The climate crisis is already threatening the health and well-being of our communities, and we must work swiftly and strategically to strengthen our resilience. One critical area of work includes reducing the risk of future flooding. Fortunately, there are a number of steps Vermont can take this year. Policy solutions include better regulating new development in river corridors so we are not putting future developments at risk and exacerbating downstream flooding. We must also advance our work to better protect riparian vegetation along streams. Further, wetlands play a vital role by helping control flooding, minimizing erosion, purifying water, and offering habitat for plants and wildlife. Vermont has lost an estimated 35% of our wetlands, and must enact a “net gain” policy to protect and restore these critical features on our landscape. Dams also play an important role in flood mitigation, with flood control dams that need more consistent state oversight, inspections, and maintenance, and numerous small dams that exacerbate flooding and should be removed.