There are many reasons why people volunteer – to give back to society, to support a cause they believe in, to learn new information or acquire new skills, to meet people who share common interests. Regardless of their motivations, volunteers are essential to improving our understanding of lake health in Vermont. Through the Vermont Lay … Continue reading
In the past, historical development in the vicinity of the Mansfield Base area of Stowe Mountain Resort has at times had unintended and significant impacts on nearby streams. These impacts have included increased runoff from paved surfaces that deliver undertreated stormwater runoff and associated sediment that impact streams. These impacts affect the instream habitat for … Continue reading
Over 500 Vermonters attended the six public meetings held in December, 2013, to discuss the fate of Lake Champlain’s water quality. The meetings were held all over the Lake Champlain Basin (draining nearly half of the land mass in Vermont), including Swanton and St. Albans to the north, Burlington and Montpelier in the central portion … Continue reading
One of the most lasting impacts of flood recovery has been the vast number and scope of alterations made to our rivers and streams without the benefit of the Division’s river engineering expertise. Until now, the Watershed Management Division (WSMD) Rivers Program did not have clear authority to oversee emergency measures initiated during and … Continue reading
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the State of Vermont recently held a series of public meetings to discuss options for restoring water quality in Lake Champlain. All sources of phosphorus contributions to the lake are being considered and agriculture is no exception; nor should it be with an estimated 40% of … Continue reading
In the winter of 1981, Jim Kellogg (a scientist with the Watershed Management Division) could be found skiing to, and drilling through the ice of some of the beautiful lakes and ponds in Vermont. In the spring and fall, he would float on the ice cold waters of Vermont’s most remote lakes in an inflatable … Continue reading
The Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) recently completed draft stormwater geographic information system (GIS) drainage maps for 21 urbanized cities, villages and hamlets in the Lake Memphremagog, Upper Connecticut River, Passumpsic River, and Stevens-Wells-Waits-Ompompanoosuc River watersheds. The Program plans to complete a statewide drainage map of all urbanized areas by 2017. The maps will be … Continue reading
The Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid grant program supports both native and non-native species management projects and is available to Vermont municipalities. Projects supported since 1994 include programs to control Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, curly leaf pondweed, and nuisance native aquatic plants, and aquatic invasive species spread prevention programs. Supported management methods have included the … Continue reading
Green stormwater infrastructure is a method of managing stormwater that uses natural processes to slow and treat surface runoff. The use of green stormwater infrastructure is growing at a steady pace and there are a number of examples to be seen throughout Vermont. Before Thanksgiving, a group of Agency of Natural Resources staff, along with … Continue reading
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Vermont are holding a series of six public meetings in December of 2013, to discuss the process for restoring the Lake Champlain Basin (a “Basin” or “watershed” is a water body – such as Lake Champlain – and all the land that drains into that … Continue reading
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