Restoration work aims to enhance fish habitat, protect and improve water quality, and increase flood resiliency. While the Johns is the smallest of the four major rivers that flow into Lake Memphremagog, sections of it sustain over 2,000 fish per mile. The restoration project aims to restore natural stream habitat and important flood storage areas on a former farm situated along the river bottom near Beebe Plain.

In October 2025, the Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) completed the Crawford Brook Restoration Project in Newport. This project takes on a holistic approach to addressing water quality and habitat degradation issues by not only tackling the symptoms but also the sources. Project goals aimed to stabilize two sediment sources, restore floodplain connection and stream habitat complexity, and improve floodwater storage capacity across Crawford Brook.

This week’s storm was much milder than this summer’s deluge, with no reported injuries or deaths. Still, it caused widespread flooding, prompted 12 swiftwater rescues, closed 120 schools and flooded many basements.