivers. She is pleased to have made her way back home, and enjoys exploring the Missisquoi watershed from her home in Jay. She appreciates the great dedication and passion that the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild & Scenic Committee members have for these rivers and this area, and is delighted to be a part of helping to protect and preserve these great resources.
Sarah grew up on a horse farm in Georgia, Vermont while frequently traveling north to enjoy the Missisquoi watershed. She left Vermont to study Biology in New Hampshire for college, but is ecstatic to return back to her roots in northern Vermont. She started serving for us through the VT DEC ECO Americorps program in 2021, and has stuck around with us since. In 2023, she has officially joined UMATR staff as our Field Coordinator! In her free time, she is a volunteer ski patroller at Jay Peak, enjoys hiking with her dog Pearl, and spends as much time outside as she can exploring the Green Mountain State. Reach out to her with any event questions!