RIVER was a project dedicated to developing locally supported ideas for reducing flood damage. RIVER focused on several municipalities hit hard in 2023. Community discussions for this project were led by the respective regional planning commissions in concert with the affected towns and other groups.

Real problems require real solutions, and municipalities were provided with engineering support. The culmination of RIVER was a set of applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for projects in 2025 and beyond. Other locally led projects may also be developed. This project was funded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and Vermont Emergency Management, and managed by the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission.