BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – For the fourth consecutive year, Vermont communities have faced heavy and damaging rains in July, and across the state, communities are still rebuilding and redesigning to protect against future floods.

Central Vermont saw pelting rain Thursday. The heavy rains came as a surprise to Bob Nelson, a Nelson Hardware owner in Barre, and others in the city who had flashbacks on the eve of the devastating flooding three years ago.

“I could hear pounding on the roof of our house, and my wife and I go out onto the deck and the water is sheeting off over our gutter,” Nelson said. “It’s crazy; it’s the same day the last three years.”

Barre’s infrastructure and homes were largely spared, but the downtown took on about a foot of water.

“It’s a bit of a helpless feeling. All you can do is say a prayer and watch the water come up and hope it stops raining,” Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon said.

Barre has been working to upgrade culverts, remove debris, improve stormwater systems and more. But Lauzon said with limited dollars, it will take time to adjust to a future filled with flooding.

“We spent 75 years encroaching on the Stevens Branch and making it smaller. Now we’re going to take the next 75 years reversing that process,” Lauzon said.

Vermont has conducted some 250 home buyouts, paid out $40 million to families and shelled out some $200 million in infrastructure repairs.

“You always wish you were farther along than you are, but you’re also grateful for all of the hard work that’s gotten you here,” said Doug Farnham, Vermont’s chief recovery officer.

Farnham said most of Vermont’s small and medium flood recovery projects are complete or near complete, but the process with FEMA has been slow because of red tape.

“In many cases, we’re over three years into this. We’re not happy with how long it’s gone, but it’s consistent with the historical performance,” Farnham said.

He added that for Vermont’s downtowns, many of which are built in the floodplain, it will take many decades to build for the future.

Vermont may receive up to another $400 million for new wastewater plants in Hardwick, Johnson and Ludlow, and for upgrades in Montpelier’s Capitol Complex.

Vermont might be best known for its breathtaking ski resorts when it comes to outdoor pursuits, but the golf offerings in the historic community of Stowe are now better than ever with the recently completed redesign of the Stowe Country Club by architect Beau Welling and his team.

The transformation at the course, set on a former dairy farm with views of the Green Mountains, firmly establishes Stowe as one of New England’s top 36-hole golf destinations.

The wide open and walkable nature of Stowe CC complements the ruggedness and dramatic elevation changes at The Mountain Course at Spruce Peak just minutes up the road, with both courses accessible by guests staying at The Lodge at Spruce Peak as well as members of The Club at Spruce Peak.

“This project honors the history of the course while reimagining it for the next generation, creating a place where members, guests, and local residents can gather to enjoy the landscape, the sport, and the shared experiences that define this region,” said Sam Gaines, who is the president of Mt. Mansfield Company, the ownership group behind Stowe Country Club, and lives in the town with his wife and three children.

Stowe CC has transitioned from a public facility to a private club (with the limited guess access) as part of the redevelopment, which reflects a broader vision for the area as a four-season mountain destination. Also in the plans are a new clubhouse, expanded dining, racquet sports, fitness and wellness activities, and additional recreational offerings.

But improving the golf course was the first step in that evolution and the results are the culmination of a process that started more than a decade ago when Gaines first invited Welling to see the property. The two had met at gatherings of the Urban Land Institute, which puts a focus on the environment in transforming communities, and Gaines was eager to have Welling offer advice on what needed to be done most urgently on “175 acres in the middle of the most affluent and amazing historic town” in Vermont.

Welling, who for years has worked with Tiger Woods and his design team, traces his New England ties back to his days playing for the Brown University golf team in Rhode Island.

“I could see the potential, almost immediately, of how special an environment this place is,” said Welling. “But when we first started talking about this project, I think it was more of a dream.”

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