Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Winooski News
WINOOSKI – Beneath a rising full moon, the wheeze of inflating rafts echoed beneath the Heineberg Bridge as dozens of paddlers and kayakers garlanded their vessels with light strings. Small flickers of lights ambled 2.5 miles from the bridge to Lake Champlain, transforming the Winooski River into a starry sky.
Attendees gathered for the River of Light last Saturday to celebrate one of Vermont’s most important ecological resources. Kicking off in 2016, the recurring event is hosted by the Friends of the Winooski River — a non-profit that’s been dedicated to the river’s conservation since 1998.
The organization wanted an event that encouraged local communities to be mindful of and safeguard the river.
“Community engagement and sustainable river recreation have always been central to our mission,” said Sam Puddicombe, an organization member. “We always try to have community events that are really focused around enjoying the river for the great resource that it is. And then hopefully we create awareness for other work that we do.”
The Friends of the Winooski River organizes one of the largest water quality monitoring efforts in the state. They partner with other organizations, like the Winooski Valley Park District, to remove invasive plants and debris clogging the riverbanks.
With increased flooding exacerbating those issues, event organizers said community support is especially important now.
“The past couple of years we weren’t able to have the event because of the water levels and flooding,” said Lauren Chicote, event organizer and also a member of Friends of the Winooski River. “It’s a good opportunity for people to see the water, see the floodplains and help mitigate the impact of when it floods here and learn more about the dynamics of the river.”
Several event organizers and attendees said the Trump administration’s looming budget cuts stress the importance of communities coming together, too. Back in February, the administration proposed a plan that would slash funding for U.S. Fish and Wildlife by $37 million.
The Friends of the Winooski River already had half of their funding frozen in 2025, delaying projects for this year.
“Any community-led events and environmental-focused events are important given the times,” said Abbie Israel, an attending kayaker. “Even if it’s small, it’s visibility, it’s awareness, and it’s just a little bit of a screw you to the people that don’t care about protecting our rivers.”
All kinds of people showed up last Saturday: parents hoisted small children into life vests, thrill-seeking white-water rafters milled about in groups and elderly folks mingled. Jack Morrish, 74, and his wife Barbara have been kayaking for 20 years. She said that events like the River of Light are about coming together and sending a message.
“It’s a really nice, peaceful time with the river and with friends,” Barbara said. “And putting a peaceful message out to the world and having compassion. It’s anything you can do that’s absolutely needed.”