Winter storms can break off branches and tops of trees, causing significant changes to the shoreland environment. Although a snapped hemlock or maple might seem destructive at first, the dismembered branches create new hiding places and obtainable sweet buds to feed rabbits and other small mammals. An opening in the tree canopy allows sun to … Continue reading
We are pleased to announce the release of our first Results Based Accountability (RBA) report! The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) launched an effort this year to improve how we track and measure performance using RBA. RBA is a framework used to measure how well an agency department, division, or program is performing. RBA … Continue reading
The National Weather Service announced on Monday, February 16, 2015, that Lake Champlain is now completely covered in ice. Remarkably, this is the second year in a row that the ice has extended over the entire lake surface (last year it closed February 12th). Given the sub-zero temperatures we’ve been experiencing over the last few … Continue reading
Look at the new information and resources on the Wetlands Program Homepage! Did you know you might qualify to get money for protecting the wetlands on your property? Learn about the process of wetland restoration. Do you know what a wetland buffer is and why the Vermont protects the buffer of a significant wetland? Have … Continue reading
Hinesburg replaces old stormwater system with a Bioretention System to Improve Water Quality in the LaPlatte River At the beginning of October 2014, the Lewis Creek Association and the Town of Hinesburg constructed a new stormwater treatment system at the intersection of Vermont Route 116 and Silver Street. With funds from the Vermont Department of … Continue reading
How is it that a tiny black spider can appear on top of freshly fallen white snow in the middle of the winter? To the spider it is poor timing, but if a storm didn’t displace it from its winter hiding spot, then it is a victim of its own chemical and biological reactions to … Continue reading
Vermont has over 800 lakes and ponds throughout the state. Some have been mapped and are posted on the Watershed Management Web page. Thus far, 155 depth maps are available, with 149 of those available in pdf format. Map quality varies from hand drawn maps with a single deep hole to GIS created maps with … Continue reading
Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and even coral reefs. Fish ponds, rice paddies, and salt pans are human-made wetlands. Celebrate wetlands for what they provide for us around the world and in Vermont. Clean Water: Less than 3% of the world’s … Continue reading
